Islamic toy shop lets children learn about their religion through play and helps fight extremism
Nazia Nasreem says she set the business up after she struggled to find Islamic toys for her own children
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Your support makes all the difference.A Birmingham mother has set up the world’s first Islamic online toy store.
Nazia Nasreem launched the Ibraheem Toy House in 2014 and now sells toys to Muslim parents all over the world.
Part of her range include “Muslim Barbies” - dolls that come with headscarves, Quran cards, colour prayer mats and Arabic letter building blocks which help young children learn about their religion through play.
In total she sells around 200 toys, games and other products and has an annual turnover of £30,000.
Ms Nasreem told The Times that she set the business up after she struggled to find Islamic toys for her own children but she hoped the educational value of the toys could help in the battle against extremism.
She said: “A lot of times children learn the wrong things and that's where the extremism kicks in. If the right educational toys and books are provided from a young age, we can instil the correct Islamic ethos and values in our children.
“I want children to grow up being proud of their religion and heritage and knowing the truth about Islam.
“We teach what any other religion would how to pray, spirituality, sharing so from day one they have the core belief. Then they know who they are and no one can misguide them.”
The 31-year-old now hopes to open her own bricks and mortar store one day and design her own toys.
She said her biggest markets are in Britain and the US and she has had a lot of success capitalising on Muslim parents’ desire to make Eid celebrations fun for their children.
Her business is just one of the growing number of businesses tapping into the power of the so-called “Muslim Pound”.
A report by the Muslim Council of Britain in 2013 found that British Muslims had an estimated £20.5bn spending power and they contributed more than £31bn to the UK economy.
Ms Nasreem was just one of 130 businesses exhibiting at the Muslim Lifestyle Expo in Manchester this weekend.
Last year the event saw scores of female entrepreneurs showcasing non-alcoholic mocktails, greetings cards for Muslim celebrations, luxury prayer mats and Halal food and cosmetics.
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