This book is a collection of tales from the Quran and the Hadiths, presented as very short, simple stories, each accompanied by an illustration and aimed at children. They are strictly religious in nature and origin; there’s nothing from, say, folklore. Many of the stories, from that of the creation of the world to the tales of the prophets — including of Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus) — who preceded Muhammad, may also be familiar to non-Muslims.
Indeed, the tale of Satan’s fall is given the title ‘Paradise Lost’. The prophet Muhammad’s life, teachings, battles and other incidents from early Islam supply most of the remaining stories.
The tales have a didactic bent and not all of them are stories per se
— a number of sections simply describe right conduct and right practice according to Islam, sometimes supported by some teaching of the prophet. For example, one section describes the proper way to drink water: “One should sit facing the Kaaba and take water in three slow sips and conclude it with a prayer to Allah.” The book also includes some stark eschatology, with scary flames illustrating the fate of “he who disobeys”.
The prose is unexceptional. A certain traditional style of storytelling can be detected in the narration, but the diction may not always be simple enough for children. For example, from the tale ‘Time for Goodbyes’: “Extend your right hand, so that I might swear allegiance to you,” and “Thereafter, we were made responsible for many things, and I do not know how I would fare with respect to them. When I die, no mourner should do so over my bier. When you bury me, throw the earth over me and tarry over my tomb…”
This kind of writing, with its slightly archaic words, does suit the religious origin of the stories, but it might have been a good idea to simplify it for children.
365 Tales from Islam; Ziya Us Salam, Om Books International, ₹595
rohan.m@thehindu.co.in
