Aminah and Abdullah [Teaching Children]

“I will need to use the small screws.” Abdullah said to himself whilst collecting all the small screws from the floor and putting the rest beck in his dad’s tool box.

Just then, Aminah walked into the room with a painting in her hand.

“Look! Look what I’ve made!” Aminah had a huge smile on her face as she waved her painting to her dad and big brother.

“Not now, Aminah!” Abdullah said loudly and quickly as he was too busy screwing in the nail into the cupboard.

“B-but…” Aminah said in a low tone. Her deep brown eyes looked sorrowful and she held the painting close to her chest.

“I drew this especially for you, Abdullah.” Aminah continued, her voice showed that she was getting upset and angry.

Abdullah, too busy focused on his work, didn’t hear what Aminah said, and Abi was too busy concentrating that he hadn’t even noticed Aminah walk into the room!

“I hate you sometimes, Abdullah!” said Aminah growling. Her cheeks grew red. Suddenly, a hint of guilt entered her heart.

Aminah slowly walked out of the room; her eyes filling with tears. She made her way up the stairs and into her bedroom.

Aminah jumped onto her bed, staring down at her painting. She had beautifully painted a picture of Madinah for Abdullah because she knew how much he really wanted to visit it as it was his most beloved place. Aminah wanted to do something special for her elder brother.

The painting was splashed with different colors, mostly cream for the Masjid walls. There were tall palm trees and the sky was crayoned in a summery blue colour. She had never been to Madinah but had heard lots about the city of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and her heart ached to go.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

Aminah quickly lay down on her soft bed and pulled a pink blanket over her body.

“My Aminah…” came a familiar voice from behind Aminah.
Ummi sat down beside her, stroking her head.

“Don’t be upset. Abdullah was busy and didn’t mean to upset you.”

Aminah sniffled.

“But Ummi, I made it especially for him and he didn’t even want to look at it?” she cried, now staring back at her mum, looking into her golden eyes.

“No, sweetie. He was just so engrossed in helping Abi, he didn’t realize what you had made for him.”

Aminah sat up and gave her mum a hug, squeezing her tightly.

“Shall I tell you a story?”

“Yes, please Ummi!” Aminah wiped away her tears.

Aminah adored story writing and storytelling.

“Ok, here sit in my lap and I will tell you.”

Aminah rushed to cuddle up in her mother’s arm.

“So, one day whilst the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam)…”

Ummi paused.

Aminah sat up.

“And then…” she said wide-eyed.

“I’m waiting for you to say Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam!” Ummi laughed.

“Remember whenever we hear it, we have to repeat it, it means “May Allah’s peace be upon him.” Ummi grinned.

“Oh yes, silly me.”Aminah shook her head in disappoint.

“Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam!” she chirped.

Ummi kissed her daughters forehead.

“So, where was I, oh yes…He was sitting with some very well-known leaders of Quraysh and was calling them to accept Islam.”

“Ummi, were these leaders really popular?”

“Yes, and they were staunch enemies of Islam too.”

“SubhanAllah” Aminah raised an eyebrow.

“And then, suddenly a blind man approached the Prophet, Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam…”

“_Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam” Aminah said proud that she had remembered this time.

“…as he wanted to ask him an important question. The blind man kept interrupting, and so the messenger of Allah turned away from him just slightly so he could continue talking to the leaders.”.

“But remember, he didn’t do this to the blind man on purpose, but unintentionally.” Ummi added.

“Yes, because the Prophet, Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam, was a very kind man and didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.”

“That’s right, Aminah. It was only a minor mistake the messenger of Allah, may peace be upon him, did by turning away from the man. But, Allah sent down verses to correct his Prophet, out of great love for him.”

“Which verses were they, Ummi?” Aminah gathered her eyebrows thoughtfully.

“The verses are in Surah Abasa, chapter 80 in the Holy Quran.”

“Wow! Ummi! I’m on that Surah now! I’m learning it off by heart!” Aminah said excitedly flapping her hands.

Ummi chuckled.

“MashaAllah, that’s amazing!” Ummi cuddled Aminah.

“Now, tell me Aminah, what do you learn from this story?”

“I learnt that, when people upset you, make excuses for them because they may have hurt your feelings accidently.”

“MashaAllah, that is absolutely correct, Aminah. Sometimes people will do things and without realizing, they may hurt your feelings but sometimes you got to make excuses for them.”

“Yeah…So, does that mean that I have to make excuses for Abdullah too?”

“Yes, dear.”

“I feel bad for Abdullah now.” Aminah bit her lip.

“You can still apologies. There is an old quote that goes like this…” Ummi closed her eyes trying hard to remember it.

“Oh, I got it! “If a friend makes a mistake, make seventy excuses for him. If your hearts can’t do this, then that is a weakness in your own selves.”

“SubhanAllah…” Aminah was amazed at how making excuses for someone was so important and how it was part of good character.

“You feel better now?” Ummi gazed at Aminah’s chestnut eyes.

“Loads better.” Aminah smiled and gave her mum a kiss on the cheek.