ISA Holidays: Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Written by Aya Khalil and illustrated by Huda Fahmy, this guide intends to help educators learn more about how to create inclusive and safe spaces for their Muslim students during the month of Ramadan.

ISA Librarians consult experts in the fields of children's literature to select books for our community members. One of our resources for purchasing Ramadan books is Kirin, who writes and shares reviews through her Notes from an Islamic School Librarian blog.

This selection of picture books features various traditions and ways to celebrate the holy month, showing young readers the diversity within the Muslim community while celebrating the shared principles.

"For followers of Islam, the month of Ramadan is the holiest time of the year. But why is it so sacred? Why does it fall at a different time every year? And what, exactly, does avoiding food and drink have to do with it? In the BrainPOP movie on Ramadan, Tim and Moby explain the basic facts of Ramadan, and show how it’s celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world. You’ll learn why the Islamic calendar differs from the Gregorian calendar, and how the rules of Ramadan are set out in the Koran, Islam’s holy book. You’ll hear all about the sawm, the commandment that forbids Muslims from eating or drinking during daylight hours. And you’ll also discover how Ramadan helps believers embrace the virtues of charity, self-discipline, and family togetherness. So click on this movie--we promise it won’t spoil your appetite!"

Did you know?:

"There are about 1.9 billion Muslims around the world, approximately 25 percent of the world population. Indonesia has the world’s highest Muslim population, with some 240 million Muslims living in the country. Pakistan is second with about 225 million Muslims, followed by India (211 million), Bangladesh (155 million), and Nigeria (111 million)...

Among the most common sayings are “Ramadan Mubarak” and “Ramadan Kareem”. These are Arabic sayings that translate to “blessed Ramadan” and “generous Ramadan”.

Greetings are not limited to the spoken language. They also extend to sign language and Braille. Some countries have their version of sign language, but placing one hand horizontally across the mouth is common among most to represent fasting."