🤝 Friends of other faiths · for grown-ups
Our different festivals
What it's about
Singapore children grow up with friends of many faiths: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist and others. This manner is about kindness, fairness and respect, with confidence in who we are, never superiority. Questions about attending or greeting on other festivals are for your family to settle with guidance from the asatizah; this lesson stays with kindness and fairness.
What Allah says
لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.
Being kind and fair to friends of other faiths, who live in peace with us, is part of good akhlaq. Our manners show what Islam teaches.
Things to talk about
- How do you think Mei Ling felt at the open house?
- At lunch, a friend offers you some of their food. It isn't halal. What would you do?
- In Ramadan, a classmate asks why you don't eat at recess. What would you do?
- Some children laugh at a friend's special clothes for their festival. What would you do?
- Allah does not stop us from being kind and fair to people of other faiths who live in peace with us. How can we show it?
Every family is different
Every family is different. Some children live with one parent, with grandparents, with a step-parent or with a guardian. Whoever cares for your child, the same love and good manners apply: change “Mama” and “Abah” in the stories to the people in your child's life.