“Nurturing Young Hearts: The Sweet Journey of French-Speaking Muslim Kids with the Quran”

The Muslim community in France is a minority group, estimated at around 5% of the nation’s population, however, it is claimed that this percentage can reach 10% in metropolitan France. The first significant encounter between Islam and France dates back to the 8th century.

The history of Muslims in France is multifaceted—a blend of historical encounters and migration. Most Muslims in France today are immigrants or descend from immigrants from Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, with smaller populations from Turkey and West Africa.
Hence, France is home to a Muslim community of over six million, constituting about 9% of the country’s population—the largest Muslim population in Europe.
While the number of converts remains relatively small in France, yearly conversions to Islam have doubled in the past 30 years.

The growing Muslim population in France has led to an increased demand for accessible and convenient Islamic education, and teaching the Quran to children is of utmost importance as one of the fundamental pillars of education and morality.

This process not only introduces children to religious concepts but also helps in moral upbringing and the promotion of humanity.
Combining religious concepts with stories and simple teachings promotes the understanding of human interactions, reinforces order and discipline, develops human emotions, and cultivates a generation with religious values.

Quranic education can not only serve as a fundamental basis for moral upbringing but also have a long-lasting positive impact on children’s lives and personal growth.

Undoubtedly, learning the Quran in childhood is particularly important because children have fresh minds and a good ability to grasp any knowledge quickly, and the sciences they learn will have a stronger presence in their minds in adulthood. However, for our children to have proper education and learning, it is necessary to employ the correct teaching methods.

Using traditional and outdated teaching methods may make children disinterested and reluctant to continue learning. Initially, your child may think that learning the Quran is a difficult task to comprehend, but with the right approach and proper encouragement, we can make Quranic education enjoyable and delightful for our children.

Proper methods of teaching the Quran to children, such as teaching through games and storytelling, can transform Quranic learning into one of the most enjoyable experiences for children.

It is important for parents that their children develop a love for the Quran and grow up considering it as their best friend. To help foster this relationship, we need to assist children in experiencing an exciting and thrilling friendship with the Quran.

One way to establish this connection is through teaching the Quran to children through games and activities .

With the advancement of technology, online Quran classes have become an integral part of global Islamic education.

These classes offer flexibility and accessibility. Platforms like darulquran.co.uk provide online Quranic education, bridging faith and technology.

DarulQuran Academy has designed a course called “Sweet Quran” that focuses on teaching and memorizing small Surahs specifically for children. In this course, children will learn to appreciate and memorize the initial Surahs in Juz Amma through repetition and storytelling.

To make the process even more engaging, they can incorporate their dolls and toys, connecting the elements they adore in their daily lives with their relationship to the Quran.

By memorizing small Surahs, they take the first steps toward future Quranic memorization and learning.

The aim of this course is as follows:

• Familiarize children with the Quran as the Holy book for Muslims.
• Cultivate a love for the Quran.
• Memorize small Surahs in Juz Amma.
• Combine games and learning to facilitate progress for children.

DarulQuran Academy conducts Quranic courses in various languages such as English, French, Arabic, German, and Dutch, and Quran learners worldwide have participated in these courses. It is worth mentioning that the Sweet Quran course for French-speaking Muslim children has been conducted in two consecutive semesters, and the third semester will be held soon.

Based on conducted surveys, parents expressed satisfaction with the course content and teaching methods employed by the instructors.
Children enjoy the engaging and combined teaching method of this course. In classroom sessions, children actively participate in learning and interact with their peers. This opportunity enhances their self-confidence and provides a conducive environment for learning.

The third level of Tajweed in Quran Recitation is one of the courses offered at the DarulQuran for French-speaking Quran learners. The DarulQuran is proud to announce the successful completion of the first Tajweed course in French for the age group of 7 to 12 years.

Tajweed involves correct pronunciation of Quranic letters and words, adherence to Tajweed rules, modulation of voice, and recitation of verses properly and beautifully.
Tajweed in Quran Recitation is not only recognized as a beautiful art and skill, but its main objective is to revive and preserve the correct recitation of the Quran.

By practicing and focusing on Tajweed, individuals can come closest to the original pronunciation of the Quran and avoid pronunciation errors.

Therefore, learning Tajweed is a process that requires guidance and teaching from experienced specialists and instructors, and the DarulQuran is proud to benefit from the knowledge of experienced instructors in this field to educate Quran learners.