Articles & Essays
Meaningful Moments
The Prophet (صلى الله علیھ وسلم) said: "There are two blessings that many people are deceived into losing: health and free time." Without dhikr and consciousness, there is only a deep-set feeling of uncertainty as time passes. Every moment is an opportunity. A...
Montessori Education In Context
Islamic Montessori schools and those who practice in this niche educational setting, need a collective – a unified voice and presence to champion faith education as a distinct subset of the larger Montessori community. The problem is that even the greater Montessori...
The Imperative Need for AIMA: Why AMS is Not Enough
The Imperative Need for AIMA: Why AMS is Not Enough By Dr. Jaime M. Dodd Despite legions of American and international fans of Montessori education, and despite its renown as a superior method for teaching young children, neither the term “Montessori” nor the...
Structuring Life Around Salah
As Muslims, we have five pillars, or necessary religious actions, that are meant to be a root system for us on Earth, anchoring us in faith. The second of these pillars is salah: five daily prayers to remind us of our purpose and continuously construct our lives....
Wrongs Against the Child
The child is delivered to this world, a wondrous and magnificent being, infused with a capacity and potential that we scarcely comprehend – despite our advances in science and technology, and despite all our research on DNA, the human genome and in the study of...
Tarbiyya & Montessori
In his book entitled Riyādatul Sibyān, Imam Muhammad bin Ahmed al-Ramli mentioned two Arabic key terms in relation to the nurturing and education of children. The first is riyāda, which can be defined as training or spiritual exercise and originally refers to...
Thoughts on Aging …
Common evidence of the normal aging process, such as wrinkles, folds, grey hair, etc. has been a mother lode for commercial interests around the world – particularly in the West, where aging has become the bane of our youth-obsessed society. Women in particular, fight...
Insights into Islamic Education: The Fitrah and Identity Formation of Children
The concept of Islamic education represents a broad field of theory and practice. At a foundational level, Islamic education can refer to passing on the knowledge of the Qur’an and sunnah. Building upon that conceptualization is that Islamic education embodies secular...
10 Beautiful Phrases to Use with Your Child
It is so amazing when one reads the Prophet’s Seerah (narratives of his conduct, attitude and way of life), or biography, and learns about how he showed mercy, kindness, and respect to people around him, young and old. Through his actions, he teaches us how to deal...
Covid-19 Reflection
Have you ever planned out an idyllic day in meticulous detail, and upon its arrival been left with empty expectations and a looming feeling of dread? Perhaps the weather was not in your favor, somebody fell ill, or any force out of your control proved to be a barrier....
Dispelling Stereotypes Within Our Ummah: The Muslim Youth’s Dilemma
When we think of Muslim stereotypes we immediately imagine scenarios of aggressive, bearded men holding a gun, of oppressed, sad women weeping in a room, and of a group of radicals ready to kill in the name of Jihad. The average Muslim knows just how incorrect this...
Montessori Philosophy: The Absorbent Mind and Implications for IME
Early childhood is a uniquely critical period of life; it is a time of imprinting, wherein a new human being is initiated into the experience of life on this planet. This world into which we are born is exceptionally rich in sensory information and it is the natural...
Ramadan
As the blessed time of Ramadan quickly approaches, many of us recall the sunnah (habitual practice), through taraweeh nightly prayers, fasting, and iftar (breaking fast) dinners. It is easy for us to view this month routinely and physically without much deeper...
Montessori School – Preface for the Informed Parent
Despite legions of international adherents to the Montessori Method and despite its renown as a progressive and indeed, preferred method for educating children, neither the term “Montessori” nor the educational approach itself, bear any patent, trademark or copyright...
In Care of the Soul
There is a knowing of which we become dimly aware, only when our minds are quiet. When we do, its experience is so potent, infused with so much power, that it’s difficult to imagine it could be masked by the cacophony of life. And yet it is – every day. This knowing...
The passing of Yusuf Ibrahim Umar
Greater St. Louis Area March 10, 2019: In commemoration of today’s passing of Yusuf Ibrahim Umar… The 22 Days of Baby Yusuf by American Islamic Montessori Association To Allah We Belong and To Him We Will Return. So begins every Death Announcement from the St. Louis...
AIMA® News
Sr. Nadia Shahid on Tarbiyyah and Taleem at Shajara Tayyiba
By: Fatema Rehmani and Ulaa Kuziez After placing their backpacks and lunch boxes in their cubbies, students at Shajara Tayyibba group together for circle time. They start their mornings with adhkar and duaas (remembrance and prayer). Nadia Shahid co-founded Shajara...
Announcement – Mr. Mahmood
It is with a heavy heart that we share with our greater AIMA Community the recent passing of Mr. Ashfaq Baig Mahmood. Mr. Mahmood was not only our Trustee and most steadfast of supporters, but he was also responsible for aiding in the formation and inception of AIMA....
Dr. Katie Matthews’ Journey as a New Principal
By: Fatema Rehmani and Ulaa Kuziez Welcome to our latest issue of The IME® Report, which represents First Quarter 2021. We are pleased to report an exciting surge in interest on the topic of IME®, as reflected in a steady and unabated rise in inquiries at AIMA® and in...
Educator Maryam Farzam’s Classroom Transformation via IME
By: Fatema Rehmani and Ulaa Kuziez After twelve years of teaching traditional Islamic early childhood education, Ustatha Maryam Farzam gained her Montessori certification, transforming her personal and professional perspective on how to nurture a child in a learning...
AIMA Welcomes Its First Official Member School
Aima® is proud to announce that we have received our first official member in the Spring of 2021. AYA Montessori was founded by a group of parents, educators, and artists inspired by the potential to create a new Montessori learning community for their children. AYA’s...