photo by Aarthi (Flickr - Creative Commons)
The dry scorching heat has driven many ants inside. They are all over the apartment but can be found especially crawling on the kitchen floors. My son likes feeding them with crumbs from his plate. In the bathroom they bravely seek a drink from the tub of water that is sitting to cool.
As simple as ants may be, their presence in our home has encouraged my son and I to talk about many things from the science the ants (how they live, what they eat, the parts of the ant) to the place of ants in Islam; there is a surah named An-Naml (The Ants), the story of Prophet Suleiman’s ability to hear the ants and the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) mercy to the ants approaching the fire.
Here are three entertaining books that bring the world of ants in Islam into the lives of children:
image source: goodwordbooks.com
The Army Walks Through the Valley is a short and simple story of the Prophet Sulayman’s ability to hear animals communicate; one of these being ants. Young readers will find the illustrations appealing as they learn about the incident when Prophet Sulayman and his army were travelling through the valley.
Title: The Army Walks Through the Valley
Author: Saniyasnain Khan
Publisher: Goodword Books
ISBN: 8178981629 (paperback); 8178981610 (hardcover)
Reading Level: 3-4 years (Read Aloud); 4-6 years (Read on Own)
image source: islamicbookstore.com
Older children will learn more about the science of ants and being kind to animals in Amr and the Ants. Amr is fascinated by the ants in his front yard but is shocked when another boy finds delight in squashing them with his shoes. As the story progresses Amr learns more about ants in Islam from the stories his parents tell him and from doing research. He even decides to keep an ant farm. This book is part of the Young Muslim Nature Series which includes Ali and the Spider and Maryam and the Trees.
Title: Amr and the Ants
Author: Rowaa El-Magazy
Publisher: Islamic Foundation
ISBN: 0860373304
Reading Level: 6 – 10 years
image source: islamic-foundation.com
Love all Creatures is a collection of stories based on hadeeth about the way in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was caring and merciful toward animals. The first story in this book is titled “The Little Ants.” It tells of how the Prophet saved a colony of ants from the heat of a nearby campfire.
Title: Love All Creatures
Author: M. S. Kayani
Publisher: Islamic Foundation
ISBN: 9780860370772
Reading Level: 8 – 12 years
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
