|  | |  | Helping Our Children Say No to Gossip By Umm Ahmed Adults often partake in discussions or conversations which involve and concern others. These may arise in formal settings such as at work or in informal spaces with friends or with family members on a day-to-day basis in a typical household. Sometimes these conversations transcend into what we call 'gossip.' And it is not just adults who engage in such conversations. According to the latest research, children as young as eight also frequently indulge in gossip and rumor spreading (now we know it is not just the teens!). Find out more about the Islamic guidance on gossip and backbiting and why we need to caution our children against it. |
| | | Parenting Tip Muslim parents have two important responsibilities when it comes to guarding the tongue: the first is to be mindful of their own speech and the second is how that speech sets the stage for teaching their children about gossip and backbiting, ridicule and bullying, honesty, and so much more. |
| |  | Being Mindful When It Comes to Joking By Miriam Mohamed Disparagement humor is an attempt to amuse oneselves or others through the denigration of a social group or its representatives. In other words, it is a joke or comment that puts someone down who is already rendered vulnerable based on social status. This type of humor is forbidden Islamically, and parents need to be very clear about that in cautioning their children against this type of behavior. It is a monumental challenge, in a society where there is rampant disregard for respectful speech, particularly when it comes to humor. Read more about this important topic in the full article. |
| | | Quranic Guidance “Not a word is said except that there is a watcher by him ready to record it.” (Surah Qaf, 50:18) |
| |  | Interview with Baba Ali: On Delivering Halal Humor By Zahirah Lynn Eppard Baba Ali is an internationally-respected U.S. comedian who delivers a unique brand of “halal humor,” material that is entertaining and also follows Islamic etiquettes. He has lots to say about why it is important to guard our tongue at all times. And he had much to share about the topic with Sound Vision’s Director of Religious Education Zahirah Lynn Eppard. Check out the details of her interview here. |
| |
|
| | Inspiration Some of the scholars said, “I do not mention a brother of mine in his absence except that I imagine him sitting before me, so I only say about him what he would love to hear if he were present.” Imam Ghazali (Source: Iḥyaa’ ‘Uluum al-Deen 2/181) |
| |  | Book Review: You Must Be Layla By Miriam Mohamed You Must Be Layla by Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a chapter book for tweens and young teens that addresses Islamophobia, racism, toxic masculinity, and the importance of kindness and forgiveness. This story follows Layla Hussein a young Sudanese girl who is curious, adventurous, and determined to learn anything and everything she can about the world. When Layla moves to an exclusive private school, things don’t go according to plan. When faced with racist and faith-based prejudices from fellow students and teachers, she has to depend on her strong sense of family and love to overcome the obstacles and stay grounded in her faith. The book would make for great summer reading. Read more in the full review. |
| | | Interesting Details The sages and scholars of Islamic spirituality warn that the tongue should be guarded from the following 8 types of speech: - lying
- breaking promises or oaths
- speaking ill of others or slandering
- wrangling, arguing and disputing with others without any clear benefit or when you fear it will get out of hand
- self-justification or self-praise in a way that leads to arrogance
- cursing or using foul language
- invoking evil on creatures even if they are your worst enemies
- jesting, ridiculing, and scoffing at people in a way that hurts people’s feelings or gives them a bad reputation – this is even worse when this type of speech is directed toward an entire community of people
Further details can be read in the full article. |
| | Online Resources Guarding your Tongue and Speaking Effectively - This chapter from the Buidlling Character through the Quran and Hadeeth Series is backed with details and also has a reference graphic to references about various aspects of speech found in the Quran. Sins of the Tongue - This video by Said Tasleem contains lots of detail about guarding your tongue and a particularly strong caution directed toward young people against cursing. (16:08) 10 Ways to Be a Postive Muslim in a Negative World - This is a wonderful set of reminders to help us weather the storms of constant negativity. |
| |  | Adam’s World Video: Adam Painting with Aneesah Adam is inspired following a trip to the aquarium to paint a picture of a dwarf lantern shark. When he encounters Aneesah angry about Dad asking her to clean her room, he has a chance to speak about Islamic guidance, about good manners, and about gratitude. There is also a good deal of content related to the adhan in this video, including a beautiful song by Dawud Wharnsby about the call to prayer. (10:21) |
| |
|
| | NEW Adam’s World Online Classes Set the Stage for Summer Learning and Fun! Sound Vision has crafted amazing opportunities for your child to be engaged in learning about Islam and having fun while doing so. Our 2022 Summer Camp offerings bring together artists and teachers who use creative methods to expand knowledge and love of Allah from the safety and convenience of your own home. Classes target children between the ages of 4-12 and start as early as June 4 so don’t delay! Learn more and register online at https://academy.adamsworld.org/. |
| |
NEW Classes at your Fingertips! While our Education Production Team is working on preparing future classes, there are a number of pre-recorded sessions to fill the gap. These are top-notch offerings by our amazing host teachers that enhance understanding and love of our deen with the maximum convenience of viewing the videos at a time that works best for your family. Check out these offerings: |
|  | In this course, students will learn to be in awe of Allah's creation and by extension, learn more about the awesome Creator Himself! Srs. Inas and Amira have teamed up to bring you seven classes that focus on animals mentioned in the Quran. In each session, there will be details about an amazing creature, lessons in Arabic vocabulary, a focus on a beautiful name of Allah, supplemental worksheets, and an art project. Our hosts will use the same methods that students already love - songs, stories, mind maps, and more! For more details or to register online, visit Adam's World Academy. |
|
|
 | In this course, students will learn about the significant contributions that have been made by Muslim men and women scientists and teachers. Srs. Inas and Amira will host seven classes about inventions that change the world. There will be details about the inventor, the region where the invention took place, how we are still using these innovations today, and an amazing art project connected to the lesson. There is a lot to learn here (for parents, too)! For more details or to register online, visit Adam's World Academy. |
|
|
|  | In this course, students will get a glimpse and learn to appreciate the incredible diversity of the Muslim ummah. Sr. Huda will be taking students on a journey around the globe to visit six different Muslim countries. She will be focusing on the geography, clothing and food from the region, local customs, and famous landmarks. Included in each journey will also be a cooking demonstration of one of the country's favorite dishes. What a perfectly delicious way for families to learn about Muslims around the world! For more details or to register online, visit Adam's World Academy. |
|
|
 | Hanifa is not a professional chef. She is a teen who LOVES baking! She has selected six delicious sweet treats and served up an entertaining cooking demonstration for each that not only walks you through the steps to make them but also offers special details about the ingredients and skills needed to complete the process. By the time you finish, you are likely to love baking, too! Note that younger children may need supervision in the kitchen.
For more details or to register online, visit Adam's World Academy. |
|
|
|  |
Our Sound Vision team is in need of assistance on many fronts! When we combine our skills and creative energy there is an amazing amount of work we can accomplish! We have lots of projects in the works and specifically need help with: - Writing articles for our parenting newsletter
- Boosting our presence on social media
- Expanding outreach efforts to attract new students for our online classes
- Reviewing scripts for new Adam’s World videos
- And more!
If you are interested in joining the effort, send your resume and a brief cover letter that identifies your interests and availability to: zahirah@soundvision.com |
| |  | | The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same. |
| | | |
|
| |
|
|
