5 tips for Fasting by Shabnam M.

Here are five tips to help you fast during Ramadan.

TIP #1: Try not to look at food
Even the food you do not like will want you to eat. Try not to go into your kitchen so you won’t see food.

Tip #2: Do something
To control your hunger, keep yourself busy. You can read the Qur’an, memorize a surah, do a craft, or talk with your friends and family.

Tip #3: Trust your body clock
When you are hungry, it’s probably around lunch time. But trust your body clock! After the regular lunch time, your hunger will be gone!

Tip #4: Do not do anything that will use up a lot of energy
These include: Screaming, jumping, running, playing sports, etc. These will need you to drink water, which you can’t during fasting.

Tip #5: Allah will help you
Allah is always there for you, so don’t worry! Soon Iftar time will come!

11-year-old Rabeyah was reading a book. It was Saturday, and it was Ramadan. Rabeyah was fasting.
Rabeyah hopped off the chair and got out some paper. She was going to draw a picture. Rabeyah really wanted to be an artist when she grew up.
She drew a picture of nothing at all. It was just a mix of yellows, greens and oranges. It looked like a big blob. But to Rabeyah, it was art.
BEEP! The alarm on her clock went off. “Alhamdullilah, it’s time that Yusuf goes to sleep! I’m free!”
Yusuf was Rabeyah’s 5-year-old brother, who always was a bother. Rabeyah tip-toed into Yusuf’s room, to see if he was asleep.
Yusuf was in his bed, sleeping as if it was nighttime.
Rabeyah tip-toed out and ran down the stairs. She turned on the living room computer and played a game.
After that, she wrote a story. It said:

Once there was a girl named Rabeyah. She was very smart and nice. She was fasting on Ramadan and never felt hungry, because she knew it was good to fast during Ramadan. Unfortunately, Rabeyah’s little brother was not fasting. He was too little. THE END.

Rabeyah’s mother called, “Rabeyah! What are you doing?” Rabeyah deleted the story and said, “Nothing!”
Rabeyah wanted to go and finish the book she was reading. She had to pass through the kitchen to get to the staircase.
Rabeyah saw her favorite chocolate, YUM Chocolate. She reached for it and unwrapped it. Then she took a bite.
When she finished the chocolate bar, she threw the wrapper in the garbage and went upstairs.
Rabeyah went to her chair and opened the book. She wiped some chocolate off her mouth with her sleeve. Then she noticed.
“Oh no!” she gasped. Her heart jumped out of her chest and choked her throat. She had just realized she ate during fasting! “Oh no! What will I do?” She was trembling.
Rabeyah went straight to her mother, who was reading the Qur’an. “Mom” Rabeyah said.
Her mother looked up. “Yes Rabeyah?” Her mother looked funny in her new reading glasses.
“Um, I ate a chocolate bar, on accident!” Rabeyah blurted out. “I’m sorry! It was an accident! Will Allah be get mad at me?”
Yusuf followed Rabeyah into the room. He never went to sleep! “Ha ha! You broke your fa-a-asting!”
Her mother smiled. “Rabeyah, Allah will not get mad at you at all! He understands that it was an accident. The prophet said that if someone breaks his or her fasting, they should go on with the Sawm. It is Allah who gave you the chocolate, right?"
“ Yes, but what will I do?” asked Rabeyah.
Her mother took off her reading glasses. “Pray to Allah and I’m sure he will forgive you.” Rabeyah’s mother smiled.
“Thank you, Mom!” she said happily. Rabeyah hugged her.
Rabeyah went to do Wudu and then she prayed. After prayer, Rabeyah made a little dua:

“I hope you forgive me Allah, and I hope you understand it was a mistake. And let me not be angry at Yusuf for teasing me.”

Rabeyah felt much better after that, and she still got to have a yummy Iftar!

Do this quiz to find out.

1. Ramadan! What do you do first?
   a. jump into fasting
   b. give Zakah to the needy
   c. read more Qur’an than ever
2. What is your dream?
   a. to fast every single day of Ramadan
   b. to give money to every needy person in the world
   c. that you memorize the whole Qur’an
   
3. When you hear the word "Ramadan" what do you think of?
   a. sawm!
   b. zakat!
   c. Qur'an!
4. It’s Eid morning! What will you miss about Ramadan?
   a. fasting, of course!
   b. Having such a motivation to help the poor
   c. The time to read the Qur'an

    

WHAT DID YOU GET?
Mostly A’s: You love to fast!
Mostly B’s: You love to help the poor and needy!
Mostly C’s: You’re always proud to be a Muslim!

It is very important to do your best at school. If you get good grades everyone will be proud of you. Here is how to do your best.

1: Listen to the Teacher
Listen! Your teacher may be giving you very important information! It will help you with your homework and schoolwork. Whether it is how plants grow or what your homework is, your teacher… and your brain wants you to listen! Practice listening when you are behind an Imam during salat.

2. Write things down
Take notes! Keep a notebook for every subject. This step goes along with the first step. Listen and take notes. Listen for the correct information and jot it down. You’ll be remembering much more things, and your work will be turned in correctly!

3. Write your NAME!
This can be very troubling. You must write your name so your teacher can write down your grade. Write your name at the top of every paper so your teacher knows who you are. Sometimes teachers will throw away work that has no name on!

4. Study, study, study!
Studying is very important. Don’t only do your assigned homework, do a workbook. Go to the library and check out books. Research more on what you are learning at school! Studying is good!

5. Practice Makes Progress
Not perfect! No one is perfect at everything, and Allah doesn’t expect you to be perfect. But if you practice, you will make progress. You will go more up the hill of learning. So practice for those tests and quizzes, everyone!

Use your way of learning to get to the top of the hill. Offer to help others, too!