wRiTTEN BY Rukhsana Khan

ILLUSTRATED By Patty Gallinger

SIDEBARS BY Irfan Alli
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2024

https://archive.org/details/muslimchildunderOO0OOrukh. »
Mushim Child
Understanding Islam through Stories and Poems

WRITTEN BY Rukhsana Khan

ILLUSTRATED By Patty Gallinger
SIDEBARS BY Irfan Alli

SCHOLASTIC INC.
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 No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
For information regarding permission, write to Albert Whitman & Company,
6340 Oakton Street, Morton Grove, IL 60053-2723.

ISBN 0-439-46610-5

Text copyright © 1999 by Rukhsana Khan.

Illustrations copyright © 1999 by Patty Gallinger.
Sidebars copyright © 1999 by Irfan Alli.
All rights reserved.
Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012,
by arrangement with Albert Whitman & Company.
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

PA iL AO Sea Ge By Ab By Il Deseo.7/0

Printed in the U.S.A. 40

First Scholastic printing, October 2002

 Table of Contents
Preface...4
Muslim Child...6
Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening) ...8
Fajr...9
Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ...18
The Black Ghost... 19
Prophets ...27
A Saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ...28
Azeeza’s First Fast ...29
Thank You, Allah...40
I Love Eid...41
Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ...48
Samc.as...49
How to Make Samosas ...56
Eid Mubarak: How to Make an Eid Card...57
Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ...58
Jumbo Jelly Shoes ...59
Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ...67
Surah AI-Fil (The Elephant) ...68
The Year of the Elephant ...69
Surah Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) ...82
Lost at Hajj ...83
One Big Family ...96
Pronunciation Guide...97
About the Authors and Illustrator ...104
 Preface
POOHSOSESOOSD
Perhaps you have seen Muslim women wearing long black clothes walking by, or
perhaps you have seen a Muslim day school being built in your area. Perhaps you have
wondered about Islam and Muslims.
As a Muslim woman I understand that curiosity and wrote this book to try to satisfy it.
Although it may seem exotic and alien, Islam has common roots with Christianity and
Judaism. In fact, Islam traces its origins back to Abraham, the great patriarch of all three of
these monotheistic religions. Muhammad was directly descended from Abraham's son,
Ishmael. (The Arabs are a Semitic people and closely related to the Jews through Abraham.
The Jews are children of Isaac, another son of Abraham, and the Arabs are children of

Ishmael.) (Peace be upon them all.)

So it comes as no surprise that many of the prophets of God (i.e., Noah, Moses, David,
Solomon, Jesus, and of course, Abraham, peace be upon them) that are honored in the Bible
and Torah are similarly honored in the Quran. And most of the values and concepts promot-
ed in the Bible and Torah are similarly promoted in the Quran. We believe in the same one
God, we believe in caring for our family and neighbors and being kind and considerate to one
another.
Islam is widely considered the fastest-growing way of life in the world. There are
approximately 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide, which means approximately one in every five
people on the earth is Muslim. In the United States alone, Islam is projected to soon
surpass Judaism as the second largest religious group after Christianity.
Although Islam began in Arabia, nowadays Muslims come from every part of the
globe. Contrary to popular belief, only about 20 percent of Muslims are of Arab origin. The
largest Muslim country in the world is Indonesia, with over 150 million Muslims. (In India,
where Muslims are in the minority, there are over 140 million.)
 Muslim Child: Understanding Islam through Stories and Poems is a child-centered introduction
to Islam. In the first story a boy feels guilty when he short-changes his prayer; in another story
a girl buys candy she can't eat because it contains pork by-products; and in yet another story
a non-Muslim boy thinks there is a black ghost wandering around town because he keeps
glimpsing a figure in flowing black robes. Unlike other books that might deal with one aspect
of Islam, such as fasting and Ramadan, Muslim Child gives a detailed overview of Islam as a
whole.
Islam is built on five “pillars”: belief, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
Belief is commonly dealt with in each story. The other pillars are each represented by a story.
Rounding off the book are four stories dealing with the other major aspects of Islam:
Islamic dress, dietary restrictions, celebrations, and Islamic history (the birth of Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him). In this way, each of the eight stories, often using gentle
humor, deals with a major aspect of Islam. Nonfiction sidebars explain the Arabic words and
religious terminology.
All of the stories stand on their own, but together they provide insight into a way of life
that is often misunderstood in the West.
My intention in writing Muslim Child was to correct the misconceptions regarding
Muslims, and to show the personal side of Islam, by telling stories of everyday Muslim
children and their struggles with faith and fitting in.
 Fajr
(United States)
OO
& S
OH< Swa OG O& OK GO
uw
GO
uo .@
OO
«or o&
O.&

“Wake up, lazybones!” Jamal sat up and rubbed his Abi: Arabic word

eyes. His sister Seema stood in the doorway. “Didn’t you for “my father”

hear Abi calling? It’s time for Fajr.” Jamal glanced at the _ Fajr: first prayer of
the five daily prayers.
clock. Four-thirty in the morning.
| It is offered any time
As soon as Seema was gone, Jamal flopped back down. _ between dawn and

The mattress hugged his tired body, massaging his aching before sunrise.

muscles. He felt so cozy. He wished he could bring the _ wudu: washing

_ performed before
sink to his bed, make wudu, and pray lying down.
| prayer
“Jamal,” his father called, “are you up?”
Jamal bolted upright. “Yes, Abi.”
Pulling back the covers, he swung his legs over the side
of the bed. He took a deep stretch as a yawn passed
through him. The pillow beckoned. He ignored it and
tested the bare wood of the floor with his big toe.
Snatching it back, he shivered.
He should just get up. The sooner he prayed, the
sooner he could go back to sleep.
 MUSLIM CHILD — 10

Muslim: a Muslim Seema was back. “Get up right now, or I’m telling.”
follows the way of life
“Okay, okay. I’m up,” he muttered under his breath.
called Islam. More
than one-fifth of the
“It’s so hard being Muslim. It’d be easier being something
world’s people are else.”
Muslims.
Seema heard him. “I’m telling! You don’t want to be
Allah: Allah is the
Muslim!”
Arabic word for God. “T didn’t say that! I just said it’s hard, you know, getting
Muslims worship the
up in the middle of the night to pray.”
same God that the
Jews and Christians
Seema sneered at him. “Don’t you know that prayer is
worship. Muslims a gift? Allah doesn’t need your prayer, you do.” With that,
believe that God is
she left again.
One and Jesus (peace
be upon him) is a
prophet of God.
 TE. Sa VATR

Ifthat were true, thought Jamal, why didn’t he feel any

better after he prayed? Was there something wrong with
him?
Jamal made his way to the bathroom. Turning on the
light, he staggered as it pierced his eyes. Groping around
till he could see without squinting, he looked at the toilet.
Naw! He didn’t have to go. It would waste too much time.
Seema poked her head through the doorway. Too late
he wished he’d shut the door. “And don’t forget to make
wudu properly. Remember, prayer is the key to paradise,
and wudu is the key to prayer.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get lost.”
Seema turned red. “I’m telling Abi...”
“Okay, sorry. Now let me make wudu.”
Seema started to say something, but changed her mind
and left.
Jamal began wudu. He washed his hands three times.
Rinsed his mouth three times. Cleaned his nostrils three
times and washed his face three times and his arms up to
the elbows, three times. Wetting his hands, he passed
them over his hair and cleaned his ears, inside, outside,
and behind them.
Finally he heaved his right foot into the sink and
washed between his toes and up to his ankle three times.
Then he did his left foot.
 MUSLIM CHILD — 12

sunnah: additional Now he was ready to pray. He dried himself as best he

prayers prayed by could and went down to the living room. Seema was
Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him)
already praying her sunnah.
Standing solemnly on his prayer mat, he raised his
Quran: Muslim holy
hands to his ears and said, “Allahu Akbar. God is Great.”
book. Muslims
believe that it is
Then he crossed his arms over his chest.
God’s last revelation Jamal kept his eyes down, reciting the verses from
to mankind. It was
the Quran. The two sunnah rakaats went quickly. His
revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad
sister had finished her prayers and was quietly saying her
(peace be upon him) dhikr, her praise, the beads on her tasbih clicking as she
and is a source of
counted them off.
guidance and
healing.

rakaat: a unit of
prayer

dhikr: remembrance
of God through
praise, e.g. “God is
the Greatest”

tasbih: a string of
beads, similar toa
rosary, used for
counting dhikr
 Jamal began his fard, the more important prayer. He | fard: obligatory

was halfway through when he had a big problem. He had | prayer

to fart. ruku: the name for

the bowing position
He couldn’t concentrate anymore. He simply said the
| of prayer
words as fast as he could, without even trying to mean
them.
He should break his prayer. He should make a fresh
wudu, but he only had one rakaat left! Maybe he could
hang in there. He squeezed and hoped nothing would
slip out. |
sujud: the name for
He finished standing and went into ruku. This was the prostrating
worse. It was harder to squeeze. He quickly stood back up position of prayer

and said, “Sami Allah hu liman hamida ...God has heard

the one who praises Him,” and went down for sujud.
His nose and forehead were pressed to the prayer mat,
but his mind was elsewhere. He twitched from side to
jalsa: the name for
side. _ the sitting position of
He was sitting now. And it was a little easier. But | prayer

down he went again in sujud. Swaying side to side, he

desperately tried to contain himself.
With relief he sat back up, in jalsa. He was almost
there. Just a few more words, and he’d be done.
He pressed his weight down on his foot, saying the
words so fast they were a blur on his tongue. He shifted
from one foot to the other. A few more seconds and he'd
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 14

ashhadu: a part of be clear. He had just raised his right forefinger for the
the prayer where the ashhadu when it happened.
right forefinger is
raised to testify that
No more need to squeeze. No more need to rush. His
there is nothing prayer was ruined. But it was so quiet and so small. Maybe
worthy of worship it didn’t count. And maybe Seema hadn’t heard. He
but God and that
Muhammad (peace
finished his prayer as if nothing had happened.
be upon him) is the Then he picked up his prayer mat.
prophet of God.
“Wait a minute,” said Seema.
respect for prayer: “What?”
Prophet Muhammad
“T heard you.”
(peace be upon him)
said: “The key to “What?” said Jamal innocently.
paradise is prayer, “You're so gross. Go make wudu and pray all over
and the key to prayer
again.”
is wudu.” Farting is
one of the bodily Jamal dragged himself back to the bathroom. He
functions that breaks turned the water on but didn’t make wudu. Darned if he’d
wudu and so nullifies
pray again. The thought made him pause. Naw! Would he
the prayer. If this
happens, the person go to hell just for missing one little prayer? Would he?
must make wudu Naw! |
again, and pray again.
After what he thought was long enough, he shut off the
Since prayer is
regarded as direct tap and peeked up and down the hallway. No Seema. He
communion with tiptoed to her bedroom, listening at the door. She was
God, it would be
disrespectful to fart
snoring. Further down the hall, he could hear the deeper
during it. snoring of his father. They were asleep.
He tiptoed back to his bed and flopped down, pulling
up the covers. Letting his mind go blank, he waited for
 15 — FAJR

sleep to come. After a while his foot was itchy. He rubbed

it against the scratchy blanket and rolled over onto his
stomach. Again he let his mind go blank and waited.
Nothing. Bending his knee, he lifted his foot and let it
fall. Thunk. He did it again. Thunk. And again. Thunk.
After the hundredth “thunk,” he gave up, rolled over,
and fixed his sheets. He closed his eyes, trying hard to
relax. Now his back was itchy. Turning on his side to
scratch it, he saw the clock.
“Five o'clock!” he groaned, rolling over again. If he’d
made wudu and prayed again, he would have been asleep
by now. He pushed the thought away and started to
breathe slowly and deeply. He thought of nothing but soft
blackness and relaxed every muscle in his body.
What was that noise? He’d been hearing it for some
time, but now it was getting louder. What was it? It was
coming from outside. He should have known. The sound
of birds singing! Every stupid bird in the neighborhood
was rejoicing at the coming sunrise.
Abi would say they were singing Allah’s praise. Praying
Fajr in their own way.
Jamal squeezed his eyes shut and blocked his ears. He
continued his deep breathing and forced his body to relax.
He stayed that way for a long time. Finally he rolled over
and glanced at the clock again.
 MUSLIM CHILD — 16

salaams: a statement Five-thirty! He might as well get up and pray. He sure

of peace at the end of wasn’t going to get any rest until he did.
the prayer. “Unto
you be peace and the
Water dripping from a fresh wudu, he stood once again
mercy of God.” This on his prayer mat
and lifted his hands to his ears. “Allahu
is said turning to the Akbar. God is the Greatest.”
right and to the left.
This time he prayed slowly. It was easier to
concentrate. He said his salaams at the end of the prayer
and picked up the tasbih to do his dhikr.
“Alhamdulillah, all praise is for God, Alhamdulillah ...”
How peaceful it is, he thought as his lips said the dhikr
and his fingers counted off the beads.
He was done. But instead of going back to bed, he went
to the window.
The trees hid the horizon, but he could see the rosy
glow in the east. The dew on the grass sparkled faintly
through the morning mist. He opened the window and
smelled the freshness of a new day. Grabbing a quilt, he
went outside. The dew was cold where it sprinkled his feet
through the straps of his sandals.
He sat on the porch in a rocking chair and watched the
sunrise.
That’s where his father found him, an hour later,
asleep with a Quran in his hands.
The Black Ghost
(Canada)
& & ew, RN ge rN er.

“Assalaamu alaikum,” called Nabeel as he rushed out Assalaamu alaikum:

the door. 7 a Muslim greeting

meaning “Peace
“Wait,” said his mother, putting on her hijaab, then be with you.”
letting down her niqaab so it hung over her face. “Wa alaikum

Nabeel peeked up and down the road. It was safe. assalaam” is the reply,
meaning “And on you
No one was watching. be peace, too.”
She tousled his hair, saying, “Your first day at anew
hijaab: the head
school. Are you nervous?” covering worn by
He shook his head quickly. Why didn’t she hurry? Muslim women.
Some Muslim
Someone might see her. He felt a quick kiss through the
women choose to go
nigaab, then he raced down the steps. The sooner he was further, also covering
gone, the sooner she’d go back inside, where no one could their faces.

see her. nigaab: the face-

covering that many
“Have fun!” she called.
Muslim women
Nabeel nodded and turned the corner. Out of nowhere wear

a boy crashed into him.

Pencils, erasers, and paper went flying. “Sorry. Are
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 20

women’s dress: you okay? It was my fault. I should look where I’m going.
There is no real I’m Danny. I’m in second grade.”
“Muslim” cultural
dress. Any clothes,
Danny helped Nabeel up. They picked up their things
from any culture, can and started walking together. It turned out they were in
be adapted to fit the same class. By recess, they were best friends, but in the
Islamic dress codes as
long as they cover the
back of his mind, Nabeel worried.
woman fully, are not What if Danny saw his mother? Would he still be his
transparent, and are
friend? A few days later, Nabeel’s mother followed him
loose-fitting. Why
black? When they go
out the door. “Where are you going?” he asked.
outside, many “Shopping and to the library, if that’s okay with you.”
Muslim women
Nabeel tried to walk ahead, but his mother kept pace.
wear a long black
jacket over their
Nabeel tried running. His mother jogged along beside
everyday clothes. him easily. When they got to the spot where he usually
The color black is
met Danny, Nabeel was worried.
not transparent, it

doesn't get dirty

Danny was late. Nabeel was glad. Finally, his mother
easily, and it is a very turned toward the store. Nabeel gave a little wave none
plain color. But
of the other kids would notice.
women do not have
to wear black. Some
Footsteps pounded on the sidewalk behind him. It
wear white, brown, or _ was Danny. His face was white and his eyes were wild.
blue. As long as
He grabbed Nabeel’s hand and dragged him the rest of
women are modestly
covered and don’t
the way to school.
attract too much “What is it?” Nabeel cried, trying to free his hand. But
attention, any color is
Danny didn’t stop to explain.
acceptable.
The bell had rung and they burst into the classroom.
The teacher said, “What’s the matter, Danny? Were
 ‘21 ~ THE BLACK GHOST

you climbing trees again? Did you fall down?”

“No,” gasped Danny. “I saw a ghost!”
“A ghost?” cried the kids in the class.
“A big black ghost!” said Danny. “It floated down the
sidewalk after me. All I could see were its hands and slits
where the eyes should be!” He shivered.
Nabeel came forward and put a hand on Danny’s |
shoulder. “It wasn’t a ghost.” |
“How do you know?” asked a girl. |
Nabeel grew red. “Um, I mean, it couldn’t be a ghost.
Not in the middle of the day. Maybe it was just a person
dressed up.”
Danny shook his head. “What kind of person wears
clothes like that?”
Nabeel shrugged. “Some people do. Not everyone
dresses like us.”
“That’s right,” said the teacher. “Now, get to your seats.
Class is about to begin.”
Nabeel sighed with relief. A few more questions and
everyone would have known his secret.
On the way home, Danny asked Nabeel, “How come
we never play at your house?”
Nabeel didn’t know what to say.
“Well?” asked Danny. “When can I come over?”
Nabeel shrugged. “Um, let’s play hide-and-seek.”
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 22

Danny kicked a stone out of his way. “We've got to get

home for lunch.”
agile 1s
“Okay.”
Nabeel counted to twenty and then went searching.
He looked behind the fence, in some bushes, under a
bench, and beneath the slide. He couldn’t find Danny
anywhere. Finally he cupped his hands to his mouth and
called, “I give up. Where are you?”
He heard laughter above him. Danny was very high up,
half-hidden by the leaves.
“Very funny, Danny. Come down now. It’s getting
late.”
Danny stopped laughing. His face looked pale and
pinched.
Nabeel called, “Come on. You'll be late for lunch.”
Danny’s voice was shaky. “I can’t.”
“You climbed up. So climb down. You can do it.”
Danny gripped the trunk of the tree and shook his
head. He had to go down. Nabeel would think he was
silly. But he couldn’t move.
“Tl go get help,” said Nabeel.
“No! Don’t leave me!”
Nabeel looked around the park. It was deserted.
Everyone was home having lunch.
 23 — THE BLACK GHOST

What could he do?

“T have to get help,” he insisted.
“Don’t go!”
“Tl be right back.”
“No!” Danny shouted.
Nabeel heard a loud crack as the branch Danny had
been sitting on broke. Danny screamed and grabbed onto
another branch, desperately holding on.
“Help!” cried Danny.
“Don't let go!” said Nabeel. “I'll get the teacher.”
“No! Il fall!”
Nabeel was about to go anyway, when Danny cried
even louder. “The ghost! Run, Nabeel!”
Nabeel was so relieved. He ran right up to his mother.
Without wasting a breath, she ran to the foot of the tree
and began to climb.
Danny shifted, trying to grab better hold of the trunk
when he heard a creak. The branch plunged, hanging at a
bad angle. His hands were slipping. “I can’t hold on
anymore!” he screamed. Then suddenly he didn’t have to.
An arm dressed in black circled his waist and set him
firmly on top of a thick, strong branch. He hugged the tree
trunk and stared at the Black Ghost, sitting a branch away.
“T’ll just set you there a minute. Phew! I need a rest,”
Danny heard her say.
 25 ~ THE BLACK GHOST

Nabeel took a deep breath and called, “It’s okay, men’s dress: Like

Danny, she’s my mom.” | women, Muslim men

| are also required to
Danny said, “Your mom’s a ghost?!” | dress modestly in
Nabeel’s mother laughed. “It’s a good thing I’m not. | loose- fitting,

A ghost couldn’t have picked you up. You're heavy!” | nontransparent

| clothing. There are
Danny was silent. He didn’t want to look at the slits | also restrictions on
where the eyes should be. __ what they are allowed
| to reveal. At the very
“Are you ready to go down now?” asked Nabeel’s
| least, a man is
mother. There was no other way. Danny plucked up his _ required to cover
courage and looked at her again. This time he saw inside | between his navel and
| his knee. This
the slits. He saw two pretty black eyes. They were smiling.
| includes the times he
And she didn’t sound scary. | is at home with his
“You want me to carry you down or not?” | family, as well as in
| public, at places like
Silently, Danny nodded.
swimming pools.
Danny shut his eyes tight and clung to the lady in
black. She smelled a little like his own mother. Like soap.
He felt the two of them moving down slowly, inch by
inch, until they stopped.
When he opened his eyes, he and the lady were safe on
the ground.
The lady knelt and paused. Waiting. “You can let go
now, Danny.”
Danny quickly slid off her knee. “Oops. Sorry.’
“That’s okay.’ She checked his arms and legs. “You've
been shaken up a bit. Are you all right?”
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 26

children’s dress: the Danny nodded, his face red. Nabeel must think he
Islamic restrictions was stupid for climbing so high. He must think he was a
for men’s and |
women’s dress are |
coward for being scared. Who'd want to be friends with
not absolutely a coward? Not me, thought Danny. Quietly, he turned
required of children, |
to go home.
although as they get |
closer to puberty, |
The lady called, “Can we walk you home?”
children are “No, thanks,” said Danny, still a little afraid.
encouraged more and
“Wait,” she said, fishing in the pocket of her black
more to dress like
Muslim adults. That
dress. “How about a lollipop? It’s great for the shakes.”
way they are Danny smiled. “Oh, yes, please.”
accustomed to it by
She said, “Are you sure you wouldn’t like us to walk
the time the Islamic |
dress code is required
you home?”
of them. “Okay,” said Danny.
Danny and Nabeel skipped along, followed by the
black ghost. Nabeel was relieved. “Are you still my
friend?”
Danny nodded. “If you’re still mine.”
Nabeel grinned.
With his mouth full of lollipop, Danny whispered,
“Why didn’t you tell me you had such a nice mom?”
Nabeel smiled. It was nice not to have a secret
anymore.
 Muslims believe that Islam started withProphet Adam (peace b
evolved from one prophet to another, v €

books revealed to them. Mus

take them asrole models. Bel
inthe Quran. — :

: Hud (Heber) :
‘Salih (Methusaleh)
 Azeeza’s First Fast Ramadan: the
Muslim month of
(United States) | fasting, the ninth
| month of the Muslim
| calendar

Azeeza and her father climbed all the way to the roof | new moon: the

of their apartment building. They came up twice a year, | Muslim calendar

» follows theta
at the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan. | cycle. Anew month
If the new moon was to be seen, it would be right above | starts every time the
new moon is seen.
the glowing spot where the sun was disappearing.
Like the Christian
Azeeza saw it first, a thin curved line in the rosy calendar, the Muslim
brightness of the sky. Like angels had taken a piece of calendar has twelve
' months.
white chalk and drawn a C, only backwards.
Azeeza pointed. “Look, Father. Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Mubarak:
| a greeting which
Tomorrow we will fast.”
| means "The blessings
Her father smiled. “You’re too young. Maybe next __ of Ramadan be with

year.”
i
|
|] you."
|

“T can do it.”
“It’s a long time to go without eating or drinking. And
you have to wake up early.”
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 30

Ummi: the Arabic “T can do it. I might even fast every day like you.”
word for “my
“Wellsee.
mother”
When they went back down to their apartment,
Suhoor: the early Azeeza’s mother was waiting. Azeeza said, “We're fasting
morning meal taken
tomorrow, Ummi. It’s Ramadan!”
before dawn when
fasting
“Let her try,” said her father.
Azeeza’s mother looked doubtful, but agreed.
That night Azeeza went to bed early, but it was hard
to sleep. She’d show them she could do it. Before she knew
it, someone was shaking her shoulder. It was still dark.
She was still tired.
“Go away,” she muttered. “I want to sleep.”
Her father bent down and whispered, his warm breath
tickling Azeeza’s ear. “If you want to fast, you have to
wake up for Suhoor.”
Azeeza’s eyes flew open. She jumped out of bed and
ran to the kitchen. Her mother was setting the table.
“Come and eat,” she said.
Azeeza looked at the food on the table and yawned.
“T’m not hungry.”
Her father picked her up and set her on the chair.
“You'll need your strength.”
Azeeza had a banana and half a bowl of cereal. Her
mother frowned, looking worrie'. “Eat some more. You'll
get hungry.’
 31 ~ AZBEEZA’S FIRST FAST

Azeeza wrinkled her nose. _ Fajr: the dawn

“Fine then, drink some hot chocolate. But hurry. It’s | prayer. Muslims must
| pray to God five times
almost time to stop eating.” | each day as follows:
Azeeza was finishing the last dregs of chocolate when | Fajr - between dawn

her father glanced at the clock and said, “It’s time to start | and before sunrise
| Zuhr - shortly after
fasting.” ~ midday
Then they went to pray Fajr. During the prayer Azeeza _ Asr - in mid-
| afternoon
yawned eight times. Afterward, her father kissed her and
_ Maghrib - right
sent her back to bed. | after sunset
When she woke up again, she changed her clothes, | Isha - before going
to sleep
brushed her teeth (making sure not to swallow anything),
and was off to school. This fasting was easy, she thought.
It sure saved time.
At recess, she grinned while walking past the line at
the water fountain. After recess, her mouth was a little
dry, but she felt okay.
But during math, her stomach growled so loudly that
the whole class heard.
“What was that?” cried Tony.
Azeeza wriggled in her seat. Were you supposed to
say “excuse me” if your stomach growled?
When it was lunchtime, she walked slowly home.
She felt tired, and her stomach kept reminding her how
empty it was.
Her mother met her at the door. “How is your fast?”
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 32

“Okay, I guess.”
“Lie down. It’s good to rest when you're fasting.”
Dropping her jacket, Azeeza went to the sofa.
That’s when she saw the jellybean on the floor. Red,
her favorite. Before she knew it, she'd popped it into her
mouth. Mmm. Sweet and juicy. After she had swallowed,
she remembered she was fasting.
sObenol?
Her mother came running. “What’s the matter? Are
you all right?”
“It was an accident. I didn’t mean to. Honest. I forgot.
I found a jellybean...”
 33 ~ AZEEZA’S FIRST FAST

Her mother was smiling. “That’s okay, dear. You Allah: Allah is the
haven’t broken your fast.” | Arabic word for God.
| Muslims worship the
“But I ate it.”
| same God that the
“It’s okay if you forget and eat something. Allah was | Jews and Christians

the one who gave you the food, anyway. But you have to | worship. Muslims
| believe that God is
stop eating when you remember. Did you do that?” | One and Jesus (peace
Azeeza nodded. | be upon him) is a

“Just try to remember next time, okay?” | prophet of God.

“Okay.” She lay down on the sofa and dozed off. | Zuhr: the prayer
| shortly after midday
When she woke up, she felt a little thirsty but much
better. | pig stuff: Muslims
| are not allowed to eat
After she had prayed Zuhr she ran off to school. | any food that
But that afternoon there was a problem. Tony’s mother | contains a product
| from pigs.
brought in a chocolate birthday cake with sprinkles to
share with the class.
“Don’t you want any?” asked the teacher.
Azeeza didn’t answer.
Tony said, “It’s okay. She didn’t put any pig stuff in it.
I told her you can’t eat pig stuff.”
“Tt’s not that,” said Azeeza. “I’m fasting.”
“What’s that?”
She told the class.
Tony said, “Go ahead and eat it. Iwon’t tell. Neither
will anyone else. Right?”
“Right,” said the others.
 ty
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 35 — AZEEZA’S FIRST FAST

Azeeza shook her head quickly. “Oh, no. I couldn’t.”

“Why not?” asked one girl.
“Aren't you hungry?” asked another.
nes
“Then eat it.”
Azeeza looked down. “I just can’t.”
The teacher said, “I have an idea. I’ll wrap up your
piece. Take it home and have it when you’re finished
fasting.”
“Oh, yes!” cried Azeeza. “Thanks, Tony.”
Azeeza tucked the cake in her coat pocket. She wanted
to take a lick of the chocolate icing, but she didn’t. She
even wished she could forget she was fasting, just for a
moment, long enough to take a bite, but she didn’t.
At recess, she played dodgeball. When she came in,
she was so thirsty she raced to the water fountain.
She took a big mouthful of ice cold water but
remembered and spit it out. Her throat was still dry. She
turned and marched into the classroom, looking back only
once. But by three-thirty, as she trudged home tired and
thirsty and hungry, she knew she couldn’t make it. She
didn’t want to fast anymore. She had to eat. She had to
drink. She wanted to eat the piece of cake in her pocket.
She told her mother this as she helped her off with her
coat.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 36

Asr: the prayer in “But it’s not very long now. Only two hours left.’
mid-afternoon
Azeeza slipped to the floor. “But that’s so long. I can’t
wait.”
Her mother led her to the sofa. “You've fasted all
day, it’s a shame to quit now. Let’s pray Asr and then you
can rest. Read a book. The time will go by before you
know it.”
After they had prayed Asr, Azeeza flopped down on
the sofa. She didn’t feel like reading. She felt like eating.
Picking up a book, she got as far as the goodies Little Red
Riding Hood was taking to Grandma’s house when she
remembered how hungry she was and threw the book
down. Still an hour and fifteen minutes to go! Azeeza
turned on the TV. There was a commercial for ice cream,
then one for cereal and one for hamburgers. She shut off
the TV.
Her stomach growled even louder.
In the kitchen, her mother was making pizza. The
smell made Azeeza’s mouth water.
Her mother looked up. “I made it especially for you.”
Azeeza smiled weakly. “I can’t wait.”
“You're almost there.”
“It’s so hard. Why do they call it fasting when it goes
so slow?”
Her mother laughed. “It’s just the name for it, dear.”
 37 ~ AZEEZA’S FIRST FAST

“Why do we have to fast anyway?” | dua: a small prayer.

“Tt makes you feel lucky.” j Masini Uey
| raising their hands.
Azeeza grumbled, “I don’t feel lucky.”
“Oh, but you are. When you've finished fasting, you
can eat—you can satisfy your hunger. Some poor people
can’t.”
Azeeza was quiet, watching her mother put the pizza
in the oven.
Her father came in. “Are you still fasting?”
Azeeza nodded.
Her father gave her a big hug. “I’m proud of you.
You're such a big girl.”
Yes, she was. A little girl couldn’t have fasted the
whole day.
“Go wash up. It’s almost time to break the fast.”
Azeeza ran and washed her hands.
Her mother called, “It’s time.”
Azeeza grabbed her piece of cake from her coat pocket
and galloped for the table.
“Slow down!” her mother cried. “Don’t eat too fast.
You'll get sick.”
The sky was getting dark. They said the dua. They said:
“O God, I believe in you and have fasted for Your sake. I
put my trust in You. And I break my fast with food You
gave me.”
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 38

Maghrib: the prayer Azeeza took a bite of a date. It was sweet and chewy
just after sunset and delicious. Then she took a bite of cake. It was also
new moon: some
sweet and chewy and delicious. She drank a big glass of
think that the moon water and thought she’d never tasted anything as good.
and star is a symbol of | Then they went to pray Maghrib. Azeeza couldn’t
Islam, the way the
cross is a symbol of
wait till they were done and could eat supper.
Christianity. When the pizza came, she thought she could eat the
However, the moon
whole thing by herself. But after two pieces she was full.
and star are just
symbols that some
Her father said, “So, should I wake you up to fast
countries have tomorrow?”
adopted. The new
Azeeza thought for a moment. “Maybe not tomorrow,
moon is important in
Islam because it
but the next day for sure.”
determines the start Azeeza fasted for four whole days over the month of
of anew month and
Ramadan. Her dad fasted all of them, and her mother
the timings of Islamic
festivals. The lunar
did most of them. Before she knew it, twenty-nine days
year is also about ten had gone by, and they were climbing the stairs of the
days shorter than the
building again, all the way to the roof.
solar year. This
results in Ramadan
If the new moon was to be seen, it would be right
and Eid occuring in above the glowing spot where the sun was disappearing.
different seasons as
the years pass.
 39 ~— AZEEZA’S FIRST FAST

Eid-ul-Fitr: Festival
of Charity, called Eid
for short. It is the first
day of Shawwal, the
month after
Ramadan, and is the
celebration that
marks the end of
Ramadan. It is called
the Festival of
Charity because the
head of the
household must pay
a Fitr or a “charity”
Azeeza saw it first, a thin curved line in the rosy
for each person in
brightness of the sky. Like angels had taken a piece of the house, even for
white chalk and drawn a C, only backwards. the babies. The Fitr
is equal to enough
Azeeza pointed. “Look, fasting is finished. Tomorrow is
money to feed a poor
Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid Mubarak!” person a proper meal.

Eid Mubarak: the

greeting for Eid. It
means “The blessings
of Eid be with you.”
 I Love Eid
(Canada)
OoDOOPDOO
» hy, di. be.
OCC?
be. Gp. Gn. Ge. &. Le

I love Eid. Especially Eid-ul-Fitr. I just love Eid. We Eid-ul-Fitr: Festival

of Charity, called Eid
wake early and take our bath, washing till we’re squeaky
for short. Its
clean. Then we put on new clothes, our best clothes. The celebration marks the
house is in a frenzy—Dad can’t find his missing sock, and end of Ramadan.

Mom is doing some last-minute ironing. samia: vermicelli

Samia for breakfast. Mmmm. Love those creamy noodles cooked in

milk and sugar
noodles and bits of almonds!
Eid Mubarak: the
No school. Ha, ha! It’s too special a day. Mom and Dad
greeting for Eid. It
take off work, too. We hug each other and wish each means “The blessings
other, “Eid Mubarak!” Even the baby tries to say it. We are of Eid be with you.”

smiling, giggling, laughing!

 MUSLIM CHILD — 42

mosque: the place

where Muslims
normally gather to
worship together.
Another common
word used to mean
the same thing is
Magjid.

Muslim: a Muslim
follows the way of life
called Islam. More
than one-fifth of the
world’s people are
Muslims.

Ramadan: the
Then we pack into the car, and we're on our way. I try
Muslim month of not to get my new dress wrinkled.
fasting We don’t go to the mosque to pray. Oh, no. It wouldn’t
be big enough. Everyone comes to pray on Eid, so we need
a big hall.
The parking lot is packed. People of all colors—brown,
white, beige, and black—get out of their shiny cars and
head for the prayer hall. So many colors of Muslims, all
coming to thank God for a wonderful Ramadan.
Women wear colors like red and yellow and gold,
bright as autumn leaves, with lots of glitter and sparkle.
The men look dignified. They wear turbans and robes;
their beards are combed neatly. And many boys have
little caps on their heads.
 43 — I LOVE EID

Inside, there is a jumble of people. Thousands and Allahu Akbar:

thousands, chanting, “Allahu Akbar,’ God is the Greatest, | aphrase commonly

said by Muslims. It
and other good things. means “God is the
The hall is full. It is time to pray. The Imam tells us to Greatest.”

stand shoulder to shoulder. Straighten the lines, fill the gaps, Imam: the spiritual
stand together before God. Rich and poor and leader of a Muslim
community and the
in-between, stand together, leave no space. God will be
leader of the prayer.
pleased. He stands in front of
The Imam has a microphone so we can hear. He says the congregation
| when leading the
“Allahu Akbar” and the prayer begins. Again and again he
| prayer.
says, ‘Allahu Akbar,” raising his hands to his ears. We follow
straighten the lines:
behind, the whole congregation, repeating after him. This is _ Muslims pray in
a special prayer, the Eid prayer. Then he recites. | straight lines,
standing shoulder to
When the prayer is done, we sit quietly for the khutba.
| shoulder. The men
It’s just as important, and we must not talk. Not yet. | are separate from the
Mom has brought some cars and crackers for my women.

baby brother. But I sit quietly, my hands folded in my _ khutba: a speech or

lap, trying to keep my mind on what the Imam says. I’m |; sermon

not a baby.
It takes a long time. Sometimes I think of what my
classmates must be doing in school, and I smile. I’m glad
it’s Eid.
When the khutba is done, we hug again. Then we
mingle and meet our family and friends. Hugs and more
hugs. “Eid Mubarak! What a wonderful day.”
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 44

Muslim: a common We buy cotton candy and helium balloons. The baby
mistake is to refer
laughs, his face all sticky.
to Muslims as
“Moslems.” To call a
The crowd is huge. So many Muslims in one place. I feel
Muslim a Moslem safe. Happy.
is actually an insult, After a while we gather at the car. Then we drive
as the two words
mean two different
home, but not to stay. We just stop in to pick up the
things in the Arabic presents, and the cake Mom baked. Then we go to
language.
Grandma’s house, where everyone gathers—uncles and
The word Moslem
has its origin in the
aunts, cousins and more cousins. Everyone is wearing
Arabic word zulm. their nicest clothes.
The word zulm means
It’s Eid-ul-Fitr and time for presents. What a mess!
“to be unfair or
unjust.” To call
Wrapping paper and packaging all over the place.
someone a Moslem Grandma spoils us. She always buys so much. Mom is
would therefore
smiling. Dad is grinning.
mean that person
is unfair or unjust.
We eat and eat some more. Baked chicken and
The correct word is daal puri, curry and rice, pineapple tarts and cupcakes,
MUSLIM, and the
chocolate and toffee. It feels strange after Ramadan to be
religion is ISLAM.
eating in the daytime. Even the sun looks happy that it’s
daal puri: flat bread Eid.
filled with ground
We tell stories. Of past Eids and the funny things that
chickpeas, commonly |
made in the West
happened. Of Cousin Ruhal, when he was five, stepping
Indies on his pizza and messing up his sock. And everyone
laughs and laughs as if it had just happened. Cousin Ruhal
laughs, too, even though he’s a little embarrassed.
A, Zs
Sx
SS
 MUSLIM CHILD — 46

Islam: The word Then my cousins and I go into Grandpa’s old shed,
Islam has its origin in our secret clubhouse, and have a meeting of our secret
the Arabic word
salaam, which means
club.
“peace.” Ina religious We sneak food from the table and carry it to the
sense, it is to seek to
clubhouse, and while we laugh and tell secrets and jokes
live in peace with
God and His
and riddles, we munch on candies and cupcakes and chips
creation. This comes and pretzels. We wash it all down with some pop.
by following God’s
And everyone admires the way Grandma has decorated
prescribed way of life,
ISLAM. A person
the house, with balloons and streamers and signs saying
who chooses to seek “Happy Eid!” And Grandma smiles and blushes, telling
this peace and follows
everyone to have more candy.
the path of Islam is
called a MUSLIM.
At the end of the day, when we've visited with
everybody and we're tired and still full and the car is
ko ds crammed with gifts, we head home. The stars twinkle
Eid Mubarak: above
and shine, like they’re happy, too.
is the Arabic writing I tried but couldn’t keep my dress clean. “That’s all
for Eid Mubarak.
right,” says Mom. We put our pretty clothes in the laundry
Arabic is the language
that the Quran was
to be washed.
revealed in. It is The next day is school. I go lugging a big bag. It’s
written and read
full of little sacks of candy, one for each kid in the class
from right to left.
and a few extra.
We don’t celebrate Halloween or Easter or other
holidays, so we share our joy at Eid. The kids at school
are excited. Eid is fun for them, too.
Even the teacher knows I have a treat for her. Mom
 47 — I LOVE EID

made pineapple tarts and a packet of goodies. Halloween: This

holiday has its origin
I feel proud, giving out my little sacks of candies. And
in superstition,
I have a few extra for my friends in the other classes. | paganism, and the
Sometimes at Christmas or Hanukkah or Halloween, celebration of the
forces of evil. While
my friends ask me ifIdon’t miss the fun they’re having.
Muslims believe in
But I just smile and shake my head. They have Christmas. the existence of evil
They have Hanukkah and Halloween. I have Eid-ul-fitr beings (known as
jinns), they are
and Eid-ul-Adha. Two Eids to look forward to. They’re
taught not to
more than enough for me. celebrate their doings.
Asa result, it is
against Islam to
participate in this
festival and Muslim
After every hardship kids are not supposed
to dress up as a devil,
there 1s ense. a witch, ora goblin.
They are also not
supposed to
participate in trick-
or-treating.

Eid-ul-Adha: The
holiday celebrating
the sacrifice Abraham
and Ishmael were
willing to make.
Muslims sacrifice an
animal (a sheep, cow,
or goat) and give it to
the poor in their
neighborhood.
 Samosas!
(Pakistan)

Mr. Kareem is coming today. All the kids are excited, | sadaga: a charity.

and I can’t blame them. He always brings a sadaga for us. The treats that Mr.
Kareem brings for
Today we are expecting special treats. Some people say it’s the orphan children
because he was once an orphan too, long ago. But I think are one of many ways
| Muslims practice
it’s just because he’s so kind.
charity. In addition to
Often he brings his wife. She’s so nice. She’s always everyday kindnesses
smiling, and her eyes shine with gentleness. Too bad she’s and acts of charity,
_ Muslims have to give
never had children. She’d be a great mother.
_ 2.5 percent of their
“Ahmad!” I sit up. The teacher, Mr. Feroz, is looking annual savings to
at me. “Dreaming again? What did I just say?” help the poor and
needy. This is known
There’s no clue on the dusty chalkboard. He could have
| as zakaat.
been talking about anything. I shrug.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 50

pakoras: fried | “Come here.” I shuffle up to the front. I know what's

ereneline coming. I always get it.
ludoos: round | "eran your ears.”
yellow sweets Vo

gelabis: orange | “No. No. With your hands through your legs, grab
sticky sweets F.
your ears.
I’m cramped, with my arms wound through my legs,
grabbing my ears.
“Now stay that way.”
Mr. Feroz continues the lesson. Some kids are
snickering. I feel like a fool.
I should be used to this uncomfortable position. I’m
in it enough.
I wonder what Mr. Kareem will bring. I hope it’s
pakoras, or maybe ludoos or gelabis. Or maybe —my
stomach growls so loudly everyone can hear it.
Mr. Feroz scowls at me. “Ahmad! No talking.”
“It wasn’t me,” Imumble. “It’s my stomach.” All the
kids burst out laughing.
Mr. Feroz is furious. “Get to your seat then and keep
quiet.”
“Yes, sir.” But I can’t help wondering what the treat
will be. There’s never enough food here in the orphanage.
My stomach’s still grumbling. I give it a punch to stop it. It
quiets down a bit. Still an hour till lunch.
 51 — SAMOSAS!

When class is finally over, we're let outside to play in

the courtyard until lunch is ready. I gallop around the
corner and crash right into a potbelly. Looking up, I see
it’s Mr. Kareem. I open my mouth to say something, but
nothing comes out. And, just my luck, Mr. Feroz saw the
whole thing! He rushes up and grabs me by the shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Kareem. This silly Ahmad. He never
watches where he’s going. Always absent-minded he is.
Ibeg your pardon.”
I’m so embarrassed. My face is hot. Why’d he have to
tell Mr. Kareem that? Now he knows about me, and I
wish he didn’t.
Mr. Kareem laughs. My ears burn at the sound of it.
I wish I was anywhere else. “That’s all right,” he says.
“T used to be in a big hurry myself. Now I take my time.”
He smiles at me. And it seems like he’s not angry or
disappointed. Which would be worse. And before I know
it, I’m smiling back.
Mr. Feroz is talking. He says, “Of course, you can take
your time now. You're a wealthy businessman. We must
teach these children manners, especially Ahmad here.
He’s slow to learn.”
Again my face is hot. Why does he always have to pick
on me? Other kids do bad things, too. How come he only
sees it when I do bad things?
 MUSLIM CHILD — 52

Mr. Kareem is frowning. He must be displeased.

Mr. Feroz takes him by the arm, “Come, sir. The
superintendent would love to meet with you.”
I’m forgotten, still standing there while all the other
daal: split pea soup kids are playing in the yard. Funny, but I don’t feel like
Zuhr: one of the five playing anymore.
daily prayers. It is What if I try harder? What if I were to be good? Would
prayed shortly after
they even believe me? Or would they think I’m playing
midday.
another trick? If only I wasn’t so bad. Then the teacher
wudu: a washing
performed before the |
wouldn’t have told Mr. Kareem all those awful things
prayer about me.
For lunch we have daal and rice. The daal is thin, the
rice is sticky. But it fills me up. A little. And then it’s time
for Zuhr prayer. |
Most of the boys only pretend to make wudu. Usually
I'd be one of them, just pretending, too. But today is
different. I make it properly. And I hope Mr. Feroz sees
me doing it. But he doesn’t. I even take my time so he will
look my way, but he’s busy with someone else. Oh, well.
At least Iknow I made it properly.
Then we go to pray. Most of the boys are too busy
nudging each other and stepping on each other’s toes to
concentrate on praying. And usually I do that, too. I guess
I really was bad before. I’m starting to see all the things
 53 ~— SAMOSAS!

I was doing wrong. But this prayer time, even though the
boys beside me keep nudging and shoving, I don’t shove
back. I pray properly. But no one notices.
I knew it! After lunch Mr. Kareem is standing at the
front of the prayer hall with a large sack. Mmm. Samosas. samosas:

With meat! My favorite. There are big ones and little ones. | deep-fried, spicy
_ meat dumplings.
And I’m at the end of the line. Everyone is grabbing the _ There is a recipe for
biggest ones they can find. Pushing and shoving. I would | samosas on page 56.

be, too, but I’m on my best behavior, waiting my turn. By

the time I get up there, there’s only one small samosa left.
Hardly a mouthful. My eyes burn. I want to cry. Being
good is so hard! But I take it.
I do remember my manners. I do! But before I can say
thank you, that same Mr. Feroz reminds me. I want to
scream, I’m so mad. But that will just get me in trouble, so
I don’t. I just say, “Thank you, Mr. Kareem.”
There’s a gleam in Mr. Kareem’s eyes, and he smiles
widely at me. “You’re most welcome, Ahmad.”
He remembers my name! Somehow the anger is gone.
I take a big bite of the samosa—ow! I almost lose my tooth!
There’s something wrong. Something hard is in my
mouth. Not a bone—metal. I fish it out. It’s a gold coin! So
valuable. What a grand amount it would fetch in the
marketplace! What should I do? It must have fallen into
the mixture by mistake.
tg at tan
 55 — SAMOSAS!

It must belong to Mr. Kareem. adoption: When

But he’s so rich, would he even know it’s missing? Muslims adopt
children, they are
I had promised I’d try to be good. But that was before required to protect
I found this! If only I’d promised after. But I can’t keep it. the origin and lineage

I need to show Mr. Feroz and show myself that I’ma of the child. The
child therefore keeps
good boy. Not a bad boy as he thinks I am. So I take the the name of his or
coin back up to Mr. Kareem. I tap on his arm and say he her father.

must have lost it.

Mr. Kareem looks funny, like he wants to cry. He hugs
me hard. My ear rubs against a button on his vest, but it
still feels good. It’s been so long since anyone hugged me.
Now he’s babbling to the teacher, saying he will adopt me!
Mr. Kareem says that he’s been wanting to adopt a
child, waiting for one who would return the money he hid
in the treats.
There was other money? No other boys ever returned
it?
I can’t believe what’s happening. Mr. Feroz tries to
convince him to take another boy, but Mr. Kareem is firm.
He refuses. He wants an honest boy. He wants me!!
 Eid Mubarak
How to moke an Eid card
for your family ov your friends
You will need:
1 sheet of tracing paper, 1 sheet of regular white paper, wrapping paper (ask
Mom if she has a few leftover pieces), some sort of stiff board such as Bristol board
or the cardboard from a shirt box, colored pencils, 1 regular pencil, and glue

How to do it:
1) Center your tracing paper over the Arabic writing to the right. Trace with
a dark colored pencil.

2) Usea regular pencil to indicate lightly the fold line, which will be LIN S
underneath the writing when you turn it the right way.

3) Fold your tracing paper along the dotted line. The Arabic writing is now on
the inside. Trace again over the writing. When you open the paper, you will
see a fainter, mirror image. You can trace this again if you want a darker
outline.
\ &>
4) When youcanseeit all, erase your fold line and trace Eid Mubarak (as
above). It goes between the two lines of Arabic writing. Did you know that
to read Arabic, you must start from the right and finish at the left?

5) Cuta rectangle around your drawing. Leave about an inch of white tracing \
paper all around the Arabic writing. Paste this to another rectangle of the
regular paper, the same size, to strengthen it. A

6) Take your Bristol board or shirt-box board and make a folding card like the
ones shown above. Make the card backing big enough so that you have an
inch or more of space all around your drawing. Center your drawing on the
front and paste it down.

7) Make a border with your wrapping paper and paste it down around the
drawing. To finish, use your colored pencils to shade in the text. It’s often
nice to choose colors from the wrapping paper frame, but that is up to you!
 Jumbo Jelly Shoes
(England)

Jameelah and her little sister, Aisha, had been a long

time in the sweet shop. Aisha said, “Which sweets are you
going to buy? The Jumbo Jelly Shoes or the Chocolate
Blaster Balls?”
Jameelah frowned. All the sweets looked so good. How
could she ever decide? She looked down at the fifty pence
in the palm of her hand. It was all that was left of her
allowance, and it was only Monday.
Aisha grabbed a packet of Jumbo Jelly Shoes. The
wrapper crinkled loudly in her little fist. She held out her
chubby hand. “Do I have enough?” She showed Jameelah
two twenty pence and a grubby ten pence.
Jameelah nodded.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 60

But Aisha hardly noticed. She squealed as she caught

sight of some Sour Poodle Doo. “I’ve just got to have this!”
Pouting, she stared at the money in her hand. “Can I get
both?”
Jameelah sighed. She knew how her sister felt. “No,
Aisha, you can only get one or the other.”
The store owner watched them, his hairy arms crossed
and his foot tapping the floor.
“Come on, Aisha. We have to get going. We have to
choose.” Aisha settled on the Sour Poodle Doo. Jameelah
closed her eyes and grabbed a packet. It was Jumbo Jelly
Shoes. She kind of wished it was the Chocolate Blaster
Balls, but it was too late to change now. The store owner
was coming toward them. Besides, she'd heard the Jelly .
Shoes were good.
Jameelah went to the counter feeling as though she’d
forgotten to do something. While she and Aisha handed
over the money, a thought nagged at the edge of her mind.
She was definitely forgetting something, but what? She
shrugged. It couldn’t be that important.
Before they were even out the door, Aisha tore open
her packet and grabbed a blue lump of Poodle Doo.
Then Jameelah remembered what she'd forgotten
to do.
She’d forgotten to check the ingredients! It was almost
 61 — JUMBO JELLY SHOES

six o'clock. The store owner was right behind them, | lard, gelatin,
ushering them out so he could lock the door. | and mono and
| diglycerides:
Aisha was just about to pop the blue lump in her
| pig meat and any
mouth when Jameelah snatched it out of her hand. Aisha | of its by-products
yelled, “Why’d you do that? That’s mine!” | such as lard, gelatin,
| and mono and
Jameelah read the ingredients. No lard, no gelatin, no | diglycerides are
mono and diglycerides. Just some fancy chemicals with a | among the food

lot of letters like EDTA and FD & C. | prohibited by God

| for Muslims to eat.
“It’s okay,” she said, handing the packet back to Aisha, | To help Muslims in
“you can eat it.” | | their food choices,
| some stores advertise
Then Jameelah read her packet of Jumbo Jelly Shoes.
| their products as
There were the dreaded words. Gelatin, lard, mono and | Halal. This means
diglycerides. They were all there. She turned around and that their foods
| do not contain any
pounded on the glass door. The store owner came with a
| pig content. Large
scowl on his face. | supermarkets even
“What do you want now?” | have a Halal meat
section.
“IT want to change this packet.”
“The store is closed. Go away.”
In an instant, the man was gone into a back storeroom.
It was no use. Jameelah had wasted her last fifty pence on
something she couldn’t eat.
Aisha tugged on her sleeve. Jameelah looked down to
see her chewing on a wad of blue Poodle Doo. Her lips
were blue, her teeth were blue, her tongue was blue. Even
the fingertips of her right hand were blue.
 63 — JUMBO JELLY SHOES

“What's the matter, Jameelah? Why don’t you eat your Islam: Islam is the

sweets?” Aisha asked. __ name of the way of

| life that Muslims
“They’ve got pig stuff in them.” | follow. The word
Aisha reached for the packet. “I'll eat it.” Islam means

Jameelah yanked the packet out of reach. “You can’t.” “Finding peace by
obeying God.”
Aisha popped some more Poodle Doo in her mouth
_ Allah: Allah is
and said, “Why not?”
| simply the Arabic
“We can’t eat pig stuff. It’s against Islam.” | word for God.
“But Mum and Dad won’t know.” _ Muslims worship the
| same God that the
Jameelah sighed. Allah would know. His angels
_ Jews and Christians
were probably writing it down this very moment. She | worship. They
glanced at her shoulders as if she could see the invisible _ believe that God is
| One, and Jesus (peace
beings perched there, writing down all her good and bad
| be upon him) is a
deeds to show Allah on the Day of Judgment. _ prophet of God.
Aisha had finished all the Poodle Doo. “Go on, | angels: Believing in
Jameelah. Eat it. Iwon’t tell.” | angels is one aspect of
| Muslim faith.
Jameelah laughed. She wouldn’t fall for that. “I'll just
_ Muslims believe that
throw it out.’ | each of us has been
“Let me throw it out,” said Aisha, licking her lips. | assigned two angels.
| One writes down all
Jameelah laughed again. “It’s okay. I’ll get rid of it
the good things the
when we get home.” _ person does, and the
But when they got home, their parents hustled them ~ other writes down all
| the bad things the
in, asking why they’d taken so long. It was time for
_ person does.
supper.
Jameelah wished she could forget about the Jumbo
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 64

Day of Judgment: Jelly Shoes, but while she ate her soup, she could feel the
Another aspect of bulge in her pocket.
Muslim faith is belief
in the Day of
She should throw the sweets away. But wasn’t that
Judgment. Muslims wasting food? And money? And wasn’t wasting a sin?
believe that a time What if she just didn’t buy Jumbo Jelly Shoes next
will come when the
world as we know it
time? If she’d just eaten them and read the packet
will end, and afterward, she wouldn’t have to feel like this. It would
everyone who ever
have been a mistake and Allah wouldn’t punish her for
lived will have to
stand in front of God
it. Why did she have to read the packet, anyway?
and be judged for the After dinner, Aisha sidled up to her. “Did you throw
things they did when
away the Jumbo Jelly Shoes?”
they were alive. At
that time, our
“Not yet.”
assigned angels will “Why don’t you just taste them? I bet they’re good.”
give God the record
“They probably are.”
of whatever good
things and bad things
“If you give me some, I won’t tell on you.”
we did. They will act “Aisha!”
as witnesses for all
“C’mon.”
our actions.
Jameelah stiffened. “Allah will be angry.’
“Just a little bit doesn’t matter.”
“Tf it didn’t matter, Allah wouldn’t have forbidden it.”
At that moment, their mother called Aisha. Jameelah was
relieved. Aisha was very convincing.
But now that she was alone, her eyes were glued to
the Jelly Shoes. They looked delicious. Her mouth
watered so much she had to swallow. It would be a
 65 —~ JUMBO JELLY SHOES

shame to waste them, a shame. She would never buy | A list of the articles

them again. Before she could change her mind she | of faith a Muslim
| believes in:
crammed a handful in her mouth.
| A. One God
They were so tangy, they made the spots beneath her
B. The Angels of God
ears tingle. She felt very wicked, shoved the rest of the
| C. The Revelations
packet in her pocket, and quickly swallowed. But the
| of God (i.e., Scrolls
sweets made such a wad that they hurt her throat going | of Abraham, Psalms
down. of David, Torah,
| Bible, Quran)
She finished just in time.
| D. The Prophets of
Aisha came back. “Where’re the sweets?”
| God (i.e., Noah,
“T flushed them down the toilet,” said Jameelah. | Abraham, Moses,

“Oh,” said Aisha, looking disappointed. She trudged | Jesus, Muhammad,

| peace be upon them).
away to play.
| E. The Day of
Jameelah’s stomach hurt. It was tight, as if someone
| Judgment
had tied it in a knot. She went and lay down, but it didn’t
help. Her mother came to check on her later and found
her holding her stomach in pain.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” said Jameelah, wishing she'd never heard of
Jumbo Jelly Shoes. They hadn’t even tasted that good.
When, after a while, she still felt no better, her mother
took her to the emergency clinic.
“I don’t understand it,” said Jameelah’s mother. “Do
you think it could be food poisoning?”
The doctor put the stethoscope against her stomach
 MUSLIM CHILD — 66

and listened. “Sounds like a nervous tummy. Everything

seems fine. Maybe she ate something that didn’t agree
with her.’
Jameelah touched her pocket where the rest of the Jelly
Shoes were. She knew what she had to do.
When she got home, she marched into the bathroom
and flushed them down the toilet.
Immediately, her stomach felt a lot better.
 Prophet
Muhammad:
Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him):
last prophet of Islam.
Muslims believe that

The Year of
all nations received
prophets from God.
These prophets were
from within their

the Elephant
communities. The
Quran mentions the
names of twenty-five
of those prophets,
(Nigeria) including Abraham,
Moses, and Jesus
(peace be upon
Halima was confused. She checked one book and then them), but there were
many more. Muslims
the other. And then she checked the first again. She didn’t
believe all the
want to go to her grandmother. Grandmother could never prophets were
answer a question in a simple way. But Halima needed to Muslims, as all
invited people to
know, and Grandmother was the only one home.
| Islam, which means
Desperate, Halima finally went to her. At least, “finding peace by

Grandmother would know the answer. obeying God."

Prophet Muhammad
“Grandmother, when was Prophet Muhammad (peace (peace be upon him)
be upon him) born? In one book it says 570 a.p. and in is considered to be

another it says 571. Don’t they know for sure?” the last prophet of
Islam.
 MUSLIM CHILD — 70

Mecca: today a city

in Saudi Arabia. It is
Her grandmother smiled, showing many missing
here that Prophet
Muhammad (peace teeth. She set Halima onto her knee and said, “No one
be upon him) was knows for sure the exact date the Prophet Muhammad
born, in the Year of
(peace be upon him) was born. It depends on which tribe
the Elephant.
you ask. You see, back then, the Arabian tribes liked
Kaaba: considered
the first house of
nothing better than to be fighting each other. But there
God. It was built by were four sacred months when all fighting was forbidden.
prophets Abraham
“Sometimes, when a tribe was winning a war just
and his son Ishmael
(peace be upon
before a sacred month was coming, they’d change the
them). It is located in name of the month so they could keep on fighting and
Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
winning.
It is toward the Kaaba
that Muslims around
“It became a terrible mess. Each tribe had a different
the world face when calendar, and although they still had four sacred months,
they stand in prayer.
no one outside that tribe knew exactly when they'd be. -
So all the months and years around that time were
confused together. But we do know that Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in the Year of
the Elephant. It was called the Year of the Elephant for a
very good reason.”
There was a twinkle in her grandmother’s eye. Halima
knew Grandmother wanted to tell her a story, but she had
to finish her homework. She needed to know the
birthdate! Maybe Grandmother would hurry up. So
Halima said, “All right, Grandmother, why was it called
the Year of the Elephant?”
 71 — THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT

“T’m glad you asked. Way back, a long time before Arabs: acommon
misconception is that
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born, a
Muslims are Arabs. A
long time before the Year of the Elephant, there lived Muslim may be Arab,
Prophet Abraham and his son, Prophet Ishmael (peace be but can also be
Indian, Chinese,
upon them). They built a house of God in the barren
Russian, American,
valley of Mecca. They called it the Kaaba, which means Indonesian,
‘cube,’ because it looked like a cube. All the Arabs, every Canadian, British, or
any other nationality.
year for years and years afterward, in fact to this very day,
On the other hand,
came to visit this house of God. an Arab could be a
“What made the Kaaba so special was that it was a Muslim, a Jew, a
Christian, an atheist,
sanctuary—a safe place. A sanctuary in a sacred city,
or of any religion.
Mecca. In all of Mecca, and even for a few miles around it, While there are over
no one was allowed to hurt anyone else, or hurt animals, one billion Muslims
in the world, there
or even hurt a blade of grass.
are only about two
hundred million
Arabs. Arab Muslims
therefore only make
up about 20 percent
of the Muslim
population of the
world.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 72

Solomon: (peace be “Tt was as if there was a magical circle, a boundary

upon him) a wise around Mecca, where everyone and everything was safe.
king of the nation of
Israel and a prophet
This area was called the Haram. If people wanted to fight,
of God. they had to go outside the Haram to do so.
Queen of Sheba: “Now way down south in the land of Yemen, there
according to Muslim lived a man named Abraha. He wasn’t a king, but he ruled
tradition, her name
Yemen on behalf of a king. At that time, Yemen was under
was Bilgis, and she
ruled a fine kingdom. | the rule of an Abyssinian king, an African Christian king,
Sheba is the old name they called the Negus. It was he who'd set Abraha to rule
for Yemen, a rich
Yemen.”
land at the time of
Solomon (peace be Halima interrupted. “I didn’t know there were
upon him). By the African kings.”
time Prophet
Her grandmother nodded. “Yes, child. Now listen.
Muhammad (peace
be upon him) was Abraha was an ambitious man. He knew that long ago
born, Yemen had Yemen had been a great and marvelous land. Rich and
declined in wealth
glorious. A land of frankincense and myrrh. In fact,
and prestige.
during the days of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him),
it wasn’t called Yemen at all. It was called Sheba and
was ruled by the beautiful Queen ofSheba,who was
mentioned in the Bible itself. Abraha wanted to make
Yemen great again. And he was jealous. Jealous of the
love the Arabs had for the Kaaba. He wanted to make a
house of God so magnificent that the Arabs wouldn’t
bother going to the Kaaba anymore, but instead would
come to Yemen, and with them they’d bring their money.
 73 — THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT

Yemen would be rich once again.

“So Abraha built a magnificent cathedral. He took the
marble from one of the Queen of Sheba’s ruined palaces
and used it to build his splendid cathedral. In it, he placed
crosses of gold and silver and pulpits of ivory and ebony.
It truly was a sight to behold.
“Then he wrote to his king, the Negus, and said,
‘T have built thee a church, O King, the like of which was
never built for any king before thee; and I shall not rest
until I have diverted unto it the pilgrimage of the Arabs.
Now he didn’t have the sense to keep this ambition to
himself. He bragged about it to anyone who'd listen.
“But the Arabs still preferred the Kaaba, even though it
wasn’t anywhere near as fancy as Abraha’s cathedral. They
still went to the Kaaba for pilgrimage. And with them went
their money.
“That the Arabs still loved the Kaaba, even though he’d
worked so hard on his cathedral, made Abraha even more
jealous. And when people are jealous, they do stupid things.
“The Arabs had heard the boast of Abraha and were
angry. And when people are angry, they also do stupid
things. In fact, they were so angry that a man from the
tribe of Banu Kinanah came to Yemen one night just to
defile the cathedral, and when he was done, he ran home
to his tribe, safely.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 74

“And how did he defile the cathedral?” asked Halima.

“They say he defiled the cathedral by pooping in it.”
Halima laughed out loud. “Didn't they have
bathrooms?”
“Of course not. They went to the bathroom outside, in
the bushes. Anyway, Abraha was furious. Absolutely
consumed with rage. How dared this Arab do such a thing
as to poop in his cathedral!
“Now, it would have made sense for Abraha to chase
down this man and punish him. It would even have made
sense for Abraha to confront the tribe of Kinanah to pay
for defiling the cathedral. But Abraha did not do this.
Instead he saw the perfect opportunity to get rid of his
rival, the Kaaba. The Arabs would not come to the
cathedral for pilgrimage, because they went to the Kaaba.
But if he were to destroy the Kaaba...
“Yes, he decided. That would be his revenge! Then they
would come, pilgrims in droves, and with them would
come their money. Yemen would be rich and glorious
once again.
“So Abraha gathered a mighty army, the likes of which
has seldom been seen, and in the front, in the very
vanguard, he placed a mighty beast ...an elephant.
“The Arabs rode camels and horses and sometimes
they rode donkeys and mules. But everyone knows that
 75 — THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT

camels and horses and donkeys and mules are no match Abdul Muttalib:
for an elephant! There was no Arab army that could stop the grandfather of
_ Prophet Muhammad
Abraha, even though some of them tried. And as he came _ (peace be upon him)
north, he grew bolder and bolder. And he captured
whatever riches he could find along the way.
“Among the plunder, Abraha captured two hundred
camels that belonged to a very special man named
Abdul Muttalib who lived in Mecca.
“The people of Mecca held a council of war and
decided it was useless to try to stop Abraha.
“When Abraha had made camp just outside the
Haram, he sent a message to the people of Mecca, telling
them that he hadn’t come there to kill anyone. Only to
destroy the house of Allah. And he asked them to send
him their chief.
“Of all the men in Mecca, Abdul Muttalib was the
wisest, and the closest to being the chief. So they all
decided Abdul! Muttalib should go.
“When Abraha saw Abdul Muttalib, he was quite
impressed. He got up from his fancy chair, the only chair
in the tent, to greet Abdul Muttalib. And then Abraha sat
down on the carpet beside him, so they could speak as
equals. Abraha asked Abdul Muttalib if he had any favors
to ask. Abdul Muttalib said that he wanted his two
hundred camels back.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 76

“Abraha was surprised that at such a time this man

should be thinking of his camels instead of what Abraha
would do to Allah’s house, and he said so.
“Abdul Muttalib said: ‘I am the lord of the camels,
and the Kaaba likewise has a Lord Who will defend it’
“Abraha said, ‘Allah cannot defend it against me.
“We shall see, said Abdul Muttalib, “But give me my
camels’
“Abraha gave him his camels and Abdul Muttalib went
back to Mecca and warned all the people to leave the city
and head for higher ground. Then Abdul Muttalib went to
the Kaaba and prayed to Allah for help. He grabbed the
metal ring of the Kaaba door and cried, ‘O Allah, Your
servant protects his house, You protect Your House’
“The very next day, Abraha got his troops ready to
march into Mecca, but it seems they had reached that
invisible boundary that marked the sanctuary around
Mecca—the Haram. When the elephant was brought to
the front of the army, instead of proceeding forward, he
sat down. He would not budge. Not even when Abraha’s
soldiers stuck him with spears and hit him with iron bars
around the head. Some of the men in the ranks knew it
was a bad omen.”
“Oh, the poor elephant,” said Halima.
“Abraha should have realized. He should have turned
 77 ~ THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT

around and gone home while he still could. But nothing

would stop him from destroying the Kaaba. He was that
jealous of it. And nothing would take away his revenge.
So he decided to trick the elephant. He turned his troops
around and pretended to go back toward Yemen. The
elephant got up and started back with them. After a few
steps however, Abraha turned them back toward Mecca,
and the elephant sat down again.
“If only Abraha had truly gone. But in a moment it
was too late.
“In the west the sky grew black. And slowly the
blackness grew nearer and nearer. And with it camea
strange sound—like a wave from the sea, on its way to
destroy them. But it was not a wave. It was a flock of birds.
Actually, it was more like a cloud of birds. And each bird
held three stones, one in its beak and one in each of its
claws. They were stones made of a special kind of clay—the
kind potters use and fire in a kiln to make pottery. These
stones were just that hard and sharp. The birds swooped
down on the army and let go of their stones. And they
were flying so fast and the stones hit with such force that
they pierced the coats of armor the soldiers wore. Every
stone hit a man, and where it hit, the skin began to rot.
“There was panic and devastation everywhere.’
“Devastation, Grandmother?”
 ad io ey

“Tt means everything was ruined. Most ofthe army

was in tatters, like dried-up leaves, broken and crushed.
And those who still lived quickly turned back toward
Yemen.
“Almost all of them died before getting to Yemen and
were buried along the way. Abraha died after he got back
to Yemen.
“But not everyone was hurt. The elephant was spared.”
“Oh, I’m glad,” said Halima. “I didn’t want the
elephant to get hurt.’
“Not one stone had hit him—almost as if the birds
 MUSLIM CHILD — 80

knew that the elephant was not to blame. And some of

the men were spared, too. It was if the birds had been told
which of the men had been forced to come along and
hadn’t wanted to damage Allah’s house at all.
“Those men didn’t bother going back to Yemen.
They stayed near Mecca, where they made their homes
and earned their livelihood herding sheep.
“Tt was a magnificent year, the Year of the Elephant.
The people of Mecca, the tribe of Qureysh, were thereafter
called the ‘People of Allah’ because everyone thought
Allah had come to their defense.
“But before the Year of the Elephant was over, the
‘People of Allah’ were to get another gift from Him.
“About fifty days after the defeat of Abraha, a grandson
was born to Abdul Muttalib. The baby was named
‘Muhammad, a name never heard before (but often
heard since). It means ‘Someone worth praising’ And
forty years later, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was
to become the last prophet of Islam. And although they
don’t know exactly which month or year it was, they do
know he was born in the Year of the Elephant.”
Halima said, “But I can’t write ‘Muhammad (peace
be upon him) was born in the Year of the Elephant’
The teacher wants a date—she always does.”
“Oh,” said her grandmother. “Then write that he
 $1 — THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT

was born on the 22nd of April, 570 a.p. That should be

good enough.”
“Thanks,” said Halima. And she went back to finish
her project. Grandmother could have just said so, without
the long story.
When Halima handed in her project the next day,
the teacher frowned. “Actually, Halima,” she said,
“nobody knows for sure what year the Prophet (peace be
upon him) was born. But they do knowhe was born...”
“In the Year of the Elephant!” thought Halima. It
turned out she lost two points for not writing that.
 Great Mosque:
There are three
mosques that all
Muslims hold dear in
their hearts: the
Kaaba in Mecca,
Prophet
Muhammad’s (peace
be upon him)
mosque in Medina,
and the Dome of the
Rock complex in
Jerusalem. Muslims
try to visit all three

Lost at Hajj
of these mosques in
their lifetime if they
can. The Great
Mosque referred to in
(Saudi Arabia) this story is the Kaaba
in Mecca.
FHSSHSCHSCSSSOOSOSOOSS
It’s the worst place in the world to get lost, and the Mecca: today a city
in Saudi Arabia. It is
worst time, too.
here that Prophet
I’m huddled in a forgotten corner of the Great Mosque Muhammad (peace
in Mecca. All hope is gone. I wul never see my mother be upon him) was
born, in the Year of
and father again.
the Elephant.
I hear shuffling steps on the marble tiles. An old man
smiles down at me.
 MUSLIM CHILD — 84

Hajj: a pillar of Islam I don’t smile back. What’s the point? He won’t speak
that all Muslims must English; they speak Arabic here. As I expected, the old
perform at least once
in their lifetime, if
man mumbles in Arabic. I shrug. He tries another
they can afford it. It language. I shrug again. Finally he says, “Are you lost?”
involves visiting the An American voice! I jump to my feet, nodding.
Kaaba and other sites
in and around Mecca
“Where are your parents?”
that are significant to “T don't know. We just got here yesterday. From New
Muslims.
York. There was such a crowd!”
Arafat: The place The old man nods. “Come, we will search for them.
where pilgrims stand
I'm from Atlanta myself.”
to ask God to forgive
their sins. Arafat So I walk beside him. My feet are sore, but I ignore
means “to know.” them.
Legend has it that
I learn his name is Abdullah, and he came for Hajj
when Adam and Eve
were expelled from many years ago from Georgia and didn’t have the heart to
Heaven, Eve was sent leave. So he applied for a job cleaning the Great Mosque.
to Jidda and Adam
He says it is an honor to sweep Allah’s house.
was sent elsewhere.
They wandered and And I tell him my name is Bilal.
met at Arafat and Task, “Are you making Hajj?”
said to each other,
The old man smiles. “Maybe, Insha Allah. If God wills.
“Araftu,” meaning,
“T know you.” I may get time to go to Arafat.”
athan: the call to When he says Arafat, it reminds me. “I have a dream,”
prayer, called out by I say, before I can stop myself.
a muezzin.
“What is it?”
I feel foolish. “Never mind.”
“You can tell me. I won’t laugh.”
 .
. s Wis sinaal ~ Wigan seh. od

li
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 86

muezzin: the person As we walk I tell him. “I’ve always dreamed of giving
who calls the athan, the athan at Arafat. In front of everyone—all the people
the call to prayer.
gathered.”
Bilal ibn Rabah:
He does not laugh. Gently he says, “But the athan can’t
Bilal was a black
Abyssinian slave who be given for everyone. There are too many people for
accepted Islam and everyone to pray together. The muezzins must divide the
became a prominent
crowd into small groups.”
historical person in
Islam. He accepted “Oh,” I say. My dream is gone. I shouldn’t have told him.
Islam as a slave and I want only to find my mother and father and get away.
was tortured by his
He smiles. “Your dream suits you. The first Bilal was
master for his belief.
A Muslim bought and an African slave set free. And the first to call people to
freed Bilal. Because of prayer.”
his beautiful voice, he
My people were once slaves, too. That is why it is my
was chosen to call
Muslims to prayer. dream to be like him.
Bilal was given this We search the old hills of Safa and Marwa again.
honor because of his
Thousands and thousands of faces. People walking,
ability. His color and
status were of no running.
consideration Men dressed like me, in two pieces of white cloth.
Everyone alike. I can’t tell a beggar from a king.
An hour passes and then another. I have already done
this. We search all three floors of the Great Mosque.
Again. My legs are aching, and my eyes are blurry from
looking closely at so many faces.
The old man is tired, too. I see him stumble. And when
I urge him to rest, he doesn’t argue.
 87 — LOST AT HAJJ

“Don’t worry,” he says. But there’s a frown in his eyes. | Safa and Marwa: the

“We'll find them, Insha Allah.” two hills between

| which Hagar (the
Insha Allah. If God wills. | wife of Prophet
My stomach grumbles so loudly, it startles me. And the | Abraham, peace upon
old man chuckles. “Let’s find something to eat.” | him) ran in search of
| water for baby
By the time we've eaten and drunk, the sun is gone. | Ishmael. Running
We return to the Great Mosque in time for prayer. | between them is a

I hear the muezzin call the athan for Maghrib, and | part of the Hajj that
| each pilgrim must
I stop. It’s a magical moment for me. I stand perfectly still, _ perform.
hardly breathing. I call the athan with him. Word for
| Maghrib: one of the
word. Just as well as he can. The old man watches. five daily prayers,
When we pray, I ask God to help—help me find my | prayed shortly after
| sunset.
mother and father.
| Kaaba: a cube-
The crowds have thinned. A little. We look down into
| shaped building, the
the crowded courtyard and across to the Kaaba—as if we | house of God, that
could spot them in all the crowds! | Muslims around the
| world face when they
I must keep looking, but I’m tired. I’ve been walking
| stand for prayer. It is
all day. I could lie down on the marble floor and fall | located in Mecca,
asleep in a minute. | Saudi Arabia. It was

Abdullah says, “Come stay with me and my wife. I built by Abraham and
| his son Ishmael, and
cannot let you sleep here.” | is considered the first
But I won't. “What if they come while I’m gone?” house of God.

So the old man brings mats and blankets from home and
we lie down, in a corner, to sleep.
I have terrible dreams. Dreams of my mother and
 MUSLIM CHILD ~— 88

Mina: the plain father flying home to America and me running after the
where Abraham took plane, calling, “Wait for me!”
Ishmael to sacrifice
him according toa
The athan for Fajr awakens me. The words echo deep
vision from God. The within me. AndI say them just like the muezzin.
sacrifice was atest of
Abdullah says I have a fine voice, low and melodious. I
obedience for
Abraham, the father,
will make a good muezzin one day.
and Ishmael, the son. We search the Great Mosque again. And again we don’t
But before Abraham
find my parents.
could carry it
through, God
Talking helps the time go by.
ransomed Ishmael At the end of the day, we curl up again in a corner.
with a ram, which
“We'll find them, Insha Allah. Don’t worry, Bilal.”
Abraham sacrificed,
in Ishmael’s stead.
“But what if we don’t?”
To commemorate He doesn’t hear me. He says, “We'll go to Mina. They
the sacrifice that
must be there, Insha Allah.”
Abraham and Ishmael |
were willing to make,
If God wills.
pilgrims also sacrifice So the next day, we walk and we walk, in the blistering
an animal. And the
heat, with thousands of others, like a river of people.
meat is distributed to
the poor. This is the
Abdullah says Mina was the place where Abraham was to
day of Eid-ul-Adha for sacrifice his son. There’s a sea of tents. How will we ever
the rest of the Muslim
find my parents?
world. Muslims
around the world also Abdullah talks to the police in Arabic. They know him
sacrifice an animal (a and are friendly. They rub my head and smile and nod.
sheep, cow, or goat)
Abdullah says they’llkeep a lookout for my parents.
and give part of it to
the poor in their
We don’t find them in Mina. And the day comes when
neighborhoods. we must go to Arafat, where all the pilgrims will gather.
 89 — LOST AT HAJJ

“They will be there,” says Abdullah. “They must. For _ Abraham: a prophet
without Arafat, there is no Hajj.” __ of God and the father
| of prophethood.
More than two million people are gathered at Arafat. | Moses, Jesus, and
We climb to the top of Jabal Rahma, the Mount of Mercy. | Muhammad (peace
Tam alittle angry. Where are they? I lift up my hands like be upon him) are all
descended from Him.
the others, and I pray, “Send my parents!”
Jabal Rahma: the
After Arafat, even Abdullah looks discouraged. “I was
Mount of Mercy, a
so sure we'd find them there.” small hill in the plain
“Something has happened to them,” I say and wait for of Arafat. According
to legend, it was here
Abdullah to deny it.
that Adam (peace be
Finally his face lights up. “Of course nothing could upon him) and Eve
have happened! The police would know. They have a list were forgiven for
disobeying God.
of everyone in the hospitals. Don’t worry.”
Muzdalifa: one of
I sigh with relief.
the sites of Hajj.
And it’s on to Muzdalifa and back to Mina, but even Pilgrims stay the
when stoning the Jamrat, I cannot see them. night after the day of
| Arafat.
Every day that passes makes me more discouraged.
I’m afraid to sleep, in case I should miss them, and when
I do finally sleep, I have terrible dreams.
They’re gone. They’re dead. I’m sure they are. But I
don’t say it out loud, in case it comes true. I pray, and I
pray, and I pray some more. To let them find me, or let me
|
find them. I promise Allah, I’ll never be bad again. I’ll do
my chores without grumbling. I’ll keep my room clean |
and get my homework done, if only I can find them again.
 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 90

Jamrat: astone pillar — Only the athans can please me. For those moments,
that represents Satan, I can forget.
the devil. There are
three Jamrat found in
Hajj is almost done. Only one thing left. The final
the plain of Mina, tawaf, so it’s back to the Great Mosque we go.
located at the spots We get there in time for Zuhr. The hottest time of
where Satan
appeared to tempt
the day. We hear the muezzin calling us to prayer, and
Abraham and I stop. I stand perfectly still. Once again, it isa magical
Ishmael to disobey
moment for me. And I call the athan with him. Word
God’s command of
the sacrifice.
for word. Just as well as he can.
Abraham and Abdullah listens and smiles.
Ishmael picked up a
I can’t help but say, “I still wish I could give the athan
handful of pebbles
and tossed them at
to all the people in the mosque.”
Satan, who ran away. Abdullah’s face lights up. “Yes! Why not? I think I can
During Hajj, pilgrims
manage it. Not the athan, but the iqaama. Come quickly.’
repeat this act,
tossing seven pebbles
And he leads me through the milling crowds and
at a time at each straight up to the leader of the prayer. And he explains
Jamrat, to symbolize
in Arabic and with his hands. And the Imam looks at me
their own rejection
of Satan and
kindly.
temptation. He unfastens the microphone around his neck and puts
tawaf: the act of it around my own. Nervously, I wait for the lines to be
going around the formed. I hope I don’t forget the words. Or make a
Kaaba seven times.
mistake. That would be awful.
Performing it isa part —
of Hajj. Abdullah nods. I say, “Mom and Dad, it’s me, Bilal.
iqaama: the second
Meet me at Zamzam after Zuhr.” My voice booms down
call to prayer, which from speakers on the minarets, echoing across the hills
signals that prayer is
about to begin
 91 — LOST AT HAJJ

of the ancient city of Mecca. The city of Abraham and of | Zamzam: a well

his great-grandson Muhammad, peace be on them. It’s a _ witha miraculous

origin. When
wonderful feeling. I close my eyes and begin:
| Abraham left his wife
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.” God is Great! God is Hagar and his son
Great! Ishmael in the valley
| of Mecca, it was
“Ashadu an Lailla ha illallah.” 1 declare there is no god barren, with no
but the one God. “Ashadu anna Muhammadur rasullallah.” water. When the

I declare that Muhammad is His messenger. provision of food and

water was finished,
“Haya las salah.” Come to prayer. baby Ishmael began
“Haya lal falah.” Come to success. _ tocry with thirst,

“Qad qaama tis salah. Qad qaama tis salah.” Prayer is _ kicking into the sand
with his heels. His
beginning, Prayer is beginning. mother Hagar ran
“Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar.” God is great! God is great! back and forth
between the hills Safa
“La illaha illallah.” There is no god but the one God.
and Marwa, in search
And then the moment is gone. My dream has come of water. She ran
true. But I can’t be happy till I see my parents. Till Iknow | seven times, and
when she came back
they are safe.
water had sprung
And we pray Zuhr, right there, behind the Imam. from where Ishmael
And I pray and pray, that they will be there, at the well __ had been kicking. A
miracle, which first
of Zamzam.
quenched baby
And when we're done, we squeeze our way through Ishmael’s thirst,

the crush of people as quickly as the crowds will let us, today still quenches
the thirst of pilgrims
to Zamzam. And we wait. And wait. The crowds are as
from around the
thick as before. Every color of people on the earth passing world.

by. Then, suddenly, the crowd parts a little. Two people, a

 MUSLIM CHILD ~ 92

Hagar: the mother man and a woman, looking confused and hopeful, are
of Ishmael and a wife
coming toward us.
of Prophet Abraham
(peace be upon him). I’m lost in their hugs and smothered with their kisses,
Ishmael: one of the
while Abdullah watches, a big happy smile on his face.
sons of Prophet We're all laughing and crying at the very same time,
Abraham (peace be and Abdullah’s eyes are shining. He hugs Dad and nods
upon him). From
Ishmael’s (peace be
to my mother. And the stories come tumbling out. It
upon him) children seems as if everywhere we went, we just missed my
and grandchildren
parents by a few moments. They were there at Arafat,
came Prophet
Muhammad (peace
but with all the crowds and confusion, we couldn’t see
be upon him). them.
Over my father’s shoulder I can see the hill of Safa, and
[hold on a little tighter. Now I know how Hagar and
Ishmael must have felt, when Abraham left them here
alone.
Abdullah bids us farewell and picks up his broom and
dustpan. “I have work to do.” He rubs my head and says,
“Remember me in your prayers.”
“And you remember us.”
He nods and then, even while I’m watching, he melts
into the crowd and is gone. I shiver at how easily he
disappears.
 The Taj)
Hajj is the journey of a lifetime, a way of centering Muslims, bringing
them from every corner of the globe back to where it all began—
to the city of Mecca.

Like electrons circling the nucleus of an atom, we circle the Kaaba, M

the first temple of God, that Abraham and his son Ishmael ECCa
(peace be upon them) built.

And like Hagar, mother of Ishmael (peace be upon them),

we run back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwa,
hoping God will answer our need, as He answered hers.

At Mina, we gather in a tent city as far as the eye can see,

over two million Muslims strong. Then on to the plain of Arafat.
Is this a dress rehearsal for the Day of Judgment? In pilgrim garb,
you can’t tell the peasant from the king. All are equal.

And when the sun has set, we leave for Muzdalifa.

We gather our pebbles and are ready for the next stage.

Back to Mina and the stoning of the Jamrat. These are the pillars
of stone that represent the Devil, who tried to sway Abraham and Ishmael
(peace be upon them) from the sacrifice God asked of them. And we cast our
pebbles, as did they—but against the pillars. We are rejecting Satan.

And at the end, if the Hajj is accepted, we emerge as if newly born,

with all past sins obliterated and our slates wiped clean.
We are ready to devote the rest of our lives to the service of God.
 Arvabian Sea

oS

The Hajj route is about 5 kilometers, or 3miles.

 Pronunciation Guide
FHHSSHSSHSSHHSHSSHHHSSHSHSSHSHSSSESOSHOOSES
The following pronunciation guide represents a rough transliteration of the
Arabic terms used in the stories. I have also included the Arabic word for those
who read Arabic. Where there are three dashes (---), it means the word is not
Arabic but from another language-Urdu, for example.
There are many sounds in the Arabic language with no equivalent in English.
Most of these are guttural sounds that emanate from the back of the throat and
different areas of the mouth. In these cases I have used the closest sound in
English. Guttural consonants have been indicated by the use of bold type and
underlining. Guttural vowel sounds have been indicated by the use of an
apostrophe before the vowel.

These sounds are:

d hard ‘d’ sound, from the side of the mouth

guttural sound, from the back of the throat

fc
= heavy ‘h’ sound, with air expelled

l~A close to the ‘qu’ sound

ss guttural sound, from the roof of the mouth at the back of the throat

IM hard ‘s’ sound

 98 — GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

ir hard ‘t’ sound, from the tip of the tongue on the upper palate

IN hard ‘z’ sound

apostrophe followed by a vowel

The remaining phonetic symbols are fairly standard and can be found in an
English dictionary.

5) as in cat 6 as in crawl

al as in plane 00 as in book

a as in wall 66 as in cool

e as in wet th ‘th’ sound as in ‘the’

é as in be u as in fun

i as in bit a as in dune

0 as in pot a as in fur

fe) as in stone 3 as in camel and above

Abdul Muttalib ot bod oie “ub ¢-dul moo ’-ta-lib

abi me | u’-bé
 99 — GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

Allah a_i} ul-l6h

allahu akbar SuS\ao Li ul--16-h6o uk--ber

Arabs WwW >e ‘ur’-ubs

Arafat lsh ic ‘ur-re-fat

ashhadu Lae | ush-ha’-d66

asr ee “u’-sar

assalaamu alaikum aSite » ou! us-sa-la’-m66 ‘a-la--koom

athan lal a- than’

daal ae dal

daal puri --- dol po6--ré

dhikr BSc thi’-ker

dua eles déo-- a

Eid-ul-Fitr peal suc ‘6d ul fiv-ter

 100 ~— GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

fajr poss fu’-jor

fard us>s fard

‘gelabis je-la’-bés

Hajj huj

hijab hi-jab-

Imam i-mam’

insha Allah in’-sha ul¢-l6h

iqaama i-k6’-moh

isha ‘ish’-a

Islam is-lam/

Jabal Rahma je’-bal rah’-meh

jalsa jul--so
 101 — GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

jamrat jum/-rat

Kaaba k’a’ -bah

khutba khoot’-bah

ludoos lud’-dddés

maghrib magh-’-rib

w<
Mecca muk’-koh

Mina mi’-na

Moslem moz’-lem

mosque /masjid mosk/mus’-jid

muezzin moo-eth’-thin

Muslim moo’-slim

Muzdalifa mooz-da’-li-foh
 102 ~— GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

niqaab wie ni-kab’

pakoras po-k6--ras

Prophet Muhammad prof’-it moo-ham’-med

Quran k’ oor’-an

rakaat ro-k ‘at’

Ramadan ru-mo-dan’

Ramadan Mubarak ru-mo-dan’ moo-ba-rek

ruku 1o-k60”

sadaqa 49tus su’-de-kah

Safa and Marwa Laue (and) & 9 pa su’-fa (and) mar’-weh

salaams aN. so-lams’

samia sa’-mé-a
 103 ~— GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

samosas S98-M0--SoeSs

suhoor Ie soe-hdor’

sujud So-j60d’

sunnah soon’-nuh

tasbih tes-béh’

tawaf to-waf’

ummi oom’-me

wudu woo-d60’

Zamzam Zum-Zum

zuhr thoo’-her
 ABOUT THE AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATOR ~ 104

Rukhsana Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and emigrated with her family
to Canada at the age of three. She’s written songs and stories for Adam’s World
(a Muslim video series) and Muslim magazines, and has published books
for children of all backgrounds: Bedtime Ba-a-a-lk; The Roses in My Carpets;
Dahling, IfYou Luv Me, Would You Please, Please Smile; and King ofthe Skies.

Rukhsana lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, Irfan Alli, and their
four children, three girls and a boy. She can be reached through her website:
www.trukhsanakhan.com.

Irfan Alli emigrated from Guyana, West Indies, to Canada in 1975. Heisa
leader and educator in the Muslim community in Toronto, Canada.
Over the years Irfan has helped both Muslims and non-Muslims to better
understand Islam. He frequently speaks to students, parents, educators, church
leaders, and community groups, and at interfaith forums. Irfan Alli and
Rukhsana Khan have been married for more than twenty years. He can be
contacted at: [email protected].

Patty Gallinger is an artist who loves to research and illustrate children’s books.
Her past careers include that of book designer and award-winning nature artist.

Ms. Gallinger lives in Ontario, Canada. She is the mother of two children.
-
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Buy Re
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 Mushim Child
Understanding Islam through
Stories and Poems

In this compelling collection, Rukhsana Khan

lovingly examines the everyday lives and struggles
of Muslim children as they learn to follow the path
of Islam, one of the world’s major religions,
in a way of life that is often misunderstood.