When the atmosphere is full of devout offering prayers and doing good deeds, why should children be left behind in the pious season? Ramzan, the holy month is significant for many reasons — one of them being the ‘Bismillah ceremony’ — which marks a child’s initiation into the reading of Quran. While there isn’t any grand celebration, the devout say it helps in setting an example for kids to follow. “Since children see us pray and read the Quran, it is wise to initiate them at a time when everyone is engaged with prayers. My son was introduced to the Quran during last Ramzan when he was four-years old,” says Md. Sikandar who is a marketing official with a national magazine.
But that doesn’t mean that parents expect their children to begin fasting as young as four years. They understand doing roza isn’t possible for the little ones, especially when they are school going children. “My daughter likes to sit with me when I read the Quran. She is too young to understand but she knows it is something important and doesn’t usually disturb me while praying. She imitates me and I think in a way it is quite good. I always believe it is best for children to learn with an example,” says Nazneen Ahmed a home maker.
Once initiated into reading the Quran, the child goes through a learning process, “that automatically helps the child understand better.” At times they are too young to understand but finally it is up to the family when they want their child to start reading the Quran. So, has Nazneen already introduced her children to the Quran? “Formally not yet. But like my nephews we might do that during Ramzan in the future,” she says. What about festivities associated with Bismillah ceremony? “It isn’t a must. Some people do it to make the child feel special and it also an occasion for family and friends to meet, it is used as an excuse but not a rule,” says Sameer Siddiqui, a businessman.
There isn’t a time-bound frame for the Bismillah ceremony, it all depends on when a child is ready to be able to read. Since the ceremony can be held at any time, why not during the Ramzan, says a Muslim scholar. “To make it look like an occasion, the iftar is done in a grand way and a few friends are called over,” he adds.
