Esa's Ramadan Countdown
Esa, almost six and a half, tries a full practice fast before Ramadan, and learns there is more to the month than going hungry. Ages 4 to 9.
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What is Esa's Ramadan Countdown about?
Esa's Ramadan Countdown is an Islamic animated video for children aged 4 to 9 about a little boy who is desperate to fast in Ramadan, and who learns that the month is about much more than being hungry.
Esa comes home from school bursting with excitement: Ramadan is almost here, and he is a big boy now, almost six and a half. Can he please fast this year? His mum is happy he is so keen, but worried he is too young. Ramadan starts in two days, so she suggests a practice fast for half a day. Esa wants a full one, and she agrees.
The next morning he wakes early for suhoor with his family. At first it is easy peasy. He brushes his teeth, reads, plays with his toys and says he is not hungry at all. But when he checks the clock it is only 10 in the morning, with eight hours to go until iftar. His mum reminds him it is only a practice, and he can eat whenever he wants. Esa keeps going: he plays with his sister, does a puzzle and colours in his book. Grumble, grumble goes his tummy. By 11 he is very hungry, and sad, because he did not think fasting would be this hard.
His mum sits him on her lap. Ramadan is not just about not eating, she says: there are lots of ways to show Allah you are trying to be a good Muslim. Together they make a good deeds calendar, one good deed for each day of Ramadan, with a special surprise at the end. Esa can't wait to begin.
The video is the animated picture book by Aliza Syeda, illustrated by Putut Putri.
What your child will learn
- Ramadan is about good deeds and kindness, not only about not eating.
- Young children can practise fasting step by step.
- We can do a good deed every day to please Allah.
- It is all right to find something hard and keep trying.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why did Esa want to fast so much?
- How did Esa feel when it was only 11 in the morning?
- What did Esa's mum say Ramadan is about?
- What good deed could you put on your own Ramadan calendar?
Words to know
- Ramadan
- The month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
- Suhoor
- The meal eaten before dawn on a fasting day.
- Iftar
- The meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Esa's Ramadan Countdown suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 9. It is ideal for young children who want to fast like the grown-ups and are not yet ready for a full day.
What does Esa's Ramadan Countdown teach children?
That Ramadan is about good deeds and kindness as well as fasting, and that every day of the month is a chance to please Allah.
Does Esa's Ramadan Countdown have music?
No. This version is music-free.
How long is Esa's Ramadan Countdown?
About 5 minutes.
