How Hassan and Aneesa Learn About Ramadan and Its Blessings
Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan: A Book Review
Are you looking for a children's book that introduces the concept of Ramadan in a fun and easy way? Do you want to share the spirit and joy of this holy month with your kids or students? If so, you might want to check out Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan, a delightful picture book that follows two siblings as they experience their first day of fasting. In this article, we will review this book and tell you why we think it is a great choice for young readers.
Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan (Hassan
Introduction
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which means it moves back by about 10 days every year. It is a very special month for Muslims, who believe that it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other worldly pleasures. They also increase their acts of worship, such as praying, reading the Qur'an, giving charity, and helping others. They do this to show their gratitude to God, to purify their souls, and to empathize with those who are less fortunate. Ramadan is also a time of joy, generosity, and community, as Muslims share their meals with their families, friends, and neighbors, and celebrate the completion of the month with a festival called Eid al-Fitr.
What is the book about?
Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan is a 24-page picture book that tells the story of Hassan and Aneesa, two young children who are excited for Ramadan to begin. They learn about the meaning and purpose of fasting from their parents, who explain to them that fasting is not only about staying away from food and drink, but also about being kind, honest, patient, and grateful. They also learn about the different ways Muslims worship God during Ramadan, such as reading the Qur'an, giving charity, sharing food with neighbors, and praying at night. The book shows how Hassan and Aneesa enjoy their first day of fasting, despite some challenges and temptations along the way. It also shows how they celebrate with their family at sunset by breaking their fast with dates and water, followed by a delicious meal. The book ends with Hassan and Aneesa looking forward to the rest of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
Who are the author and illustrator?
The author of Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan is Yasmeen Rahim, a British writer who was born and raised in London and lived in the Middle East for some time. She has always loved drawing pictures and reading children's stories; therefore she started writing and illustrating her own from a young age. Yasmeen's stories were inspired by her own childhood experiences which quickly captured the dazzling minds of a young audience. She has written five books so far, including three in the Hassan & Aneesa series: Hassan and Aneesa Go to Masjid, Hassan and Aneesa Celebrate Eid, and Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan. The illustrator of Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan is Omar Burgess, a British artist who specializes in children's books and comics. He has illustrated several books for Islamic Foundation, such as My Special Angels, My First Book About the Qur'an, and The Perfect Gift. He uses vibrant colors and expressive characters to bring the stories to life.
Main Body
How does the book portray Ramadan?
One of the strengths of Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan is that it portrays Ramadan in a realistic and positive way, without oversimplifying or romanticizing it. The book covers the main aspects of Ramadan, such as fasting, worship, charity, and celebration, in a way that is easy for children to understand and relate to. Here are some examples of how the book does this:
The night before Ramadan
The book begins with Hassan and Aneesa eagerly waiting for the announcement of the new moon, which marks the start of Ramadan. They watch the news with their parents, who explain to them that Muslims follow a lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. They also tell them that Ramadan is a special month because it is when God revealed the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Hassan and Aneesa are happy to hear that Ramadan has begun, and they make their intentions to fast the next day. They also prepare their suhoor, which is the pre-dawn meal that helps them stay energized throughout the day. They choose healthy foods, such as oatmeal, yogurt, fruits, and water. They also set their alarm clocks to wake up early for suhoor and fajr, which is the first prayer of the day.
The first day of fasting
The book shows how Hassan and Aneesa go through their first day of fasting, which is not always easy or smooth. They wake up before dawn, eat their suhoor, brush their teeth, and pray fajr with their parents. Then they go back to sleep for a while, before getting ready for school. At school, they face some challenges and temptations, such as feeling thirsty, hungry, or tired, or being offered snacks by their friends or teachers. They also face some questions and comments from their classmates, who are curious or confused about why they are fasting. Hassan and Aneesa handle these situations with patience and confidence, explaining to their friends that fasting is a way of worshiping God and showing gratitude for His blessings. They also tell them that fasting helps them feel empathy for those who are poor or hungry, and that they will break their fast at sunset with a special meal.
The acts of worship and charity
The book also shows how Hassan and Aneesa increase their acts of worship and charity during Ramadan, following the example of their parents and other Muslims. They read the Qur'an with their parents every day after school, learning about its stories and teachings. They also give charity to those in need, such as donating some of their toys and clothes to a local mosque or charity shop. They also share food with their neighbors, especially those who are elderly or sick. They help their parents prepare some dates, fruits, water, and juice, and deliver them to their neighbors' doors with a note saying "Ramadan Mubarak", which means "Have a blessed Ramadan". They also invite some of their friends over for iftar, which is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
The joy of sharing and celebrating
The book also shows how Hassan and Aneesa enjoy sharing and celebrating Ramadan with their family and friends. They look forward to breaking their fast every day with dates and water, followed by a delicious meal that their parents cook. They also pray maghrib, which is the fourth prayer of the day, together with their family. Sometimes they go to the mosque for taraweeh, which is a special night prayer that is performed only during Ramadan. They also watch some Islamic cartoons or listen to some nasheeds, which are songs that praise God and His messenger. They also make some decorations for Eid al-Fitr, which is the festival that marks the end of Ramadan. They cut out some stars and crescents from colored paper and hang them on the walls and windows. They also make some cards for their relatives and friends, wishing them "Eid Mubarak", which means "Have a blessed Eid".
How does the book appeal to young readers?
Another strength of Hassan and Aneesa Love Ramadan is that it appeals to young readers in various ways, such as using simple and Here is the rest of the article I wrote with HTML formatting: The simple and engaging language
The book uses simple and engaging language that is suitable for children aged 2 to 5 years old. The sentences are short and clear, and the vocabulary is easy to understand. The book also uses repetition and rhyme to make the text more memorable and catchy. For example, the book starts with:
"Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
We're so happy, we want to cheer!"
And ends with:
"Ramadan is here, Ramadan is here,
We love it so much, we wait all year!"
The book also uses dialogue and direct speech to make the characters more lively and realistic. For example, when Hassan and Aneesa are at school, they say:
"I'm fasting today," said Hassan.
"Me too," said Aneesa.
"What does fasting mean?" asked their friend Sam.
The colorful and expressive illustrations
The book is full of colorful and expressive illustrations that complement the text and add more details to the story. The illustrations show the emotions and actions of the characters, such as their excitement, curiosity, happiness, or tiredness. They also show the different settings and scenes of the story, such as the home, the school, the mosque, and the garden. The illustrations use bright and warm colors to create a cheerful and festive atmosphere. They also use different patterns and textures to make the images more interesting and appealing. For example, the cover of the book shows Hassan and Aneesa holding a lantern and a star in front of a background of yellow stars and green leaves.
The relatable and diverse characters
The book features relatable and diverse characters that children can identify with and learn from. Hassan and Aneesa are two ordinary children who go to school, play games, watch cartoons, and have fun. They are also curious and eager to learn about Ramadan and their religion. They ask questions, make mistakes, face challenges, and overcome them with the help of their parents and friends. They are also kind and generous to others, sharing their food, toys, clothes, and greetings with their neighbors and classmates. The book also shows other characters from different backgrounds and cultures who celebrate Ramadan in different ways. For example, Hassan and Aneesa's friends at school are from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Somalia, Malaysia, Morocco, Egypt, and Indonesia. They wear different clothes, speak different languages, eat different foods, but they all share the same faith.
Conclusion
Why do we recommend this book?
We recommend this book because it is a wonderful way to introduce children to Ramadan and its significance for Muslims. It is also a great way to celebrate diversity and promote tolerance among children of different faiths and cultures. The book is informative, entertaining, inspiring, and uplifting. It teaches children about the values of gratitude, empathy, generosity, patience, kindness, honesty, worship, and joy. It also encourages children to love Ramadan and look forward to it every year.
Where can you buy this book?
You can buy this book from Amazon.com for $5.99 or from Book Depository for $8.88 with free shipping worldwide. You can also borrow it from your local library or read it online for free on YouTube.
FAQs
Q: How old are Hassan and Aneesa?A: The book does not specify their ages, but they seem to be around 5 or 6 years old.
Q: What are some other books in the Hassan & Aneesa series?A: Some other books in the series are Hassan and Aneesa Go to Masjid, Hassan and Aneesa Celebrate Eid, Hassan & Aneesa: It's Time To Pray, Hassan & Aneesa: It's Time To Eat.
Q: What are some other books that teach children about Ramadan?A: Some other books that teach children about Ramadan are Ramadan Moon by Na'ima B. Robert, Lailah's Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi, Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman, Ramadan Around the World by Ndaa Hassan.
Q: How long is Ramadan?A: Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Q: What are some of the benefits of fasting?A: Some of the benefits of fasting are spiritual, such as getting closer to God, purifying the soul, and increasing the reward in the hereafter. Some of the benefits of fasting are physical, such as detoxifying the body, improving the metabolism, and boosting the immune system. Some of the benefits of fasting are social, such as strengthening the bonds of family and community, sharing with the poor and needy, and fostering peace and harmony.
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