Celebrating Literacy Day: Nurturing a Love for Reading and Learning at Asra Hub
Introduction: What is Literacy Day?
Each year, International Literacy Day reminds us of the transformative power of reading and writing. Literacy is not merely a technical skill but the foundation of communication, critical thinking and participation in society. At Asra Hub, Literacy Day is an opportunity to reflect on our Islamic heritage of knowledge and to nurture the next generation with both academic excellence and spiritual depth.
History of Literacy
From the very beginning of Islam, literacy has been central to faith and civilisation. The Qur’an’s first revealed command, “Iqra” (Read!) positioned literacy as a sacred duty and a means to draw closer to Allah (SWT).
During the Islamic Golden Age, scholars established vast libraries and universities that became global centres of learning. Knowledge was not confined to religious sciences but extended to mathematics, medicine, philosophy, literature and the arts. This heritage laid the groundwork for many scientific and cultural advancements in the world, influencing both Eastern and Western civilisations.
Why Literacy Day Matters
Literacy is one of the arts (adab) appreciated by Muslims as being the sum of intellectual knowledge which makes a man gracious and dignified. The Islamic heritage epitomises every aspect of linking sciences of rhetoric, grammar, lexicography and metrics with beautiful artistic expressions in the form of sophisticated poetry masterpieces which greatly influenced many of the most famous Western classical literary works.
Literacy as a transformative tool of the human experience has been used by Islamic literary geniuses to firstly reflect the beauty of Allah (SWT) but also to paint a rich tapestry of Islamic mystical experience, traditional value system and beliefs. Books are regarded as windows into other worlds, real or imaginary. They allow a reader to pass the sliding glass doors and view themselves through the mirrors that the author creates. Reading therefore can become a self-affirmative process, where it becomes very important that the image a reader, especially a young child, gets of themselves is a positive experience that confirms to them that they are valued members of society.
Al-Mu’allim was one of the names of our beloved Prophet of Islam and teaching is a sacred profession most valued in the eyes of Allah (SWT). For a child, after their parents, a teacher is the most important person in their life. A teacher is their role model, awakener, a guide and a light on their path to becoming a human being.
The Importance of Reading
Reading is far more than an academic pursuit. It develops imagination, empathy and resilience, while also providing access to knowledge across cultures and disciplines. A consistent reading habit nurtures curiosity, sharpens critical thinking and strengthens memory.
In the Islamic tradition, reading carries a spiritual dimension, beginning with the Qur’anic command “Iqra”. To read is to gain knowledge, but also to embark on a journey of reflection, growth and self-discovery guided by both faith and intellect.
The Importance of Reading for Children
For children, reading is both an educational and emotional journey. Shared reading time strengthens the bond between parents and children, creating memories that last a lifetime.
For Muslim children in particular, carefully chosen books can affirm identity, reinforce positive values and instil pride in their heritage. Stories that reflect faith, ethics and diversity equip young readers to engage confidently with the wider world while remaining rooted in Islamic principles. In this way, literacy strengthens not only the mind but also the moral and spiritual character of the next generation.
Homeschooling and Literacy
Homeschooling has become an influential movement across the world, offering families the flexibility to shape education around their values and the individual needs of their children. At the heart of successful homeschooling is literacy. A strong reading culture provides the foundation for learning across all subjects and helps children become independent thinkers.
For Muslim families, homeschooling offers the opportunity to select books that reflect faith, ethics and identity. It allows parents to place greater emphasis on Qur’anic literacy, Islamic heritage and ethical storytelling alongside academic excellence.
At Asra Hub, we recognise the vital role homeschooling plays in shaping young minds. Our platform provides tailored literacy resources, curated reading lists and frameworks that guide parents in choosing age-appropriate and ethically aligned literature. In doing so, we support families who wish to make literacy not only a skill but a way of nurturing spiritual, intellectual and moral growth at home.
In a nurturing online setting that upholds Islamic adab (good manners), students feel protected and can flourish both academically and emotionally. This allows them to rebuild confidence and rediscover the joy of learning.
Challenges Faced by Muslim Families in Education
For many Muslim families, one of the greatest struggles is balancing modern education with the desire to remain true to faith and practice. Mainstream schooling often overlooks Islamic values, leaving children without representation or a connection to their religious identity. Parents worry about how to keep their children close to the Qur’an, Sunnah and Islamic traditions while ensuring they also succeed academically.
Affordability is another challenge. Quality education, particularly faith-aligned options, is often costly and beyond the reach of many families. This can create feelings of compromise, where parents feel forced to choose between a strong Islamic foundation and access to high academic standards.
At Asra Hub, we recognise these struggles. Our platform was built to provide a balanced, affordable and faith-centred alternative. Through literacy, homeschooling support and structured programmes such as IGCSE courses, we help families raise confident young people who can thrive academically while staying firmly rooted in their Islamic identity.
Asra Hub: From Support Network to Online School
Asra Hub was founded in 2015 as a support network for home-educating families in the UK. By 2018, it had formally developed into a structured online school. Today, Asra Hub is a recognised platform in the field of British Home School UK, offering families guidance, resources and academic programmes tailored to their needs.
What sets Asra Hub apart is its strong Islamic ethos. Our curriculum and resources are designed to nurture not only academic achievement but also spiritual and moral growth. Literacy, in particular, is rooted in the Qur’anic command “Iqra” (Read!), reminding students that knowledge is both a duty and a blessing.
In addition to fostering literacy, Asra Hub prepares students for success through structured programmes, including IGCSE courses, ensuring that young learners are equipped with both ethical grounding and recognised qualifications. Our model combines the flexibility of homeschooling with the rigour of structured education, supporting Muslim families across the UK and beyond to raise confident, faith-centred and well-rounded young people.
Asra Hub’s Approach to Literacy
At Asra Hub, our research team has developed a literacy model to evaluate books for ethical content and age suitability. This includes both curriculum-based reading schemes and titles from bestselling children’s authors. Guided by a thorough review of peer-reviewed research in journals such as Children’s Literature in Education, we identified several key parameters:
· Age and ethos appropriateness
· Representation of Islam and Muslims through childhood literature
· Teaching philosophy and metaphysics through children’s literature
The recommended reading list produced by the Asra Hub research team contains books that are in accordance with Islamic ethical values. However, this has in no way excluded Western authors, particularly the older generation such as Blake, Shakespeare, Keats and Dickens, who eloquently conveyed ethical messages that resonate with Islamic sensibilities, and which were in many cases inspired and influenced by Islam in the first place.
Scholars’ Input and Islamic Heritage of Knowledge
The contributions of Muslim scholars and thinkers highlight the enduring value of literacy. Figures such as Al-Khwarizmi, the father of algebra, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), whose medical and philosophical works shaped centuries of thought, Al-Jahiz, who wrote on zoology and sociology, and Fatima al-Fihri, founder of the world’s first university in Morocco, remind us how literacy nurtured both academic excellence and moral development in the Islamic Golden Age.
This legacy continues to inspire Asra Hub’s commitment to promoting literacy that unites ethical guidance with intellectual growth.
The Future of Literacy in Muslim Communities
Looking forward, investing in literacy is essential for empowering the next generation. In a rapidly changing world, reading equips young Muslims with critical skills such as problem-solving, creativity, empathy and cross-cultural understanding. By fostering a culture of reading grounded in Islamic values, we ensure that future generations excel academically while remaining guided by faith and responsibility.
Conclusion
As we celebrate Literacy Day, Asra Hub reaffirms its mission to nurture a love of reading and learning that draws from our rich Islamic heritage while embracing the best of global literature. Guided by the Qur’anic call to “Iqra”, our vision is to empower Muslim families to raise children who are not only academically accomplished but also spiritually grounded.
Literacy, when rooted in values, becomes more than a skill. It becomes a light, guiding individuals and communities towards dignity, knowledge and spiritual growth.
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