The Islamic Year: Surahs, Stories and Celebrations

PW has complained for some time about the lack of informative books about Islamic holidays and celebrations, and this book begins to fill that void. Aimed at school-age children and their parents, it is loaded with activities, crafts, recipes and stories to help children understand the meaning behind holiday traditions. The authors discuss some variations in holiday celebrations by Muslims around the world; in Turkey, Sufi whirling dances are performed during the evenings of Ramadan, while in Bangladesh, the wealthy give clothes to the poor. The book is imaginatively structured around the life of the prophet Muhammad, with holidays arranged as they relate to the prophet's life and work: his birth, his ascension, etc. The New Year's holiday (hijrah) is explained by pairing it with Muhammad''s migration from Mecca to Medina. Not just for Muslims, this book offers helpful and accessible information for non-Muslim educators and parents who are interested in interfaith understanding. The appendices include a glossary and a section of suggestions for teachers.