Al Ghazali: The Mysteries of Charity & Fasting for Children With Workbook

 Understanding the spiritual meanings on which the practices of Islam are based, opens up the vastness of the inner life. Even though young Muslim children are not yet obliged to fast or pay zakat, the virtues and spiritual dimensions on which these are based can easily be introduced and comprehended even by five-year-olds. Imam al-Ghazali’s stories and metaphors offer an effective way for parents to communicate with their children, in a language which can be used and directly related to the occurrences within everyday life. In the following two books of the Ihya, such virtues as generosity, gratitude, selflessness, reflection, self-discipline, patience, honesty, moderation, and trust in God’s loving wisdom are no longer abstract concepts but can be clearly seen instead as urgent and absolutely relative to each individual. We are indeed blessed to have Imam al-Ghazali’s systematic presentation of aspects belonging to the inner sunna and his detailed map for guarding and perfecting our innate and noble nature.

Age Range Suitability

There are workbook activities and review questions included for all ages including parents and teachers. Some can be read and explained to smaller children which will help them get acquainted with the many components of charity and fasting before they reach the age when it becomes required. For small children, there are also opportunities to draw. Some of the captivating activities in the curriculum for each chapter are perfect for younger children and there are others that are easily adaptable.

Workbook and Curriculum

• The order of ideas presented in the book follows that of Imam al-Ghazali.
• The stories in the book are intended to introduce children, parents and teachers to the imam’s teachings and insights.
• The workbooks and curricula (for which we encourage creative contributions from teachers according to the age groups and cultures of their classes) are integral to the Series and key to the ideas becoming a lived reality as:
• The workbook provides a chance to review and learn the key ideas and engage with them.
• The curriculum provides a system to put what has been learned into practice. Enjoyable games and activities give children a chance to create new habits while reinforcing their noble natures

About The Author

Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad Al-Ghazali was born in 450 AH (1058 A.D) in the Iranian town of Tus, studied Islamic law and theology at the Seljuq College in Nishapur, and became a distinguished professor at the famous Nizamiyya University in Baghdad.

Despite his glittering success, he was inwardly dissatisfied, so he abandoned his career for the life of hardship, abstinence and devotion to worship. During ten years of wandering, he experienced a spiritual transformation, in which the Truth came to him at last, as something received rather than acquired.

Blessed with an inner certainty, he then applied his outstanding faculties and vast learning to the task of revitalizing the whole Islamic tradition. Through his direct personal contacts, and through his many writings, he showed how every element in that tradition could and should be turned to its true purpose.

Imam al-Ghazzali was fondly referred to as the "Hujjat-ul-lslam", Proof of Islam, he is honored as a scholar and a saint by learned men all over the world and is generally acclaimed as the most influential thinker of the Classical period of Islam.

He passed away in 505 AH (1111 A.D).

"The Imam Ghazali Children's Series is a gift to our children who deserve a pedagogy of Islam that allows them to develop the innate goodness which God has placed within each human being so they can become moral, kind and happy adults."  -Professor Ingrid Mattson

"This work is nothing less than a revolution in developing humane, ethical, and committed Muslim youth. Imam al-Ghazali is the "Proof of Islam", and these teachings, presented in a beautiful life-affirming way, will prove to be a major shift in the way Islam is taught to young people, who are in desperate need of guidance in today's confusing times. As a community, we owe much to Fons Vitae for bringing them to fruition. Let the transformation begin!" -Shaykh Hamza Yusuf