Teach Like Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam

From Chaos to Connection: My Mid-Year Rescue Manual Taking over a classroom mid-year is a bit like jumping onto a moving train—except sometimes the train is off the tracks, the passengers are shouting, and the conductor's seat is empty. I’ve been there. I once stepped into a Grade 7 and 8 Language Arts position where the students’ marks were sitting at 1% or 2%. It wasn't a typo; it was a symptom of a total breakdown in culture. One class had even driven their previous teacher out of the room in tears. If you find yourself in a "notorious" classroom, here is how I moved from damage control to a functioning community in just two weeks. 1. Radical Empathy for the "Rejected" Student When a class is known for disrespect, they usually feel rejected by the school system. They expect you to dislike them. The Mindset: I entered the room ready to connect, not to conquer. The Message: I told them clearly: "I want you to succeed, and I am going to treat you just...

We all carry favorite childhood memories in our hearts. Close your eyes for a moment and recall one.  What do you see? What do you hear? What scents linger in the air? What tastes or textures return so vividly you can almost feel them again?  Perhaps it is the comforting aroma of Ramadan drifting through the house, or the quiet stillness of sleepy suhoors before Fajr. One of my dearest memories is sitting at the feet of my Sunday school teacher. We gathered on gleaming hardwood floors that offered little comfort, yet none of us seemed to notice.  The small classroom was simple — just her chair and a felt storyboard propped beside her on another chair. I sat on my knees, leaning forward, completely captivated by the stories of the prophets, Sunday after Sunday. Mrs. W. brought those stories to life with nothing more than felt figures and a gentle voice. It felt like an honor — a true privilege — to be chosen to place the felt well for Yusuf or the small sticks for Musa o...

H e is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner ; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.  Al-Hashr 59:24   All children are the creation of Allah. He is Al-Musawwir , the One who fashions and forms in perfect measure. Every child placed in our care — whether in a weekend school, homeschool setting, full-time classroom, or living room — has been shaped by Him with wisdom, purpose, and beauty. When we truly remember this, it transforms the way we respond to the challenges of nurturing young hearts. Each Muslim child is unique. They grow and develop at different rates. They carry different strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and prior learning experiences. Some grasp quickly. Others need repetition. Some are confident. Others are quiet observers. No two journeys look the same — and because of this, no child should ever be made to feel like a failure. As parents, homeschoolers, an...

  Imagine a world without taxes. Not because people are selfish — but because responsibility is embedded in the soul of society. Imagine a world where the wealthy, from the comfortably rich to the ultra-wealthy, give 2.5% of their accumulated wealth  — not their income, not their earnings, but their savings after living expenses . A small portion that cleanses wealth, circulates provision, and restores dignity to the poor. Imagine a world without interest. Where money is not a tool of exploitation. Where the rich lend to the poor seeking only the return of their principal — no profit from another person’s hardship, no wealth built on debt, no lives crushed under compounding numbers. Imagine a society where the strong feel responsible for the weak. Where poverty is not criminalized. Where the poor are not shamed, ignored, or blamed — but supported, uplifted, and protected. Imagine a world where race does not determine worth. Where no color is superior to another. Where honor is meas...

  Many of the challenges we face in Islamic Weekend Schools are similar for all age groups but how we manage them may be different based on the developmental needs of the children . There are also specific challenges for each age groups because there are variant challenges at different stages of life.    Islamic Weekend Schools face the challenge of serving students from different backgrounds with different Islamic knowledge foundations . Some students having had previous training are very knowledgeable in Ibadah, seerah and have memorized large portions of Quran etc. There are many students who have had some training, are versed in the basics of Ibadah, seerah and memorized some surahs usually from Juz ‘Amma.  You may have as well a few students who have very limited to no previous training. They often feel overwhelmed and out of place and require extra care. As teachers we have to remind ourselves of the final goal. We are giving dawah to our community an...

  All children are the creation of Allah, He is Al-Musawwir and created them in the best way. We must keep this in mind when dealing with the unique challenges Islamic weekend schools face. Every Muslim child is unique, they grow and develop in different ways at different rates. They have different strengths and weaknesses and come from many different prior learning experiences.  No child should ever be made to feel a failure. Let’s remember the extraordinary patience of our prophet salla allahu alayhi wa sallam.  Anas ibn Malik reported: I served the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for ten years. By Allah, he never even said to me, “Uff!” He never said harshly, “Why did you do that?” or, “Why did you not do that?” Al-Bukhari and Muslim   Every child wants to succeed. Its our job as teachers to make sure they have the tools and support to succeed . If a student fails we have failed. Our success depends upon the ability to reach the student.  When...