Blessed Beads: The One Simple Thing To Put In Your Ramadan Calendar This Year

 

Every year I have big plans for a Ramadan calendar  but where I always start strong, by mid Ramadan I’m falling apart trying to keep those things filled with meaningful things for each child! Sound familiar? 

This year I had a special idea that I’d love to share with you. It’s easy and elegant and beautiful. It’s non-toxic and sensory and eco friendly. What is it? It is a bead a day, for each day of Ramadan and three extra ones on Eid!

That’s  thirty- beads stacked together one day at a time – and just like that – the humble bead is elevated to an instrument of joy, light and reflection: A tasbih! The beads are oversized and child friendly, we are not talking small choking hazard or delicate stones and pearls.

The premise truly is simple: take one bead for each day of Ramadan and have your child add it to a string stacking the beads as the days go by, adding to what will be, by the end of Ramadan – their own personal handmade tasbih. They can use themselves or give to a loved one as a treasured gift.

To add a layer of meaning and intention to this mini adventure of ‘making your own tasbih‘  I have shared a simple step by step below to make the beads from ‘play clay’ with your child using  items found in your kitchen cupboard. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you do so –

~ While forming this ‘clay’ with your child, talk about how Allah fashioned us with His Hands lovingly and with intention for a higher purpose.

~ As you form each bead, whisper a small ‘Bismillah’ for each one, imagining how special each bead feels knowing it is being created for a higher purpose.

~ If you choose to use real clay to make these beads, as our friend Ashley May shares in her book Thirty Sunsets And A Moon, be sure to pull out this previous lesson from our archives, where together, you will be able to reflect on the diversity of soil colors and how they relate to the story of prophet Adam.

~ As you roll each bead, don’t focus too much on the exact size or dimension, but talk with your child about how each bead is different and has its own small imperfections and that each bead is imprinted with the warmth and energy of the hand it is in.

~ As you let them dry overnight and find the soft malleable balls transformed into hard spheres so satisfying to roll in your hands – reflect on the names of Allah – the Turner of Hearts who can make the hardest of hearts soft again.

If you love the idea but don’t have the time right now to make these from scratch, you can still use the idea of building a tasbih with your child by using  other natural materials such as woolen felt balls or wooden beads. My friend Leila includes a wooden ready to assemble tasbih set as part of  her small business Muslim Busy Box. The beauty of these materials is not only are they biodegradable but they can both hold a perfume very well, so don’t forget to add a touch of fragrance to these  natural child friendly tasbih!

This year  we are being intentional about trying to have a ‘Renewable Ramadan’. Pushing ourselves to make choices that are green and which leave a low carbon footprint and letting go of what can seem like a lot of ‘noise’ around the latest Ramadan or Eid trends. Follow us on instagram as we begin to share other ways in which to decorate both our homes and our hearts with the hashtag #RenewableRamadan

 

 

Modeling clay recipe inspired by FamilyEducation

You might  also like A Simple Ramadan Craft You’ll Want To Keep Up All Year, another beautiful, eco friendly ‘make’ with a child that costs little or nothing.