Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
For Nadeira Khan, the pressure placed on children by academics has become a growing concern, with young students experiencing stress from an early age.
She believes education, including religious instruction, should inspire children rather than overwhelm them.
This concern, coupled with her faith in God and love for children, inspired the mother of three to create an Islamic activity and colouring book designed to make learning about religion more engaging.
The book, which is now being sold for $65, combines basic Islamic teachings with colourful illustrations, mazes, word searches and other activities aimed at children aged eight and under.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Khan said she wanted to do something fun to ease the burden of school.
“The lives of children are being ruined with academics. By Standard One, they’re already stressed,” Khan said.
For Khan, the publication represents more than a business venture. It is an expression of her faith, a long-held dream of becoming an author and an opportunity to encourage children to learn about Islam more enjoyably.
“I am a firm believer in God’s existence, so I thought that I should give Dawah by reintroducing the basic principles of Islam through this medium, encouraging children and even adults to learn in a more fun-loving manner,” she said.
Dawah refers to inviting others to understand or learn about the message of Islam.
Khan said the idea developed over the past few months after someone suggested that she produce a colouring book.
Although writing a book had been a childhood dream, she said responsibilities throughout her life had prevented her from pursuing it.
“When ideas kept popping into my head, it dawned on me that I should not stop there, that I should put some love and creativity into the book,” she said.
Khan said she used applications to help design the book, ensuring that the material was simple and accessible.
“I presented a page with religious information, very short and simple, and after each page there are at least two activities to do. They will be learning valuable things without even realising it,” she said.
The book carries the subtitle, Learning Can Be Fun, reflecting Khan’s belief that children should be encouraged to develop an interest in learning rather than associate it with pressure and boredom.
Khan, who has observed religious instruction in Sunday schools and Maqtabs over the past decade, said she was concerned that some teaching methods had become too dull and academic.
She believes children need opportunities to learn through creativity and participation.
“It encourages them to want to learn and to learn more by not even realising,” she said.
Her objective is to help children become familiar with the fundamentals of Islam while encouraging them to explore their faith further.
She also hopes the publication will eventually be used in schools and Maqtabs, and believes it could serve as an introduction to Islam for non-Muslim children and adults.
The book was reviewed by Shaykh Khalid Hussein and Maulana Kavir Mohammed, a process Khan said was important in ensuring that the religious information was accurate.
She acknowledged that scholars may follow different schools of thought, but said religious material must be presented responsibly.
“Since information is being shared about one’s religion, it is extremely important to display that information truthfully and correctly in terms of spelling, meaning and interpretation,” she said.
Khan also said her new role as an author comes alongside her responsibilities as the operator of Ralico Insurance, her charitable work through the ASH-NAD Foundation and raising three children.
Khan said her faith has guided her charitable work and shaped her understanding of her purpose in life.
She believes she was placed on Earth to serve God and humanity, and said helping others has brought her a sense of fulfilment.
“I live for helping others and making people happy. That’s who I am,” she said.
Her parents, whom she described as her “angels who walked on earth”, remain an important source of inspiration.
Khan said they taught her the importance of faith, honesty, kindness, respect and humility, while encouraging her to learn about and respect people of different religions and backgrounds.
“I grew up learning about everyone’s religion. I was taught to respect everyone regardless of religion, colour, status,” she said.
She believes religious learning should promote understanding rather than division, and hopes children can be encouraged to appreciate different beliefs while developing their own faith.
For Khan, the publication marks the beginning of a new chapter in a life shaped by business, family and community service.
Her message to parents, women and aspiring entrepreneurs is rooted in faith and perseverance.
“As long as you have God in your life and good intentions, nothing is impossible,” she said. “Work hard and as long as God thinks something is good for you, it’s yours, but you’ve to believe in Him and in yourself.”
For now, Khan hopes her colourful book will help children discover that learning about their faith can be a joyful experience, while giving families a resource that combines education, creativity and religious understanding.
