Living A Balanced Life Ensuring that our children balance their lives between academics,

leisure, and spirituality

Bellfield Parent Seminar

Balanced Life: Islamic Perspective

Imam Kazim (a)

ساعة لمناجاة :اعاتإجتهدوا فی أن یكون زمانكم أربع سمرالمعاش، وساعة لمعاش خوان هللا، وساعة ال رة اال

قاة م وبهذه وساعة تخلون فیها للذاتك … والث م فی غیر محرالساعة تقدرون علی الثالث ساعات

Imam Kazim (a) states: “Strive to divide your days into four parts: one part for munajat with Allah, one part for securing life’s necessities, one part for spending time with trusted brothers and individuals … and one part in seclusion where your take part in halal pleasures. This last part will enable you to perform the other three.”

Balanced Life: Islamic Perspective

Imam Kazim (a) divides our day into four parts:

Spirituality

Work

Relationships

Leisure

Relationships will be discussed in a forthcoming seminar

Academics

School is where students should be 100% in study mode. To ensure this happens:

Ensure your child has a high protein and carb breakfast to keep them going to 10:30

Ensure your child has a healthy lunch that will sustain their energy (high fibre, low GI)

Ensure they sleep early for the 5:30 wake up, hence limit study time to 3 hours (maximum) per night

Academics

Reading for fun

There has been a sharp decline in reading amongst children and teenagers

Students who do more reading at home are better readers and have higher math scores

Parental involvement crucial

US Department of Education: Where parent involvement is low, the classroom mean average (reading) is 46 points below the national average; when involvement is high, classrooms score 28 points above the national average – gap of 74 points!

Leisure

Imam Kazim (a): and one part … where you take part in halal pleasures. This last part will enable you to perform the other three

Three areas of leisure:

Sport

Electronics

Rest

Sport

Exercise and Wellbeing in scientific journals:

Exercise associated with fewer internalising problems and increased subjective wellbeing (twin study)

Exercise is effective in the treatment of depression, not significantly different than medication or therapy (meta-analysis)

Exercise is a protective factor from the harmful effects of stress and subclinical anxiety

Sport in Islam

Dua Kumayl: جوارحییارب ، یارب ، یارب ، قو علی خدمتک

O’Lord…strengthen my body for your service.

Prophet (s): Verily Allah loves strong people.

Strength is defined in various ways, e.g. power against anger or desire, but also physical strength.

Prophet (s): Teach your children swimming and archery.

Imam Ali (a): Walk in the mornings and afternoons.

Electronics

Benefits:

Access to information and education

Maintain and develop relationships

For identities through self-expression

Promote a sense of belonging

Harms

Cyberbullying

Isolation

Inappropriate material

Inappropriate relationships

Sedentary behaviour

Sleep

Australian statistics:

20% report short sleep

12% experience excessive daytime sleepiness

9% have diagnosed sleeping disorder (OSA, Insomina; Restless leg syndrome)

Health related outcomes of poor sleep

Obesity

Type 2 Diabetes

High Blood Pressure

Health impairing behaviours

Cardiovascular disease

Spirituality

(Intrinsic) Spirituality is associated with the following in scientific journals:

Wellbeing (Fabricatore et al., 2000; Falb & Pargament, 2014; Rye et al., 2013; Ozman

et al., 2018; Lun & Bond, 2013)

Life Satisfaction (Marques et al., 2013; Cowlishaw et al., 2013; Lee et al., 2012)

Resilience (Tuck & Anderson, 2014; Gnanaprakash, 2013; Rahmawati, 2014)

Healthy behaviours, such as physical activity (Borras et al.,

2010)

Decreased depression (Berry & York, 2011; Bonelli et al., 2012; Barton and Miller,

2015)

Decreased substance use (Barton and Miller, 2015; Nedelec et al., 2017; Sukhwal &

Suman, 2013; Prout, Gerger, & Gottdiener, 2015)

Spirituality at Bellfield

Illuminations classes

Daily prayers

Counselling/mentoring services

Community staff

Advice: frequent Islamic centres for further Islamic education and spiritual encouragement