The Guiding Light: Book Two

The Guiding Light series has been designed to teach the essential aspects

of Islamic beliefs and practices to children of primary school age. Areas

explored include the core Islamic beliefs; the five pillars of Islam; the Sīrah

(life of the Prophet) and early Islamic history; good manners and etiquette;

moral training and guidance; and much more. Where appropriate, Qur’ānic

passages and Aḥādīth are introduced to support the central theme of each

lesson.

This book is the second in the series and is tailored towards children aged

7–9 who are confident readers. It teaches basic concepts such as: What

are the Asmā’ul-Lāhil-Ḥusnā?; What is the Āyatul-Kursiyy?; What are the

Mucawwidhatayn?; and What was the first Hijrah in Islam? It also explores

what invalidates aṣ-Ṣalāt (prayer), what to expect when attending Friday Prayers,

and the differences between offering ṣalāt in congregation and praying

alone. A further section explores the subject of aṣ-Ṣawm in detail, not

just the annual fast of Ramaḍān, but also supererogatory fasting. The key

features of a mosque are highlighted, together with the rules governing

behaviour when attending the mosque. Other rules of etiquette such as

good table manners and greeting fellow Muslims are also addressed.

Lessons are written in clear, simple English and are kept short to maintain

interest. Most lessons are followed by a comprehension exercise and homework

activities to encourage the pupils to revisit the materials they have

been taught. Classroom discussion points are also included to invite the

children to explore each chapter in greater depth and to think about

how they can apply the lessons in their everyday lives. The passages of

Arabic, where included, are furnished with a pronunciation guide to aid

memorisation and correct recitation, alongside the English meaning to

help foster a good understanding of what is being taught.