Teach Like Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam

  While vision, hearing, and touch are staples of the modern classroom, the senses of taste and smell are often the "forgotten" tools of education. Yet, these senses are direct pipelines to memory and emotion. By thoughtfully integrating them, we can create a learning environment that resonates with children years after they leave our desks. The Flavor of Memory Descriptive language; words like stinky, fresh, salty, sour, or sticky,  can help children visualize and anchor an experience. However, nothing beats the real thing. In subjects like Seerah , imagine the impact of offering a small sip of Zamzam water or a single date . These aren't just snacks; they are sensory anchors that make historical and spiritual narratives tangible. Motivation vs. Reward: The Sweet Spot Taste can significantly influence a student’s mood and readiness to learn. While a small piece of chocolate or a sweet treat can foster a sense of warmth, we must navigate the "reward trap" car...

  “Our role is to be a guide and a messenger, not a force of nature.” Accepting  Qadr  is a journey of the heart, and some paths are steeper than others. We often view death as the ultimate test because of its silence and finality. Grief is a long road, arriving in waves when we least expect it. Yet, there is a different kind of grief in watching the living struggle. We build dreams for our children, hoping to see them flourish in faith and family. But as a teacher, I’ve learned that the human path is rarely a straight line. I have seen the “star student” buckle under the pressures of adulthood, and the “lost child” rise to become a pillar of strength. The struggle with fate often stems from our own desire for control. We mentor and we pour our hearts out, but we must eventually humble ourselves before the truth:  The power belongs to Allah, and the journey belongs to the individual.  It is painful to see a solution so clearly while the person you love remains s...

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...

  . 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 mea...

  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...