How quick can I read the Qur'an

I get this asked of me by so many parents of new children with the expectations that I could actually give them a definitive answer.

In reality, it all depends on how much work you do with your child at home, and, most importantly, at what age they are starting.

There seems to be this expectation that a child of 4 or 5 years should be able to read the Qur'an independently in a year or two.  In some case, I agree.  I have personally come across a 6 year old who has read the entire Qur'an masha Allah.  However, this is a very bright child who is home taught and reads with his parents for a couple of hours a day, without fail, even at the cost of any other school work.

The majority of kids come to a Saturday Islamic Club to memorize Sura's as well as learn how to read the Qur'an.  Baring in mind that, on average, a child does an hour's homework/practicing what they were taught at school during the week gives you an average of 2 hours a week dedicated to learning how to read.

Simple mathematics tells me that, using the above benchmark, it would take a child two years to be able to read three letter words independently, with all the vowel symbols, and then at least a further three years to be able to apply the most common tajweed rules and read the calligraphy of the Qur'an (depending on the style that you chose).

So, now that I have said four years, I am certain that I will be challenged in both directions.  On the one hand, I will get the "my cousin's son managed to read it in two years" and an the other, I will see parents slacking with the expectation that we do not have to do anything and just let the school teach them an hour a week and "hey presto" my son can read the Qur'an.

Now this brings on another question - how important is tajweed?  Granted, your son can read Qur'an after a year, but can he read it with tajweed?  Does it matter to you?

What is more important - a younger child who can read the Qur'an with wrong pronunciations or an older child who can read with tajweed AS WELL as has a key understanding of what s/he is reading?

I know where I would vote, but what do you think?

A childs funeral is the saddest of all funerals

A 3 year old boy passed away in the early hours on Monday morning (Alla Yirhamo) and his funeral was yesterday.  Although I have never seen the boy, it was still so heart breaking to burry such a small child, innocent of all the bad that the world has to offer.

It may be consolig to say that he is guaranteed Janna, and that he is of no sin, but it still does not make it any easier.

The image is still in my head now, more than 24 hours after the funeral and it makes me think all the time about how I would feel losing one of my two children.  Perhaps this has drawn me closer to them and has made me less strick (or softer, as my wife would say), but, from now, I always want to treasure every moment I have with them as if it is the last.  All this bickering must stop, especially over pathetic subjects.  It is just not worth it.

Imagine you bickered with your child in the evening an you wake up in the morning to see that they are not waking up, imagine the guilt.  Would s/he ever forgive you for that shouting.

I don't know.  I am just sad that God has taken the life of another innocent little toddler.

Welcome to the new term

A new term is upon us with new challenges ahead of us.  It did feel like a very long break this time, perhaps because of the snow and that so many were down with flue towards the end of the term.

We have recruited a floating teacher.  Other than slotting into a class when a teacher is off ill, his prime role is to focus on small groups in from each class and work with them on ensuring that they are on track with the rest of the class.  He will also work with the more advanced children to help them progress to the next level and avoid them getting board with what seems basic to them.

Today, I had an insight as to what they teach in South Africa and was quite impressed, given that they have classes five days a week.  They seem to have a similar approach to us in the Qur'an reading and recitation, but differ in Islamic Studies.  They seem  focus on memorising Du'as whilst we aim to give the children an all rounded knowledge about their religion and encourage them to proudly embrace it.

On a personal level, I have put on over 12 Kg since October and need to shed it quickly.  Therefore, I have embarked on two challenges, through which I ought to lose these Kg's and more.

Challenge 1: - Cycle from London to Brighton with my son in June.  I will be training with him every week and will update his blog on our progress and the pains we encounter.

Challenge 2: - Run the London Marathon in Spring 2012, assuming that it will still take place.  Sunday is my first jog in over 12 months, so am not looking forward to stiff legs in the evening.

That's all for now.  I will write a new post about our experiences cycling and running tomorrow.