Islamic gifts for grandchildren from grandparents

The most meaningful Islamic gifts from grandparents carry something of the grandparent: a book with a written dedication, a first Qur’an with their name and a dua inside, a prayer set given with “pray for me”, a recorded family story, or a personalised storybook. If you live far away, choose something you can read together by video call.

What do grandchildren remember from their grandparents?

Grandchildren rarely remember toys; they remember time, stories and words written to them. Ask adults about their grandparents and you hear about a bedtime story, a prayer mat that smelled of attar, or a Qur’an with a name written inside. Grandparents pass on faith, family history and duas, and the best gifts carry those.

What are the most meaningful Islamic gifts from grandparents?

The most meaningful gifts combine an object with your words or your time. Here are the ideas grandparents return to most, and how to make each one personal.

A book with your words inside

Write a short dedication inside the cover of any good Islamic book: the date, the occasion and a dua. A personalised storybook goes further: the child’s name and likeness are part of the story, and you add your message on the opening page, for example: “To our dearest Zayd, with all our love and duas, Dada and Dadi.”

A first Qur’an or Juz ’Amma

A Qur’an from a grandparent is a classic. Choose a child-friendly edition with clear print and a wooden stand (rehal), and write their name and the date inside.

A prayer set

A child-sized prayer mat, cap or prayer outfit and a tasbih, given with the words “pray for me”, builds a beautiful bond.

Your voice and your family’s story

Record yourself telling a Prophet story or a family story, and give it with a book. Or make a simple photo book of the family with captions in your own handwriting.

Which grandparent gift suits which age?

Should grandparents give every grandchild the same?

Being even-handed is the safest course. When a Companion gave one son a gift and not the others, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told him, “Fear Allah and be just to your children” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2587). That hadith is about parents and their own children, but many scholars encourage grandparents to follow the same spirit, so no grandchild feels less loved.

• Give gifts of similar value at the same occasion, even if the items differ by age.
• If you reward a milestone, such as completing a juz, say in advance that any grandchild who reaches it will get the same.
• Remember step-grandchildren and the children in the house who are not “the birthday child”.

Is Eidi from grandparents a religious duty?

No. Eidi, the money or small gifts elders give children at Eid, is a much-loved cultural custom rather than an obligation or a Sunnah act. It is still a lovely tradition. Gift-giving in general is encouraged: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Give gifts and you will love one another” (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 594, graded hasan by al-Albani).

How can grandparents give from far away?

A book is the best bridge between homes. If your grandchildren live in another city or country, try this:

1. Send the same book to both homes, or send one and ask a parent to hold it up on a video call.
2. Set a regular time, for example Friday after Maghrib, for a “story call”.
3. Read a page each, then ask a question: “What did Nuh do when people laughed at him?”
4. End with a short dua together, and let the child choose next week’s story.

Children love that a grandparent knows “their” story. Our guide to reading with children has tips for making shared reading lively, and our Islamic bedtime stories are ready to read aloud.

Which occasions suit a grandparent’s gift?

• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (see Eid gifts for kids)
• The Aqiqah or a new baby’s first visit (see Aqiqah gift ideas)
• Birthdays, where the family marks them, and starting school
• Completing a first surah, a first juz or a first full Qur’an reading

A gift for every stage

Some grandparents give the same kind of gift at each milestone: a board book at the Aqiqah, a personalised storybook at three, a Prophet story collection at five, a first Qur’an with a stand at seven. Each carries a dated dedication. By the time the child is grown, they have a small shelf that tells the story of their grandparents’ love.

A beautiful dua to write in any of them is the one in Qur’an 25:74: “Our Lord, grant us from among our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes.” And one day, they may say for you the dua of Qur’an 17:24: “My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.”

Practical points for grandparents ordering online

• Check the spelling of names with the parents, especially names with several spellings.
• For a personalised book with a likeness, ask a parent for a clear, recent photo of the child’s face.
• Have it delivered straight to the grandchild’s home.
• Allow two to three weeks before a dated occasion.

Hudhud, a UK personalised Islamic storybook, puts the child’s name and likeness into the stories of five Prophets. It costs £29 with free tracked UK delivery (about 7–9 working days), you see the child’s character before paying, and it delivers to UK addresses only.