10 Ways to Celebrate Mawlid with Your Muslim Foster Child
We explore ten meaningful ways to celebrate Mawlid while fostering an Islamic child in care, fostering a sense of belonging, love, and spiritual growth.
Fostering an Islamic child in care is a noble and rewarding experience. As Mawlid approaches, it is essential to create a nurturing environment that celebrates this special occasion while embracing the child's cultural and religious identity. In this blog post, we will explore ten meaningful ways to celebrate Mawlid while fostering an Islamic child in care, fostering a sense of belonging, love, and spiritual growth.
What is Mawlid?
Mawlid, also known as Mawlid al-Nabi or the Prophet's Birthday, is an Islamic holiday that commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. It is celebrated by Muslims around the world, typically on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-Awwal.
The celebration of Mawlid varies among different Muslim communities, and customs and practices may differ based on cultural traditions. The event serves as an opportunity to express love, respect, and gratitude for the Prophet Muhammad's life and teachings.
During Mawlid, Muslims often gather in mosques or community centers for special prayers, sermons, and recitation of the Quran. They engage in the remembrance of the Prophet's life, his character, and his contributions to humanity. Devotional songs, known as nasheeds, may be sung to praise and honour the Prophet.
Additionally, Mawlid is a time for Muslims to reflect on the Prophet's teachings and embody his virtues of compassion, mercy, justice, and humility.
Many use this occasion to engage in acts of charity, visit the sick, help the needy, and spread kindness in their communities. It could also be a time to reflect on the prospect of fostering a Muslim child in your community.
Overall, Mawlid is a time of spiritual reflection, communal celebration, and a means to deepen the connection with the Prophet Muhammad and his teachings. It serves as an occasion to reaffirm faith, express gratitude, and strive to follow the Prophet's example in daily life.
When you become a foster parent with Active Care Solutions (ACS), you’d not only be giving children a safe, loving home when they need it most, but you’d be helping them stay connected to their religion and cultural roots, which is vital for their growth and development. As a faith-based fostering agency, we specialise in matching children with families who share the same cultural background or religion. That way, the child can heal in an environment that is familiar and can meet their unique needs, as well as celebrate special holidays that help them feel connected to their faith.
10 ways to celebrate Mawlid with your Islamic foster child
Here are some ways to celebrate Mawlid and ensure your Islamic foster child doesn’t miss out on this important holiday.
Teach the significance of Mawlid
Unfortunately, many children in care will have come from neglectful or abusive homes, so they might not have celebrated Mawlid before. Begin by explaining the importance of Mawlid so they can understand their connection to it better. Share the story of the Prophet Muhammad's birth and help them understand the historical context and the impact of the Prophet's teachings.
Read Islamic stories
You could select age-appropriate Islamic storybooks that highlight the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Take time to read these stories together, encouraging discussions and reflections. This will deepen the child's understanding of Islam and its values, which helps them with their sense of identity and who they are.
Decorate the home
Create a festive atmosphere by decorating the home with colorful banners, lights, and Islamic artwork. Hang verses from the Quran or phrases honouring the Prophet. Involving the child in the decoration process will make them feel part of the celebration and give them a sense of belonging in their foster home.
Learn and recite nasheeds
Nasheeds (Islamic songs) are a beautiful way to celebrate Mawlid. Find age-appropriate nasheeds that honour the Prophet and encourage the child to learn and recite them. Sing together, allowing the child to embrace the joy and spirituality of the occasion.
Prepare Mawlid food
Another activity to do together is to cook traditional Mawlid foods, such as date-based sweets, pastries, or desserts. Explain the significance of these foods, their cultural importance, and how they relate to Mawlid. This culinary experience will create lasting memories for the child in your care.
Engage in acts of kindness
Mawlid is an excellent time to reinforce the importance of charity and acts of kindness. You could involve your foster child in charitable activities such as giving food to those in need or volunteering at a local shelter. There are plenty more ideas too, such as leaving water in the garden for thirsty animals, making a DIY bird feeder, leaving sugar water out for the bees, making a conscious effort to smile at people, sending flowers to someone special, or preparing breakfast for the family. Sometimes it’s the smallest acts that can have the biggest impact.
Attend Mawlid gatherings
Check with your local Islamic center or mosque to find out if they organise Mawlid gatherings or events. By attending these gatherings, your foster child can listen to lectures, engage in Islamic discussions, and participate in communal prayers. This will help them connect with the wider Muslim community, which is so important for their sense of belonging.
Create Mawlid crafts
Engage your foster child in creating Mawlid-themed crafts for a fun-filled activity. Make paper lanterns, calligraphy art, or handmade cards with messages of love. Encourage creativity and imagination while reinforcing the significance of Mawlid through artistic expression.
Visit Islamic historical sites
If you have any in your surrounding area, plan a visit to Islamic historical sites or museums that showcase the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad. Exploring these sites will provide the child with a deeper understanding of their faith and its historical context.
Celebrate with family and friends
Invite family and close friends to join in the Mawlid celebrations. Organise a gathering where everyone can share stories, recite prayers, and engage in discussions about the Prophet's life. This could be a great way to encourage the child in your care to open up, interact with people and develop a sense of belonging within their foster family.
Want to know more?
Find out more about becoming a foster parent or take your first step to fostering and get in touch today - we'd love to hear from you.
Why children in care need to stay connected to their religion
At ACS, we strongly believe it’s crucial for children in care to feel close to their religion and culture. From our experience, the best outcomes are achieved when a child is placed with a family that knows, understands and respects the child’s religious and cultural needs. That’s why we’re one of the only independent faith-based fostering agencies that provide bespoke cultural and faith-based foster placements. Here’s why it’s important for children to stay connected to their faith during their time in foster care...
Could you foster a child of your faith?
There are thousands of children waiting for a suitable foster home that can meet their needs. We’re always needing more people to join our diverse pool of foster parents, especially from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. We have an inclusive approach to fostering, so whatever your language is, we’ll speak it, and whatever your religion is, we’ll respect it. Please enquire today to find out more about foster care and if it could be right for you.
