Title: Jamila Alqarnain. The Muslim Family Guide to Successful Homeschooling. California: Noon Publications, 2011.
Abstract: Jamila Alqarnain, the co-founder of Noon Publications, which publishes Islamic books and writings for both adults and children, lives in California with her husband and seven children.She began homeschooling in 2000 and a decade later decided to write a book to help readers make better decisions for their families.Alqarnain's publication, The Muslim Family Guide to Successful Homeschooling (2011), serves as a valuable introductory resource for parents considering the path of homeschooling.Distinguished by its narrative style, the book draws upon the experiences of homeschooling parents, facilitating an insightful comparison between homeschooling and public schooling.Unlike many conventional homeschooling guides that predominantly address secular approaches for accommodating diverse children's needs, Alqarnain's work sets itself apart by infusing each chapter with Qur'ānic verses and supplications, emphasizing an Islamic viewpoint.Central to the book is the recurrent theme of integrating Islam into every facet of life, including education, to nurture children to become genuine leaders (khulafā) in its truest essence.Each of the nine chapters focuses on different grade levels, as well as parents' struggles and what expectations they should have, and offers constructive information.Alqarnain's informal style of writing makes the book reader-friendly.Another unique and inspiring feature of the book, "Famous and Homeschooled," provides many examples of successful people from different fields who were homeschooled which can serve as a motivation and encouragement for those who feel lost amidst this journey.Chapters 1-4 provide the foundation of homeschooling and take a deep dive into important questions that can help the reader decide their motive for this undertaking.Alqarnain often relates her own story which helps readers in connecting with the book.The chapters focus on the purpose of homeschooling, its benefits, and sacrifices.She includes parents' experiences on how Islamic education helped them survive the vicissitudes of life and gives motivation and encouragement to aspiring homeschooling parents.One of the quibbles I have is that it imparts less information regarding statistics and studies on the benefits of homeschooling.The practical advice section is comprehensive and includes one of the most important points, "Man training for Boys" (p.65).In Chapter 5, "Unit Studies and Multi-Level Teaching," the task of curriculum planning, often daunting for homeschooling parents, is dissected by Alqarnain with the aid of diverse examples applicable to various subjects.The author's provision of a step-bystep approach for crafting personalized unit study themes from an Islamic perspective significantly simplifies the process.While the chapter serves as a valuable resource, especially for parents of younger children, a similar approach tailored for middle and high school grades would have been beneficial, considering the heightened complexities of incorporating Islamic principles into the academic curriculum at these levels.Following the foundational information in the earlier sections, Chapter 6 offers valuable insights into managing organizational aspects with toddlers, acknowledged as a