Inayet Petker, the world-renowned Nasheed artist, has embarked on a daring venture of transforming his nasheeds into a captivating series of colouring books catering to children and adults. This groundbreaking initiative sets him apart as the first nasheed artist to undertake such a creative endeavour.
The inspiration behind this ingenious idea struck him when he realised that around 30% of parents were not engaging in essential activities like reading during the critical early stages of their children’s development.
Witnessing the positive impact of introducing the richness of Islam to his children during this phase and observing how it influenced them in their later years, Petker felt compelled to fill this void and offer parents a similar opportunity.
“What shocked me was when I discovered that less than 30 percent of parents read to their children, and if it is part of our tradition to seek knowledge from the cradle to the Grave then we’re missing out on something. Because it shows our humanity when we’re interacting with people and with our children.”
What are Nasheeds?
Nasheeds, also called Islamic songs or chants, represent a distinctive form of vocal music. Their primary focus lies in praising and exalting Allah (God), the Prophet Muhammad, and the fundamental principles of Islam. The purpose of nasheeds is to inspire devotion, foster moral values, and create a sense of unity and love for the Islamic faith.
Nasheeds cover a wide range of themes, including expressing love for Allah, appreciating the beauty of nature, recounting stories from Islamic history, and emphasising the significance of performing good deeds and leading a righteous life.
Throughout his remarkable career, Petker has released 25 albums of nasheeds, with each album commemorating significant dates within the Islamic calendar.
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Creating a Positive and Nurturing Environment
Expanding upon the concept of lifelong learning, Petker emphasised the objective behind the colouring book series, which is to create a positive and nurturing setting that enables children to acquire Islamic knowledge and develop a deep affection for Islam.
Through the act of colouring, children can engage in an enjoyable and interactive activity that allows them to express their creativity and encourages them to explore and understand the significance behind the names of God and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). In this way, they can gain a comprehensive understanding of the teachings of Islam.
“The environment that we’re grown into, that we’re nurtured into is what we absorb, that is why from the cradle to the Grave. So I thought, why not intervene now and create a colouring series that will allow kids from a young age to be able to colour in [nasheeds such as], “I was a grapevine in Palestine where I lived with a family on a farm, Holy Al-Aqsa first Qibla or Thank You Allah”… Now you’re colouring in [the nasheeds], and you’re understanding Islam at an early precious level.”
The colouring book will be distributed to specific Lenasia, Laudium, and Durban bookstores. Additionally, each book will feature a QR code on the back. When scanned, the QR code will direct children to Petker’s YouTube channel, where they can enjoy his nasheeds and learn, listen, and recite them simultaneously.
