7 ways to Make Your Child Love the Quran
1. TELL STORIES.
Sure everybody loves stories, and the Quran is full of them. Allah says: "We relate to you the best of stories" (12:3). Tell the story of Yusuf with his siblings (Surrah 12), Ibrahnim with his father (19:41-50) and Luqman with his son (31:13-19).
Children will certainly love it if say it in a lively and interactive manner. Children also love animal stories and the Quran has some of those as well. Tell about the initiative of the ant (27:18), and the good company of the dog (18:18).
2. INCULCATE ONE QURANIC MANNER A WEEK.
The Quran is also full of manners: e.g. honesty, fairness, and kindness. Select one manner in which the family will together practice for a week. During this week, read about this manner in the Quran. If it was kindness, for example, read on kindness to parents (17-23). If about patience then read about the patience of Ayyub (Job) (21: 83-84). You may use an index to identify a certain manner and its corresponding location in the Quran.
3. REWARD.
Encourage the child to read the Quran and reward. Kiss and hug when they read or memorize verses. Show recognition and reward as a sign of good behavior. "I will forgive what you did today [name the bad behavior], because you read Suarh Yasin [the good behavior]".
4. ENGAGE WITH COMPETITIONS AND QUIZZES.
Children love to ask questions, but they like quizzes too. Ask questions like: how many parts (or juz’) are there in the Quran? Name three Prophets (or countries, animals, plants etc.) mentioned in the Quran?
Quiz while dropping to school, in a trip or when having dinner.
5. CONNECT TO SPECIFIC CHAPTERS.
Use the fact that certain chapters have a specific value to encourage the child to read or memorize. For instance, al-Ikhlas (Sura 112) is equal to a third of the Quran and al-Mulk (Sura 67) defends and saves.
6. PROTECTS AND CURES.
My daughter was ill one day and had a headache. I put my hand on her head and read Al Ikhlas, Al Falaq, Al Nas and said in a voice that she could hear “O Allah! Remove this disease and cure her. You are the Great Curer. There is no cure but through You, which leaves behind no disease."
A child must take the medically prescribed drug when ill, but must also believe that Allah is the one who cures, and that this cure happens through his words in the Quran. Allah says: "And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe" (17:82).
7. PRAYERS:
There are many Quranic prayers (duas) and remembrance (zikr) that if the child learns will connect to the Quran. When in the car to school, for example, the child says: “Glory to Him Who has subjected this [the vehicle] to us, and we could have never had it. And verily to Our Lord we indeed are to return” (43:13-14). Or prays when in agony or in distress by saying: "There is no god but You, Glory to You; verily I was one of the wrongdoers" (21: 87). Such prayers help create a strong emotional bond between the child and the Book of Allah.
May Allah bless our children and open up their hearts to love the Quran in this difficult and confusing time and age.
(Hesham Al-Awadi)
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