Makkah and Madinah have such a special status as the two holiest cities for us as Muslims. There are so many virtues that you can share about them, such as the increased reward of prayers in the Haramain, the home of the Kaba, the first masjid, the home of Hajj and Umrah and many many others. The Makkah and Madinah virtual field trips take kids on a fun interactive journey through the main special sites and you can find them here.
However, there are some unique places and features of Makkah and Madinah that you might not be as familiar with. Here are five very special gems of Makkah and Madinah to teach your kids about!
The Islamic University of Madinah
Did you know that the Islamic University of Madinah is in the Guinness Book of Records? It has students from the largest number of countries in the world! 170 countries and 50 languages are represented at the university. Studying at the university is not only free but students receive an allowance, yearly plane tickets and free accommodation. There are 9 different colleges and you need to have memorised the entire Qur’an before being accepted into the College of Qur’an. Graduates return home to their communities and share their knowledge and as such the university has had a huge impact on Muslims around the world. Their official website can be found here to learn more,
The Cooling Marble of the Haramain Floor
Have you ever wondered how the floor of the Haram remains cool enough for pilgrims to walk on barefoot, even in the midday Saudi Arabian sun in the height of summer? The answer lies in the special properties of the marble used. It is imported from the Greek island of Thassos. Normally it is reserved for luxury properties at over 250 dollars per metre square however the Saudi authorities installed it throughout the Haramain. It’s a blessing to pilgrims in both Makkah and Madinah!
The Miraculous Zamzam Well
Your kids are likely familiar with the story of Hajar and the Zamzam well’s origin. However, they might not know about how the Zamzam well is now managed and how it caters for pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah. 40 million litres of Zamzam water is distributed in Masjid AlHaram in Ramadan alone! It’s amazing how much care is taken to make sure everyone has access to Zamzam water when they visit Makkah and Madinah.
The King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran
This unique printing institution is located in Madinah and you are likely very familiar with its work. The famous calligrapher Uthman Taha wrote by hand the most popular copy of the Quran that is found in masaajid and homes around the world. Not only that but they produce fonts and digital editions that are used all over the internet. You can view more about what they do and download free fonts and resources here.
The Library at the Prophet’s Mosque
Finally, did you know about the library located at Masjid An-Nabawi? It contains over 180,000 books and caters to a range of visitors with books in various languages including Braille and a large audio library.
Gems of Makkah and Madinah Reading Passages
If you would like your child to learn all about these special places, I designed a set of reading comprehensions just for you.
They are perfect independent work for Muslim homeschoolers and all Muslim kids!
The pack contains:
⭐5 Reading passages
⭐Question sheets
⭐Answer key
⭐Colour and Black and White Versions
They are available on Etsy, TPT and in the Teach Me Islam Shop.
Free resources to help you teach kids about Islam
I hope you have found these tips about 5 unique gems of Makkah and Madinah to teach your child about helpful. If you would like to get a FREE reading comprehension resource about Allah’s amazing animal, the glass frog, then join the mailing list here to download the free fun resource and gain access to the free resource library.
Here are some other blog posts you may be interested in:
Why You Should Teach About the Prophets of Islam
Why you should carefully select non-fiction texts for Muslim kids
