Coming of Age

Question:

Hi, my name is Beth and I am a seminary student in Chicago. I am writing a paper on how we pass along our religious traditions to our children and looking at celebrations and life-cycle events. I was wondering if in the Islamic tradition there was a specific celebration that acknowledged a child's "coming of age," such as confirmation or baptism in Christianity or a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Judaism. If you could help me on this matter I would be grateful.

Answer:

Islamic sources are silent on this matter. However, Muslims around the globe have developed cultural traditions, which have no authority in Islamic sources of the Qur'an and the Hadith. In India-Pakistan region Muslims have the following clebrations.

1. Bismillah Khawni: This celebration takes place at the age of four years and four months when the child begins to learn the Qur'an recitation. The child is adored with flowers, relatives and friends gather and watch him/her recite first chapter of the Qur'an with the help of a tutor and the celebration ends with a dinner.

2. Khtme Qur'an: This is the celebration when the child has completely recited the Qur'an. The child receives gifts and guests have a dinner.

Dr. M. Amir Ali, Ph.D.

E-mail your comments to amirali@ilaam.net