Stories : Bilal and the Colourful Butterflies

At the weekend, Bilal went to visit his grandfather. The two days passed very quickly, and before Bilal knew it his father had arrived to take him home. Asad said goodbye to his grandfather and went to sit in the car. He was looking out of the window as he waited for his father to collect his things. A butterfly sitting on a flower a short distance away fluttered its wings and flew to the car window.

"You're going home, aren't you, Bilal?" asked the butterfly in a tiny voice.

Bilal was astonished "Do you know me?" he asked.

"Of course I do," smiled the butterfly. "I've heard your grandfather telling the neighbors about you."

"Why didn't you come and talk to me before?" Bilal inquired.

"I couldn't, because I was in a cocoon up a tree in the garden," explained the butterfly.

"A cocoon? What's that?" asked Bilal, who was always a curious boy.

"Let me explain from the beginning," said the butterfly as it took a deep breath. "We butterflies hatch out of the egg as tiny caterpillars. We feed ourselves by nibbling leaves. Later we use a liquid which comes out of our bodies like thread and wrap ourselves up in it. That little package we weave is called a cocoon. We spend a while inside that package as we wait to grow. When we wake up and come out of the cocoon we have brightly colored wings. We spend the rest of our lives flying and feeding ourselves from flowers."

Bilal nodded thoughtfully "You mean all those colorful butterflies were once caterpillars before they grew wings?"

"Can you see the green caterpillar on that branch?" asked the butterfly.

"Yes, I see it. It's nibbling away hungrily at a leaf."

"That's my little brother," smiled the caterpillar "In a while he'll weave a cocoon too, and one day he'll be a butterfly like me."

Bilal had lots of questions to ask his new friend. "How do you plan this change? I mean, when do you come out of the egg, how long do you stay as a caterpillar and how do you make the thread to weave your cocoons?"

"I don't plan any of it at all," explained the butterfly patiently. "Allah has taught us what we need to do and when we need to do it. We just act in the way our Lord wills."

Bilal was really impressed. "The patterns on your wings are wonderful. And all butterflies have different patterns, don't they? They are really colorful and eye-catching!"

Everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah... (Surat al-Hadid, 1)

Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and by it We bring forth fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains there are streaks of white and red, of varying shades, and rocks of deep jet black. And mankind and beasts and livestock are likewise of varying colors. Only those of His servants with knowledge have fear of Allah. Allah is Almighty, Ever-Forgiving. (Surah Fatir: 27-28)

"That's a proof of Allah's incomparable artistry. He created us one by one in the most beautiful way possible," explained his friend.

Bilal agreed enthusiastically: "It's impossible not to see the beautiful things Allah has created. There are hundreds of examples all round us!"

The butterfly agreed: "You're right Bilal. We need to give thanks to Allah for all these blessings."

Bilal looked over his shoulder: "My father's coming. It looks like we're about to set off. It was really great to meet you. Can we talk again when I come next week?"

"Of course," nodded the butterfly. "Have a safe journey home."


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Stories : Amar and the Tortoise

One day, Amar was reading one of his favorite stories, "The Hare and the Tortoise." He laughed at what happened to the hare and learned from the tortoise how important it is to use one's head and that cleverness is more than a match for physical superiority. While he was thinking about these things, he suddenly realized that the tortoise in the book had come alive on the page and had started talking to him:

The tortoise began by saying: "Hi Amar! It's great that you are so young and clever enough to learn a lesson from the story about the hare and me."

Amar asked "How old are you?"

The tortoise replied: "I'm not as young as I look; I am actually 45 years old. Tortoises live for about 60 years; and there's even one kind of tortoise called the 'Testudo' that can live as long as 189 years."

Everything in the heavens and everything in the Earth belongs to Him. Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Hajj: 64)

What's your favorite season?" asked Amar.

The tortoise replied: "Warm weather is very important for our survival. Our body temperature changes with the temperature of the air around us and is usually between 32.2 and 32.4 Fahrenheit (0.1 and 0.2 degrees Celcius) lower than that of the air. Our digestive system speeds up as the temperature becomes hotter. When Allah created us, He gave us this characteristic to make it easier for us to survive when it is very hot. We need all the gifts that Allah gives us, but He is Rich Beyond Need."

Amar then wondered: "What's your favorite food?"

We love yellow squash. Our eyes are very sharp, and they see yellows best. That means we can easily find our favorite food," responded the tortoise.

Amar had another question for the tortoise: "Do you hibernate in winter?"

The tortoise explained: "Yes. When the weather gets colder, from October on, and food becomes harder to find, our bodies slow down and we protect ourselves by going to sleep for several months. Our heartbeat and our breathing slow down. We hibernate between October and March. Because Allah created us in this way, we don't have to stay awake in winter with nothing to eat, which would be fatal to us. Allah has protected us for generations by sending us to sleep at just the right time."

Amar had more to ask: "I know you live on dry land, but I also think some of you live in the water. Can you tell me about them?"

The tortoise smiled: "You're right, Amar. There are tortoises, fresh water turtles and sea turtles among us. I live on dry land, for example. I prefer fields, soft soil and grapevines. Fresh water turtles, the kind you keep in aquariums, like lakes and river banks. Sea turtles live in the warm seas and come onto land to lay their eggs. Let me tell you something interesting about the Caretta sea turtle:

Caretta go to warm beaches to lay their eggs. Allah inspires the young turtles that hatch from the eggs to head toward the light reflected off the sea, in other words, to go straight toward where they will live. How do these baby turtles know that the sea is the best place for them to live in? It must be because our Lord inspires that knowledge in them."

Amar said: "You're right. Everyone with a mind to think with must know that the world is full of Allah's wonders. We must always remember that you and I, all animals and trees and everything else are a sign of Him. It was nice to talk to you. Thanks for telling me so much. Bye-bye."
"Good-bye, you clever boy," said the tortoise.


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Stories : Bullock Cart and Mangoes

Rashida stays in a little village in India with her family. India is a country in Asia. It is the hot season and there are a lot of delicious mangoes to eat. Rashida goes to madrassah in a bullock cart with her little brother, Lukman.

On her way back she sees the vendors shouting, "Delicious mangoes for sale, come and buy them."

There are many types of mangoes; Rashida loves to eat mangoes.

Today, Rashida is very excited. She has learnt something new in class and wants to teach her mum.

Her mum has told her, " Rashida you must teach me all that you learn in the madrasah. Sometimes I can forget to practice what I have learnt. If you remind me I will earn Allah s.w.t. pleasure and you will earn a reward for teaching me. Remember Rashida, we must learn our deen, practice it and teach it to others."

Rashida loves to teach her mum. They have a lot of fun learning and helping each other to practice what they have learnt.

Rashida runs into the house and can smell the 'ras' (mango pulp) that her mum has made for lunch. She will eat it with 'chapati' (flat whole meal bread) .

"Ammi, Ammi, I am home. Assalamulaikum ," says Rashida as she salaams her mum and gets a big hug and a kiss."

Her mum says,"Wa alaikumus Salam."

"Ammi, I have something new to teach you today," says Rashida excitedly.

"Calm down," mum says. ' Wash your hands and eat your 'ras', then we can talk.'

Rashida is very hungry and quickly washes her hands and sits down. Her little brother starts eating and Rashida says, "What do we say before we eat?"

Her little brother, Lukman, quickly stops eating and replies, 'Bismillah.'

Soon Rashida And Lukman are relishing the delicious 'ras' and slurping it down with 'chapati' and 'dhal' curry [lentil curry].

Soon lunch is over and Rahida says her doa and starts helping her mum clear the table and wash the dishes. Rashida always likes to help her mum. Mum is always very busy with cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and looking after Lukman and the baby. Mum looks very tired and Rashida likes to help her mum so that her mum does not have to do so much work and can take a short rest.

As she is washing the dishes very carefully, she tells her mum about her school day, "Today we learnt two names of Allah SWT."

" Alhamdulillah," says her mum. "Will you teach them to me.'

"Yes! yes!" replies Rashida excitedly. She loves to share with her mum. "Al Baseer and Al Waduud'' 'These are the two names I have learnt."

Her mum repeats, "Al Baseer, Al Waduud; Al Baseer, Al Waduud," "Rashida what does Al Baseer mean."

"Al Baseer means, The All Seeing and Al Waduud, means The Loving."

"Oh! That is beautiful." Mum repeats again, " Al Baseer, The All Seeing; Al Waduud The Loving; Al Baseer, The All Seeing; Al Waduud The Loving."

Soon even Lukman is saying," Al Baseer, The All Seeing; Al Waduud, The Loving; Al Baseer, The All Seeing; Al Waduud The Loving ."

Mum looks at Rashida and winks at her and whispers, " See how teaching me also teaches your brother the names of Allah s.w.t.. Isn't that great, Alhamdulillah. You will get a reward from Allah s.w.t. for teaching me as well as Lukman." Mum gives Rashida a big hug and a kiss.

Mum said, "Today you were a tilmeezah [a student] and an ustazah [a teacher], alhamdulillah. Allah will be pleased with you."

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Story : The Bird

The Bird

It was Imran’s birthday, and he received many different gifts; peg tops, and hobby horses, and pictures. But Imran’s uncle gave him a gift that he prized above all the rest - it was a trap for snaring birds.

The trap was constructed in such a way that a board was fitted on the frame and shut down upon the top. If seed was scattered on the board, and the trap was put out in the yard, the little bird would fly down, hop upon the board, the board would give way, and the trap would shut with a clap.

Imran was delighted, and he ran into the house to show his mother the trap.

His mother said:

"It is not a good plaything. What do you want to do with birds? Why do you want to torture them?"

"I am going to put them in a cage," Imran said. "They will sing, and I will feed them."

He got some seed, scattered it on the board, and set the trap in the garden. And he stood by and expected the birds to fly down. But the birds were afraid of him and would not come near the cage. Imran ran in to get something to eat, and left the cage.

After dinner he went to look at it. The cage had shut, and in it a little bird was beating against the bars.

Imran took up the bird, and carried it into the house.

"Mother, I have caught a bird!" he cried. "I think it is a nightingale, and how its heart beats!"

His mother said it was a wild canary. "Be careful! Don't hurt it - you would better let it go."

"No," he said. "I am going to give it something to eat and drink."

Imran put the bird in a cage, and for two days gave it seed and water, and cleaned the cage. But on the third day he forgot all about it, and did not change the water.

And his mother said, "See here, you have forgotten your bird. You would better let it go."

Imran thrust his hand in the cage and began to clean it, but the little bird was frightened and fluttered. After Imran had cleaned the cage, he went to get some water. His mother saw that he had forgotten to shut the cage door, and she called after him.

"Imran, shut up your cage, else your bird will fly out and hurt itself."

She had hardly spoken the words when the bird found the door, was delighted, spread its wings, and flew around the room toward the window. Imran came running in, picked up the bird, and put it back in the cage. The bird was still alive, but it lay on its breast, with its wings spread out, and breathed heavily. Imran looked and looked at it, and began to cry.

"Mother, what can I do now?" he asked.

"You can do nothing now," she replied.

Imran stayed by the cage all day. He did nothing but look at the bird. And all the time the bird lay on its breast and breathed hard and fast.

When Imran went to bed, the bird was dead. Imran could not get to sleep for a long time; every time that he shut his eyes he seemed to see the bird still lying and sighing.

In the morning when Imran went to his cage, he saw the bird lying on its back, with its legs crossed, and all stiff.

After that Imran never again snared birds.

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Stories : Mahmood's Adventure

It was during the last week of January when Mahmood and his friends went out camping in the mountains by a lake.

As it was Allah's will, it happened that the friends arrived on an island at the very center of a frozen lake because the car broke down and they could do nothing but stay on the island.

A few days later, the lake showed signs of thawing and the friends hurried across the lake, taking whatever they could with them. Unfortunately, during the same time period, Mahmood was gone to explore and was far away from them at the time they escaped across the island. When Mahmood came back, he saw most of the stuff gone and no one around. Most of the lake had now melted and Mahmood was trapped.

The island, as Mahmood estimated was about 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. It was full of greenery and had much of the liking of a forest. Mahmood was able to identify many of the plants because of his previous camping experiences. The lake on the other hand, was too cold and wide to cross by swimming. Many attempts to swim across it failed and so Mahmood had to accept the idea that he would have to wait until somebody rescued him or until the lake got a little bit warmer. He knew he was marooned and alone on the island.

As the days passed, Mahmood kept on remembering his parents, brothers, and sisters. He slept on his sleeping bag that he had brought with him for camping. He lived on many fruits he recognized as safe ones. One day, as Mahmood had feared, a great python appeared. "This is not going to be any regular fight," Mahmood thought to himself. The python, even though this one was extraordinarily deadly and the center of terror among the animal inhabitants of the island, retreated back a little. Never had it seen a thing so big. It was afraid.
Mahmood had gathered many rocks and now hurled them with all his might on the python. The python couldn't dodge these missiles and one by one the rocks began tearing up its body. The snake, nevertheless, tried to make its way forward but only found that to make its end come sooner.
Mahmood hurled the last, heavy rock on the snake, splitting the snake's head into two and breaking up into tiny pieces on the rocks below the python's head. The python was dead.
Mahmood had a few more skirmishes of the like with a few more animals and began feeling more confident about living alone with the animals of prey all around him. He was now learning the true meaning of courage.
Summer was coming up fast. Mahmood had hoped that someone might come boating on the lake and rescue him. Mahmood's hope was fulfilled later than he had expected. He waited past June, July, and then even August. Maybe this is not a public lake, he figured out.
Finally on the third week of September, a few boaters appeared. Mahmood waved to them. They came to the island and picked him up. He was free at last! He had stayed on the island for 7 months. Mahmood stayed with the boaters on their vacation. When the boaters decided to go home, they dropped Mahmood off because he lived close to where they lived.
As Mahmood walked up to the door of his house, he wondered what his family would say to him. His parents were the first to meet him. His mother couldn't believe her eyes and asked him, "Where were you?" And his father asked, "What had happened?" Mahmood told his family what had happened. They couldn't believe how he had killed the snake. They were very proud of him.
As for Mahmood, he became more courageous from that day onward. He also learned how to handle the situation when he was alone. It was the best adventure of his life.

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Stories : The Mice and the Elephant

One day, the mouse king went to the King of the Elephants and said, "If you spare our lives, we will help you in a time of need." The elephant king agreed. He ordered the elephants to be careful never to step on a single mouse.
From that day forth the elephants paid attention and lifted their huge legs carefully, never harming their tiny friends. If they entered the land of the mice, they lifted their trunks and trumpeted a warning; "We are walking. We are walking."
One day, elephant trappers came to the forest. They were seeking many elephants for the human king’s soldiers to ride into battle. Day by day more and more elephants were caught in great rope traps.
The elephant king was very sad. Then, he remembered the promise of the mice and sent for his little friend, the mouse king. The king of the mice arrived and listened to the elephant’s story.
Then the mouse king called all the mice together. Thousands and thousands of mice gathered to discuss how they might help the elephants. No one had forgotten how their huge friends had spared their lives. One clever mouse made a plan. All the mice rejoiced.
The mice formed into little groups. Each group gnawed the ropes of a single trap with their tiny sharp teeth. By morning, all the elephants were freed. Frustrated, the trappers left the forest.

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Stories : Little Red Riding Hood

Long, long time ago, in a little village at the edge of a forest, there lived a little girl with her mother and her father. This little girl was the sweetest, kindest child there ever was. She was always dressed in a pretty red cloak and hood that her mother had made for her, so that everyone began calling her Little Red Riding Hood.

One day Little Red Riding Hood's mother called her and said, 'Daughter, your grandmother is very ill. Please take her this pot of butter and some custard that I have made.' 'Very well, Mother,' said Little Red Riding Hood, and ran to get her little basket for the custard and the butter. 'Be careful,' said her mother, kissing her. 'Don't stray from the path, don't stop on the way, and don't speak to any strangers.'

Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother lived all by herself in a little cottage on the other side of the forest. Little Red Riding Hood had been through the forest alone many times, and knew her way. So she wasn't frightened at all. She skipped merrily along the forest path, enjoying the bright sunshine, the blue sky and the birds singing in the trees.
But suddenly, whom should she meet but a Wolf. 'Hello, little girl,' said the Wolf in his nicest voice. 'Where are you going this bright spring day?'

Little Red Riding Hood was feeling so happy and cheerful that she forgot all that her mother had said to her about not speaking to strangers. She smiled at the Wolf and replied in her politest voice, 'Hello to you as well, Mr. Wolf. I am going to see my Grandma, who lives on the other side of this forest. She isn't feeling very well today, so I am taking her some custard and a pot of butter. Maybe that will cheer her up.'

'Oh dear,' said the Wolf, still in his nicest voice. 'How very sad your Grandma isn't feeling too well! I shall go and visit her as well. I am sure she will feel much better if I do!'

'Oh thank you, Mr. Wolf,' said Red Riding Hood. 'That is so kind and thoughtful of you.'

'Well, let's hurry then, 'said the Wolf. 'You go this way, and I'll go the other way, and let's see who reaches your Grandma first!' So saying the Wolf vanished into the forest. He ran as fast as he could and took all the shortcuts he knew so as to reach Grandma's little cottage before Red Riding Hood.

He arrived at the cottage, huffing and panting, but very pleased that he had beaten Little Red Riding Hood to it.

The Wolf knocked at the door of Grandma's cottage with a gentle tap-tap.

'Who is it?' called Grandma from within.

'It's Little Red Riding Hood, Grandma,' said the Wolf, making his voice sound as much like a little girl's as he could.

'Dear Little Red Riding Hood,' said Grandma. 'I'm too weak to open the door. Lift the latch and come in.'

The Wolf did as Grandma said and walked into the little cottage. There was Grandma, feeling quite weak and ill, lying in bed under a pile of blankets. The Wolf jumped on to the bed, and gobbled up Grandma in a single swallow! He knew that Little Red Riding Hood would be arriving soon, so he wasted no time, but put on Grandma's clothes and the frilly little lace cap that she always wore to bed. He covered himself as much as he could with the blankets, and lay on Grandma's bed, pretending to be Grandma.

Now Little Red Riding Hood was walking as fast as she could through the forest, when all at once she saw a clump of golden daffodils growing under a tree a little way into the forest. 'Oh how beautiful,' said Red Riding Hood to herself. 'I am sure Grandma would love to have some. Maybe I should pick her a bunch!' Little Red Riding Hood forgot all that her mother had said about not stopping or leaving the path. She ran into the forest and began gathering a great big bunch of daffodils for Grandma.

By the time Red Riding Hood finished picking the flowers and found her way back to the path again, it was quite late. 'Oh dear,' said Red Riding Hood. 'I completely forgot all about that kind Mr. Wolf racing me to Grandma's cottage! I'm sure he has already been and gone! I do hope he cheered Grandma up, though.' Little Red Riding Hood began walking faster and faster, and very soon she came to her Grandma's little cottage.

'Grandma, open the door!' called Red Riding Hood, knocking on the door. 'It's Little Red Riding Hood!' Now remember, the Wolf had gobbled up Grandma and was pretending to be Grandma himself. He answered just as Grandma had done.

'Dear Little Red Riding Hood,' said the Wolf. 'I'm too weak to open the door. Lift the latch and come in.' Little Red Riding Hood did as the Wolf asked and walked into the cottage. She walked up to the bed to give her Grandma a hug. 'Why Grandma, ' said Little Red Riding in surprise. 'You look different today. You must be really ill!'

The Wolf pretended to get a coughing fit just then, to show Red Riding Hood how very ill her Grandma was.

'You poor dear!' said Red Riding Hood straightening the blankets and fluffing up the pillows. 'But Grandma, you do look strange! What big ears you have!'

'Only to hear you better with, my dear,' said the Wolf.

'And what big eyes you have Grandma!' continued Red Riding Hood in surprise.

'Only to see you better with, my dear,' said the Wolf.

'What a big nose you have Grandma!' said Red Riding Hood.

'Only to smell you better with, my dear, ' said the Wolf.

'What big teeth you have Grandma!' said Red Riding Hood.

'That's only to EAT YOU BETTER WITH!' said the Wolf. He jumped out from under the blankets and gobbled up Little Red Riding Hood, red cape and all, in a single swallow.

Now the Wolf felt really sleepy after such a large meal. He decided to take a nap in Grandma's warm, comfortable cottage. He made a comfortable place for himself on the bed, and was soon fast asleep, snoring loudly and contentedly.

Just then a woodcutter passed by. He heard the sound of the Wolf's snoring through the open windows of the cottage. The woodcutter knew this Wolf, and did not trust him at all.

So very quietly, so as not to wake the Wolf, the woodcutter opened the cottage door and went in. 'Ah,' thought the woodcutter.'Judging by the size of the Wolf's tummy, he has just had a large meal, and I wonder who he has eaten this time!'

The woodcutter picked up a pair of Grandma's scissors lying on the table, and deftly cut open the sleeping Wolf's tummy. Out climbed Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother, breathless and squashed and VERY glad to be out of the Wolf's tummy. 'Oh! Thank you for saving us!' said Little Red Riding Hood to the woodcutter. 'It was so dark and smelly inside the Wolf's tummy!'

'Hurry!' said the woodcutter. 'Let's not waste any time. The Wolf could wake up any moment.' The woodcutter and Red Riding hood then gathered up some stones, the biggest they could find, and put them inside the Wolf's tummy. Then Grandma took out her sewing kit, and threading a needle with some strong brown cotton, sewed up the Wolf's tummy neatly and quickly.
In a little while the Wolf woke up. 'Oh dear,' he thought. 'I must be getting old! I can't even eat a little girl and her grandma without feeling as though my tummy was full of stones!' The Wolf gave a great big belch and staggered out of the door. 'I don't think I'll ever eat humans again.

They don't agree with me!' And that was the last that anyone ever saw of him.

Little Red Riding Hood gave her Grandma the custard and the pot of butter her mother had sent, and a huge big hug from herself. Grandma was well and strong very soon. As for Little Red Riding Hood herself, she never forgot her mother's advice again!

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