Book of Guidance

“Mom, why do I have to read Qur’an every day?” These sentiments may be familiar to parents who are teaching their kids to read the Holy Qur’an from a young age. How should we respond?

Through the Qur’an, we are given guidance from our Creator about how to behave in our day to day life. Our first story, “The Ultimate Recipe,” conveys this lesson. Amin is out of balance. When he and his brother follow a recipe to make the best lasagna, Haseeb helps Amin learn that Allah (SWT) has provided the Qur’an as the ultimate recipe for how to live the best life.

It’s important for children to understand that the reason we hold the Holy Qur’an in such high esteem is because it is directly from God. Through reading this holy book, we can learn about our Lord and develop a connection with Him. In our second story, “His Words,” Shireen realizes that just as she can develop closeness with her grandfather through reading his journal, she can cultivate a relationship with Allah (SWT) by reading His words, the Holy Qur’an.

Protectors of the Planet

Despite the earth’s tremendous beauty and significance in Islam, our world is experiencing grave environmental crises.

Our first story, Sujood in the Woods, illustrates the environment as a place of wonders and signs. As Amin opens himself to appreciating the nature around him, he develops admiration and deep respect for the Creator.

Our second story, Care for Creation, teaches that we have a religious duty to be custodians of the environment. When Amira and her friends learn that the earth is in danger, they decide to do everything they can to make a difference.

Faith Over Fear

Courage, or shajaa’ah, is not simply the strength of one’s body; rather it is the mental, physical, and moral strength to make the right choice, even if it is difficult. For children, courage is often demonstrated through overcoming fear, facing the unknown, and doing the right thing. Each of these acts requires self-confidence because only when children feel sure of themselves can they fully embody their beliefs, values, and principles.

In the first story, Amin is pressured by his nemesis, Zain, to take on a dangerous ski slope. Amin wrestles with balancing cowardice with rashness, and ultimately chooses the courageous act of not following Zain.

The second story teaches that we can overcome fear through faith in Allah (SWT), who is always with us. Through caring for the class pet, a tarantula, Shireen learns that putting your trust in Allah (SWT) is an important part of courage for a Muslim. Afterall, “Allah is the Best Guardian” (12:64).

Fairness for All

In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote, “all men are created equal.” Though the deeper sentiment is true, at face value this is overly simplistic. If we compare any two people we notice that we differ in talent, strength, appearance, health, opportunity, and just about everything! Therefore, the question isn’t whether or not people are equal, but rather: what differences matter and how do we treat people with differences?
This is where fairness comes in. Fairness is putting aside our biases in order to avoid partiality based on unsubstantial factors. Our first lesson teaches that whenever we feel that things are “unfair,” we must look at things from another perspective: if two people are treated differently, that doesn’t mean that it is unfair. Building empathy helps us understand that to truly be fair, people must be treated according to their own, unique, circumstances.
Our second lesson is that we have a responsibility to act fairly in our social interactions, even if it means going against our own interests. In our second story, “Acting Fairly,” Amira realizes that Shireen must be fair in choosing people to act in the class play, not giving her the part simply because she is her friend.

Never Give Up

Perseverance means not giving up. In the face of hardship or hard work, those that continue to put forth effort, exhausting every possible option, are the most beloved in the eyes of Allah (SWT).

In the first story, Don’t Be a Sleepyhead! Shireen sets a goal to wake up for Fajr each morning for a month. Through this, Shireen practices jihad, the inner struggle, overcoming her sleepiness to elevate herself spiritually.

The second story, Perfect Dream, teaches the value of ihsan when Asad experiences a unique conversation with a special man from the past, and learns that he must do his very best instead of taking the easy way out.

You Are What You Eat

In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) commands Muslims to observe certain food practices. But why do Muslims have such strict food practices?

First, since our body is a gift from Allah (SWT) and a means of worshipping Him, we must take proper care of it in a physical sense. This means keeping it free from unhealthy consumption that can weaken our bodies. In the first story, “What’s the Secret?” Shireen learns this concept, discovering that she needs to modify her diet to stand a chance of winning the Northport Olympics.

But halal food is about more than just eating healthy. Part of it also has to do with the types of animals we can consume, and about the way the animals are treated. However, being mindful of Allah (SWT) throughout the process is what truly makes food halal. In the second story, “Same, Same, But Different,” Amin and his friend, Ethan, visit a farm to learn about what makes halal food so special and, in the process, come to understand that food is a blessing from Allah (SWT).