Courage enables us to face difficulty, danger or pain in a way that allows us to maintain control over a situation. We can build courage by identifying things that frighten or challenge us and thinking of strategies for coping with them. We also can build courage by remembering that nothing can harm us unless and Untill Almighty Allah wills it and nothing can benefit us unless Allah wills it. Talk to your child about what it means to have courage. Sometimes, we think we don’t have courage because we feel fear. However, we do have courage to help us whenever we feel afraid. We use courage when we try new things that feel a little scary, like learning how to ride a bike. We also use courage when we stand up for what we believe is right. Ask your child to name words they associate with courage. Then ask for actions they associate with courage. Acknowledge that there are many ways to use courage and that courage is similar to strength. Often they are used together. Stress that we all have courage, even though we sometimes think that we do not because we feel afraid. Have your child tell you about, write about or draw a picture of a time that they used courage. Ask your child to think of a time when they were afraid. What were they afraid of? Why? What did they do? Ask if they are still afraid. Ask your child if they think big people are ever afraid. Have them ask big people around them to describe a time when they were afraid. Why? What did they do? Encourage your child to talk about their fears. Try to help your child identify the differences between real and imagined fears. Make a list and further discuss. Discuss with your child strategies for facing the above list of fears. How many strategies can he/she think of? As your child about a time when they were brave or had courage. What caused them to be afraid? How were they brave? Have your child make (or make one for your child) a badge saying “I have Courage” and let them wear it for the day. For ease of use, instead of making a badge, I will probably have mine made into something they wear around their neck. As your child if they have ever seen anyone else show courage or bravery.
Bravery is one of the Islamic characters and it is part of Iman. However, Islam condemns for us to be from those who are extremely careless under the pretext of being brave, this is known as tahawwur when a person intentionally puts himself into trouble out of carelessness. There are some who do their duty to please their Lord with a brave character and as a result are tested by Almighty Allah. This is called ibtilaa. So we need to balance the topic.
Did they ever see you be brave? Discuss when and why? This will help them think more about other people’s actions and make them aware of bravery in everyday life, insha’Allah. As a Muslim, how should we try to approach our fears? What things can we remember to help us deal with our fears (i.e., Allah will assist us in doing what is good and no harm can come to us unless Allah wills it, etc.) Call attention to acts of bravery, those that happen in your family, in your community and in Islamic history (when a person spoke out against injustice, when someone stood up for what they believed in, when someone protected someone else, etc.).Discuss with your child ways in which they can improve reliance on Allah. In other words, ways in which they and other Muslims can be more brave every day. In daily life, discuss when you or someone in your community stands up for what they believe in. Use it as a learning tool and discussion starter with your child. In your daily life, help your child stand up for what they believe in and praise them when they do so. For example, if children see or hear others taunting and teasing another child, encourage them from “joining the crowd” and even better, to step up and speak against it. Pressure is a hard thing to stand against. Praise children when they stand firm. Bravery is one of the Islamic characters and it is part of Iman. However, Islam condemns for us to be from those who are extremely careless under the pretext of being brave, this is known as tahawwur when a person intentionally puts himself into trouble out of carelessness. There are some who do their duty to please their lord with bravery and as a result are tested by Almighty Allah. This is called ibtilaa. So we need to balance the topic.
