ilmbee guides
Guides for teaching Islam to young children
Short, practical guides for Muslim parents, teachers and homeschoolers of children aged 4 to 11. Each one answers a real question first, then shows you how, step by step: teaching about Allah, salah, duas, the Prophets' stories, manners, Ramadan and more. Every Qur'an and hadith reference is named, so you can check it.
Getting started
Where to begin: routines, choosing books and making screen time count.
- For parents · Getting startedA 10-minute Islamic bedtime story routine for kidsWudu, one short story, the three Quls and the sleeping dua: a calm routine that fits any evening.Read the guide
- For parents · Getting startedHow to choose Islamic books for a 5-year-oldAn eight-point checklist, the red flags to watch for, and which topics to start with.Read the guide
- For parents · Getting startedIslamic screen time for kids: how to make it countScreen time does not have to be wasted time. How to choose Islamic content for kids, set limits that stick, and turn screen minutes into real learning.Read the guide
- For parents · Getting startedIslamic books for kids in India: a parent’s guideWhat to check, which language to read in, print or e-book, reading on a phone, and the price in rupees.Read the guide
- For parents · Getting startedIslamic books for kids in the UAE and the Gulf, in EnglishWhat to look for, English stories in an Arabic-speaking home, books before Umrah, and reading on the move.Read the guide
- For parents · Getting startedIslamic resources for Muslim children in the UKHome, madrasah and school, books by school year, Ramadan and Eid in term time, and help for teachers.Read the guide
Teaching about Allah
Who Allah is, in words a young child can hold on to.
- For parents · AqeedahHow to teach your child about Allah, ages 4 to 7Start with creation, teach three short truths, and answer the big questions in a sentence or two.Read the guide
- For parents · AqeedahAngels in Islam for kids: who they are and what they doMade from light, always obeying Allah: Jibreel, the angels who write our deeds, and the angels who come to listen to the Qur’an.Read the guide
- For parents · AqeedahJannah for kids: what Paradise is like, and its eight doorsRivers of milk and honey, no sadness or tiredness, eight doors, and the deeds that open them, from the Qur’an and hadith.Read the guide
- For parents · AqeedahThe holy books of Allah for kids: the Tawrah, Zabur, Injil and Qur’anThe four books named in the Qur’an, the Prophet who received each, the Scrolls of Ibrahim, and what makes the Qur’an special.Read the guide
- For parents · AqeedahThe names of Allah for kids: 12 beautiful names and their meaningsTwelve of Allah’s beautiful names, each with a simple meaning, a Qur’an verse and a sentence a child can keep.Read the guide
- For parents · AqeedahThe six articles of faith for kids: what every Muslim believesAllah, the angels, the books, the messengers, the Last Day and qadr: one simple sentence and one source for each.Read the guide
Stories of the Prophets
Which stories to tell, in what order, and how to keep them true.
- For parents · The ProphetsStories of the Prophets for kids, and the order to tell them inThe 25 Prophets named in the Qur'an, a telling order for young children, and how to keep every story true.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Adam, the first human, for kidsAdam, the first human and the first Prophet: the names, the tree and the dua Allah forgave, retold to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Nuh and the ark, for kidsProphet Nuh, 950 years of patience, the ark and the flood, retold from the Qur’an to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Salih (Saleh) and the she-camel, for kidsProphet Salih, the people of Thamud and the she-camel of Allah, retold from the Qur’an to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Ibrahim for kids: the star, the fire and the four birdsIbrahim and the star, the fire that became cool and the four birds, retold from the Qur’an to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail, for kidsIbrahim and Ismail: the valley of Makkah, the dream, the ram and the Kaaba, retold from the Qur’an to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Yusuf for kids, from the well to the palaceProphet Yusuf’s dream, the well, the prison and the shirt that brought back his father’s sight, retold to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Asiya and baby Musa, for kidsBaby Musa on the river, the kind wife of Pharaoh and her dua for a house in Paradise, retold to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Musa for kids: the staff, Pharaoh and the seaProphet Musa, his staff, Pharaoh’s magicians and the sea that parted, retold from the Qur’an to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Sulaiman, the ant and the hoopoe, for kidsProphet Sulaiman, the little ant, the hoopoe and the Queen of Sheba, retold from Surah An-Naml to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Prophet Yunus and the whale, for kidsProphet Yunus, the great fish and the dua he made in the dark, retold from the Qur’an to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of the People of the Cave and their dog, for kidsThe young believers, their dog and the 309-year sleep, retold from Surah Al-Kahf to read aloud.Read the guide
- For parents · The ProphetsThe story of Surah Al-Fil for kids: the elephant army and the birdsAbraha’s army, the elephants and the birds in flocks: the story of Surah Al-Fil, retold to read aloud.Read the guide
The Prophet ﷺ and his Companions
Helping children know and love the Prophet ﷺ and the people around him.
- For parents · SeerahBilal ibn Rabah for kids: the story of the first muadhin“Ahad, Ahad”, the friend who freed him, the first adhan in Madinah, and footsteps heard in Jannah.Read the guide
- For parents · SeerahHadith stories for kids: six true stories the Prophet ﷺ toldThe thirsty dog, the woman and the cat, the three men in the cave, the buried gold, the floating money and the branch on the road.Read the guide
- For parents · SeerahIsra and Mi’raj for kids: the story of the Night JourneyThe Buraq, Masjid al-Aqsa, the Prophets in each heaven and the gift of salah, told simply and from authentic sources.Read the guide
- For parents · SeerahKhadijah radiyallahu anha for kids: the first to believeThe first believer, the words that comforted the Prophet ﷺ, and the salam Allah sent her, from authentic hadith.Read the guide
- For parents · SeerahStories of the Sahaba for kids: six true stories of the CompanionsAbu Hurairah’s bowl of milk, Anas and the gourd, Aisha’s three dates, Abu Umair’s bird, Muadh’s dua and Abu Bakr in the cave.Read the guide
- For parents · SeerahThe Hijrah for kids: the Prophet’s ﷺ journey from Makkah to MadinahThe cave of Thawr, Asma’s belt, Suraqah’s horse and Madinah’s joyful welcome, told from authentic sources.Read the guide
- For parents · SeerahThe life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for kidsHis life from Makkah to Madinah in simple words, how he treated children, and how a child can love and follow him.Read the guide
Salah, duas and worship
Prayer, duas, dhikr and the holy places, at a child’s pace.
- For parents · WorshipWhen and how to start teaching your child salahWhat the Sunnah says about age seven, what to teach at three, five and seven, and how to keep it gentle.Read the guide
- For parents · WorshipThe first duas to teach your child, with meaningsTen short duas for children, in Arabic with transliteration, meaning and source: eating, sleeping, waking, sneezing, parents and knowledge.Read the guide
- For parents · WorshipJumu’ah for kids: how to make Friday specialWhy Friday is special, the Friday Sunnahs children can do, sitting through the khutbah, and school days.Read the guide
- For parents · WorshipSadaqah ideas for kids: 30 ways children can giveThirty ways to give, with and without money, a family sadaqah jar, and how to keep giving sincere.Read the guide
- For parents · WorshipHow to talk to children about Palestine and Masjid al-AqsaA gentle, age-by-age guide for Muslim parents: what to tell children about Masjid al-Aqsa and Palestine, how to handle the news, and how they can help.Read the guide
Manners and character
Adab from the Sunnah, one habit at a time.
Ramadan, Eid and special times
The Islamic year with young children, and gifts that last.
- For parents · SeasonsRamadan with young children: a simple plan for ages 4 to 11How to make Ramadan meaningful for children aged 4 to 11: practice fasts, a nightly story, giving, Qur'an and dua, week by week, without overload.Read the guide
- For families · SeasonsEid activities for kids: ideas for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-AdhaGetting ready the night before, the Sunnahs of Eid morning, ideas for each Eid, and how children can give.Read the guide
- For families · SeasonsEid gift ideas for Muslim kids, by ageIdeas for ages 3 to 11, Eidi without the arguments, gifts children give, and gifts for a child far away.Read the guide
- For parents · SeasonsHajj for kids: what pilgrims do, and the first ten days of Dhul HijjahWhy Muslims go to Makkah, the steps of Hajj in children’s words, the talbiyah, and ten days of ideas at home.Read the guide
- For parents · SeasonsHow to explain Eid al-Adha and Qurbani to childrenThe story of Ibrahim and Ismail as the Qur’an tells it, Qurbani in simple words, and the questions children ask.Read the guide
- For parents · SeasonsHow to explain Ramadan fasting to a 5-year-oldA short script, the reasons in a child’s words, honest answers to hard questions, and a gentle way to practise.Read the guide
- For parents · SeasonsLaylatul Qadr for kids: the last ten nights, togetherWhat the Night of Decree is, when to look for it, the dua to learn, and a calm plan for one special night.Read the guide
- For parents · SeasonsRamadan activities for kids: 30 ideas, by ageIdeas for ages 3 to 11, a 30-day list in three stretches, and how to fit it around fasting and school.Read the guide
For teachers, schools and homeschoolers
Using books in a classroom, a madrasah or a homeschool week.
- For teachers · TeachingUsing picture books in an Islamic studies class or madrasahHow Islamic studies and madrasah teachers can use picture books on a projector or whiteboard: a 30-minute lesson plan, good questions, and review.Read the guide
- For parents · TeachingAn Islamic studies reading plan for homeschoolers, by ageA year-long Islamic studies reading plan for homeschool families with children aged 4 to 11: what to cover at each age, a weekly rhythm, and review.Read the guide
Teaching a class, a madrasah or a homeschool group?
Series 01 is 100 illustrated books, read in order, that work on a classroom screen: Read to me lights up each word as it is read, and every book ends with review questions. See how schools and teachers use it.
How these guides are written: they are written by the ilmbee team for parents and teachers. They teach method, not fiqh rulings; for questions of practice in your family, please ask a scholar you trust. Every Qur'an reference is given as surah:ayah and every hadith with its collection, listed at the end of each guide. Spotted something we should fix? Tell us.