 Okay, Salamu alaykum. Should we start all over or are we good? We're good, we're good. So today's a special month. Can somebody tell me what month we're in again? Excellent, that is the month we're in. What is the Islamic month we're in? Ramadan. Is Ramadan a special time or is it like any other month? It's such a special time. Who knows why it's such a special time? You don't? It's okay. Yes, it's because it's Ramadan. Excellent. Masha'Allah the Quran was revealed in Ramadan. Do you have something more to add? Go ahead. Masha'Allah exactly the Quran was revealed in Ramadan. So Ramadan is a very special month for Muslims and during this month we get to do a lot of special things. So we're going to start by reading this book, Elias and Duck Ramadan Joy. You guys have heard of this story? Have you heard of the story? You like Elias and Duck? Good, so I'm happy you haven't heard this one yet. We're gonna read it now. So remember I'm gonna start by opening it up and when I finish reading a page I will give everyone a chance to see the picture okay. So if you can't see it right away it's okay because I'll make sure that everyone gets a turn okay. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem. Elias and Duck stood at the edge of town patiently watching in the setting sun. Then the moon appeared and Elias said with cheer look Duck up there I see the crescent moon and just like that the month of Ramadan had begun. Did anyone go and try and find the Ramadan moon? Who found it? You guys have excellent eyes if you did I missed it this year but I saw it then the second and third day did you guys see it it was beautiful MashaAllah. The joy of Ramadan spread quickly through town with festive decorations and lanterns abound. The smell of treats spilled into the streets as the baker prepared sahud the last meal before the daytime fast that is so important to eat. Teach us what was a very important thing that it taught us you know sahud which is the meal we eat early in the morning is very important and it's a very good sunnah for us to do. So that's why we wake up really early and we try to eat. Then morning came and the sun was out Duck wait Elias had to shout the sun is still up let's not forget don't break your fast at least not yet when can I eat when the sun sets can I have something to drink not quite yet no food no drink not even a sip or crumb oh this is hard what's the point where's the fun Elias thinks that fasting is going to be hard inshallah one day you will be big enough fasting is not meant to be easy it can leave your belly empty and grumbling inside but know this feeling is just Allah's way of feeding goodness to your body and mind goodness like compassion to care for the less fortunate empathy to feel the hunger they often do gratitude to appreciate all the blessings you have and a reminder of just how fragile you are and that it's Allah who provides for you Elias looks silly at the bottom of the page he looks hungry fasting is a chance to nourish your soul your relationship with Allah and your community too it's a chance to practice self-discipline and restraint and build confidence in all that you do oh and so the hours in the day did I show you guys that page the hours in the day slowly ticked away sound away bells on the alarm clock the sun has set it's time for if tar do you guys know what if tar means exactly you break your fast do you want to add something he does he's very excited to break his fast or maybe he's just really excited that he made it all day without eating they broke their fast with just a few dates drank water prayed and then they ate they met them they met friends and family all around town and all around town not a frown could be found that is until they reached the other end of town because at the other end of town on top of a hill lived a man who was rarely ever seen no one ever really knew who he was and no one knew his real name but they all did know him as menacing mr. oh i'm not fond of this month Ramadan for 30 days the kids are so well behaved for 30 days all their bad deeds are gone everyone is so kind they give charity and stuff how will I ever stand all this goodness for 30 long days I know I will spoil Ramadan I've had enough menacing mr. mean he's a troublemaker I will cover entire neighborhoods with my menacing spray so kids may continue to play even when it's time to pray I will bake mouth watering cookies and place them all around so kids are tempted to break their fast even before the sun goes down it is better if we don't we'll have more energy I will spread rumors to encourage gossip and hope kids make promises they cannot keep yes this is how I spoil Ramadan and make it what it's not meant to be that menacing mr. mean oh no exclaimed Elias mr. mean is up to no good follow me we must save the neighborhood brave Elias and duck going to help their community they are mr. mean is so bad they are good choices stop right there mr. mean it's sheriff Elias I would end deputy duck we heard what you're up to your time is up you will never catch me hmm where can he be he I think he got away you see him you should help them you see him too you think that's a good hiding spot mr. mean got away but it's a good thing he's gone because there's no room for meanness only goodness in Ramadan and when a good deed is done the reward for it is multiplied not just once or twice not three times nor four but many many many many many times more and Ramadan a good deed we get more than just one time as the days of Ramadan passed one by one each day's fast help to improve everyone there was increase increased patience better health and important habits that were quite clear indeed each day was a chance to practice all these things and carry beaver habits throughout the rest of the year you see they got it's like they got badges they got special cards showing all the good things that they learned that they improved on in Ramadan they call it the Ramadan roundup cards so for the remainder of the month in the last 10 days Elias and duck looked forward to the rising sun while they were thankful for the joy from the Ramadan days that passed they were especially excited for all the blessings to come Ramadan Mubarak and have a blessed day Ramadan begins they have their own little times so I want to ask you guys what are some good habits that we could do somebody over here said go ahead we can give charity that's a really good good habit to get into that's a very sweet one you can surprise someone with a gift that's good back there and give people in the back hill chance too I'll come back you can read the Quran that's a good habit to get into very good yes we can feed those who need good masha Allah praying we could do prayers an extra salah you can go too you want to do it you want to say it for her praying both of you guys that's great you could pray your fodad and extra sunda fasting we get our fasting done okay let's get two more yes we can how can we yes praying to him a lot good a little bit louder having patience those are all great habits masha Allah I'm sure we could think of a bunch more but I want to see if you guys can think about this Ramadan and if you think that you have been practicing patience stand up if you don't think you have it's okay because Ramadan we just started Ramadan we can practice it in the next half okay good it do you think you've been practicing patience this Ramadan good okay now everybody down okay let's think how do you think this Ramadan you have been helping your mom and dad extra more than normal stand up if you feel like you have kind of so you want to do a half up okay great masha Allah okay now everybody down last one I want you to think hard about this do you think that in this month of Ramadan that you have been reading more Quran than you normally do if you do stand up good masha Allah excellent all right you guys can all sit down now if you didn't stand up that's okay because we just started Ramadan right so this Ramadan we can make it our goal to try and help our parents more to try and read more Quran and pray and to be more patient those are some great habits masha Allah so now we're going to read our second book do you guys want to read another book love this book it's one of my favorites it's called who will help me make if tar this is that we're gonna we're gonna read the book we don't want to want to surprise everyone's have it as a surprise by Esmat Hussein okay so what should I say before I begin thank you good Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem every year on the first day of Ramadan Mustafa Emke and his wife cooked a delicious meal for all their neighbors but his wife was not well this year let's cancel the iftar she said our neighbors will understand did I show you guys that picture continue our tradition Mustafa Emke replied I'll prepare the soup the rice and the beef kurma the salad and the Ravani all on my own I've watched you do it for 40 years but who will help you she said you're an old man now your bones creak and your hands shake don't worry he replied with a laugh I will find help but Emke called out to his daughter Halima will you help me buy the dates to break our fast I can't said Halima I am far too tired from fasting so Mustafa Emke went to the market with a pocket full of jingling coins and bought the sweet dates himself it wasn't lazy during Ramadan I think you're right yeah during Ramadan it helps get our digestive system healthy makes you faster gives you more energy I guess when we fast the month of Ramadan we can check with ourselves to see how we feel after yeah we're gonna keep reading what ask we'll raise our hands after all on his way home Mustafa Emke ran into his friend Mahmood will you help me make the red lentil soup for our iftar he asked I can't said Mahmood the onions always burn my eyes so Mustafa Emke cut the onions and carrots himself he washed the lentils and sprinkled the bubbling soup with paprika and dried mint Mustafa Emke spotted his neighbor Bashir outside will you help me make the pilaf rice and beef kavurma for our iftar he asked I can't said Bashir I will get my new shirt dirty so Mustafa Emke seasoned and stirred the spicy beef with one hand and he mixed the rice and crispy vermicelli with the other Mustafa Emke found his granddaughter Zainab playing a video game will you help me cut the cucumbers and tomato for the salad he asked I can't Zainab said if I leave my game now I'll lose all my points well he's looking really tired now so Mustafa Emke sliced and diced the mountain of tomatoes and cucumbers himself and he topped them with the feta cheese and a handful of black olives he's looking really tired now he's doing a lot of things by himself the delicious smells of Mustafa Emke's cooking tickled his family's nose it filled the air and made his neighbor's mouth water it was finally time to break the fast dates with me Mustafa Emke called out to the masjid but I did not help buy the dates Sir Halima how can I break my fast with them now Allah loves those who feed fasting Muslims Mustafa Emke said and he passed the juicy dates around to all the fasting men and women even though they didn't help he wants a lot to be happy with him so he did it because Allah would be happy with him after prayer Mustafa Emke motioned for everyone to come and into his courtyard for a meal but I did not help make the pilaf rice or beef kavurma said Bashir how can I enjoy it now and then I did not help cut the onions for the lentil soup said Mahmood how can I sip and slurp it now and I did not help cut up the salad said Zanab how can I happily munch on it now do you think they're feeling guilty for not helping I think they're feeling bad Mustafa Emke laughed and said Allah loves those who are generous especially to their families neighbors and guests and I always want Allah to love me and he ladled the fragrant soup into everyone's bowls and he filled their plates with mounds of rice beef and salad that was a really nice of thought he made maasha Allah when all the guests had happily filled their bellies Mustafa Emke stepped into the kitchen to prepare the tea he suddenly realized he had forgotten to make the Ravani that's a dessert he forgot to make the dessert oh but what will my guest have for dessert he said looking around how about this his wife Aisha pointed to a large tray filled with moisture Ravani syrupy baklava and sticky squares of Turkish delight I may be sick she said but I can still find ways to help my old husband that kind and thoughtful of her even though she was sick she wanted to help when he was busy doing all the cooking and preparing she saw that he might forget she helped him she didn't say hey you forgot dessert she said let me help him he's doing so much work already so when Halima had finished the last crumb of her sweet Ravani she stood up and said who will help me watch the dishes Mahmud asked who will help me sweep the floors Bashir asked who will help me take some food to the needy so now they're like it's time to help maasha Allah the neighbors wash the dishes the children swept the floors and their friends made plates of food to share with the needy that was very considerate of them the needy are those who might not have as much as we do when Mustafa Amka heard the call to Aisha prayer he stood up before he could all ask all the voices around him said together yes we will all come to pray with you and how did you guys like that book good what did it teach us always help others that's a great lesson helping us yes and he was was was Mustafa Amka was he very impatient said why aren't you guys helping oh he was so patient and why do you think he was not good Ramadan's a good time to be extra patient but go ahead the red hijab good but why do you think he was extra extra patient even when other people weren't really helping exactly it's because he wants a lot to be happy with them so when we do something good do we do it just because we want other people to be happy with us no why should we do it because we want a lot to be happy with us good so when you guys were telling me all the good deeds and good things we do during Ramadan one of the things you guys said was you like to read good extra Quran during Ramadan right so I have a game for you guys let me stand up Bismillah okay this game is called I spy things in the Quran Ramachele so it's have you ever seen rice when it has like this long pasta in it too sometimes people make it it's a special kind of rice so we're gonna play an I spy game it's called I spy things in the Quran okay so every one of these questions you have to read it and you have to think hmm this is mentioned in the Quran but you have to figure out what it is and then you have to go and you have to find it when you find it it's hidden all around this only in this room this masjid room okay so don't leave the masjid room we stay in here okay but when you find it you're gonna write the letter that you see next to the picture of the answer when you bring me all the answers I'll have a after-if-thought treat for you guys does that sound good yeah shala do you have a question bunny is in the Quran oh bani israel so good good you guys already heard a lot of words these it is good and then these will teach you even more words that are in the Quran and things do you want me to show you an example yeah okay I was built by prophet ibrahim alayhi salam and his son who knows what that is and don't worry you have your parents here they can help I was built by prophet ibrahim alayhi salam and his son can you say it the Kaaba so for that question you're gonna look for a picture of the Kaaba when you find it there's a letter and you write the letter here so I have pens and I have your papers and remember you can have mom or dad help you if they're here okay and inshallah when you guys bring me the end the the full paper with all the answers you have a treat okay once this is done we'll do our activity inshallah our craft for all of you guys yes inshallah inshallah