Beirut -

The child often associates Eid al-Adha with the sheep and is enthusiastic about the preparations, whether in decorating the house and preparing sweets or drawing and coloring the different shapes of the "Eid sheep".

This is the sound idea that must be instilled in the mind of every child in the early stages of his life.

Many parents ask: How can the idea of ​​the sacrifice be explained to children, especially those at a young age?

Sarah Hassouna: In the fifth and sixth grades, we tell the child the full story of our master Ismail and how God ransomed him with a great ram (Al-Jazeera)

Explain the concept of sacrifice

Sarah Al-Asha Hassouna, a teacher of Islamic education at Khaled Ibn Al-Walid College in Beirut, offers some ways to explain the idea of ​​a sacrifice that can be narrated to children in an interesting and easy way.

She told Al Jazeera Net, "The method of explanation must be correct, simple, interesting and based on noble values, the most important of which is thanking God for his blessings. It begins with preparing the child psychologically by starting with manual and artistic activities and reading comic books in a clear cartoon way, and there are no scenes of sheep slaughter, and on YouTube there are many Religious stories that a child simply absorbs.

The teacher advises Al-Asha to make models that simulate the honorable Kaaba, explaining the ritual of circumambulation and performing the process of Hajj, and making Eid greeting cards with models of cardboard, cotton and straw to make the Eid sheep. These activities bring joy and pleasure to the hearts of children.

It is also possible for the child to participate in the process of preparing food and sweets in various forms of sheep, and all this is to clarify the meaning of the sacrifice for the child, and that these animals were created by God Almighty and permitted for us to eat them, and that part of their meat should be distributed to the poor and needy so that they may rejoice and feel the joy of the feast, so the young children acquire the character of giving. and mercy.

Al-Asha adds, “Parents should focus on the fact that the sheep - the sacrifice - will leave, and that the period of its presence before the Eid is a temporary period, and the child should not be forced at all to see the scene of the sacrifice, especially the young ones, unless the children have completed the age of pilgrimage, which is the appropriate age to see her (10 years)."

The participation of children in preparing decorations and sweets in the shapes of various sheep contributes to explaining the idea of ​​the sacrifice (Shutterstock)

preparing the child

The child must be prepared during the ten days by explaining the importance of the Hajj season and Eid al-Adha, and informing him of the virtues of these days, especially as they gather the fifth pillar of the Islamic religion, and that fasting during the day and the pause of Arafat is a reason to erase sins and sins, in addition to the desirability of reciting the Holy Qur’an with praise. And pray.

The school Sarah shows that in the first grades in Lebanon - as in all countries of the Islamic world - we teach children the meaning of circumambulating the Kaaba, and we make them realize this information by watching television to follow the rituals of Hajj, so they understand the meaning of takbeer, cheering and wearing white Hajj clothes, i.e. “Ihram”.

As for the fifth and sixth grades - according to the teacher Sarah - the child is told the story of our master Ismail and how God redeemed him with a great ram, the importance of this sacrifice and the full details of the rituals of Hajj, and that Hajj is obligatory on every Muslim who is financially and physically able to perform this duty and travel to Makkah Al-Mukarramah once in age.

Hassouna: It is necessary to inculcate noble values ​​in the hearts of children on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (Al-Jazeera)

Values ​​that children learn from Eid al-Adha

Sarah Hassouna believes that it is necessary to inculcate noble values ​​in the hearts of children on the occasion of Eid, as this is an opportunity to educate children on righteous deeds and the necessity of thinking about others and accustoming them to the ties of kinship and honoring parents.

The most important of these values ​​are:

  • Submission to what God has commanded us and contentment with His decree and destiny.

  • honoring the elderly and caring for those we love;

    Obedience to parents and respect for the great, learned from the story of the Prophet Ismail.

  • Belief in God's ability to do all things.

  • Thank God Almighty for his countless blessings.

Teacher Al-Asha asserts that "Eid al-Adha is very important for children, in which they learn sincerity, loyalty and sacrifice for the sake of others. As well as giving and the principle of tolerance, and the importance of optimism."

And he drew attention to the importance of teaching the child kindness to animals and not to treat them harshly, and to provide them with food and drink before slaughter.