Children (who did not reach puberty) are not commanded to fast. However, the parents are strongly recommended to encourage them to fast few days so that they get used to it and they grow up knowing of the worship of fasting as they would know that of praying.
There was the practice of the first women of Islam who were living around the Prophet, sallaAllahu alaihi wa sallam. An example of that is ar-Rubayya' bint Mu'awiyyah who reported that: "The Messenger of Allah,salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, sent a man on the morning of the day of 'Ashurah, to the residences of the Ansar, saying: 'Whoever has spent the morning fasting is to complete his fast. Whoever has not spent this morning fasting should voluntary fast for the remainder of the day.' We fasted after that announcement, as did our young children. We would go to the mosque and make toys stuffed with cotton for them to play with. If one of them started crying due to hunger, we would give them a toy to play with until it was time to eat." [al-Bukhari and Muslim.]
One of seven that Allah will shade under His shade on the Day of Judgement is a young man who grew up in the worship of Allah.
There are so many ways to educate your children about Ramadan, the best and most important is to be the good example by fasting properly and behaving according to the Prophetic teachings.
Here are few tips that you can use with your children:
- Encourage them to fast every other day or more for those who are almost at the age of puberty. For those who are still young let them fast a day or two and praise them in front of friends and relatives for their achievement.
- Let your children go to the masjid for Maghrib prayer and break the fast with the larger Muslim community to make them feel the unity of Muslims in worshipping Allah.
- If your children cannot fast let them eat with you at the time of Maghrib.
- Teach your children the supplication of breaking the fast
- Take your children to the Taraweeh prayer so that they get used it and know about it from their early age. They may sit or stay in the back of the prayer room if they get tired.
- Teach them to give charity.
- Teach them to recite Qur'an regularily, especially in Ramadan.
- Teach them they should always try to have good manners when they are fasting.
- Wake them up for Suhoor and Fajr prayer.
- Teach them to feed the people fasting.
- Teach them that the Eid Fitr is one of the Muslim holiday.
One of hadiths, the Prophet salla allahu alaihi wa sallam said:
"One who is given the responsibility of the bringing up of daughters and treats them well will be a shield for him from Hell. [Bukhari and Muslim]
May Allah always help us in teaching our children to be good Muslim. Aameen.
May Allah always help us in teaching our children to be good Muslim. Aameen.
