Circle of Sandcastles
Shy Maimuna finds the courage to stop bullies who wreck a deaf boy's sandcastles, in an audiobook based on a hadith, for children aged 4 to 9.
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What is Circle of Sandcastles about?
Circle of Sandcastles is an Islamic audiobook for children aged 4 to 9, based on a hadith, about Shy Maimuna, who overcomes her shyness to stand up for a deaf classmate who is being bullied.
Swinging in the park one sunny day, Shy Maimuna sees Mutmin, a boy from her class, building a sandcastle on his own. Three older children walk up and try to talk to him. When he does not answer, they stamp on his sandcastle and laugh. Maimuna knows why Mutmin did not reply: he is deaf. She goes home with a heavy heart.
The next Sunday, Mutmin has built four sandcastles in a circle, and the bullies crush them all. This time Maimuna shouts, "Hey, that's not nice!" The bullies stop for a moment, then kick his toys again and ride off. Speaking up was not enough. The week after, she sees them wrecking his castles once more. With her heart pounding, she runs to his side and tells them that Mutmin cannot hear them, because he is deaf. She calmly starts collecting his toys. One boy rides off, but the other two sit down feeling guilty, and Mutmin hands them a spade. Together they build a new circle of sandcastles.
Maimuna learns that it is not enough to dislike something wrong in her heart, or even to speak against it: she has to act, even when she is scared. The story is part of The Prophet Says series and follows the hadith about changing a wrong with the hand, the tongue and the heart. It is written by Mariam Al-Kalby, illustrated by Yee Von Chan and narrated by Rania Kurdi. It takes about six minutes and is music-free.
What your child will learn
- When we see something wrong, we should try to change it, with our actions if we can.
- We can be brave even when we feel scared.
- Bullying is wrong, and we should stand up for people who are being hurt.
- Understanding someone's difference, like being deaf, helps us treat them kindly.
Where this audiobook comes from
- Sahih Muslim 49: Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why did Mutmin not answer the older children?
- How did Maimuna feel when she watched the bullies?
- Why was shouting "That's not nice!" not enough?
- What could you do if you saw someone being bullied?
Frequently asked questions
What age is Circle of Sandcastles suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 9. It shows bullying and a child's fear honestly, so younger children may like to talk about it with a parent afterwards.
Is Circle of Sandcastles based on a hadith?
Yes. It follows the hadith in Sahih Muslim about changing a wrong with your hand, your tongue or, at the least, your heart.
How long is Circle of Sandcastles?
About 6 minutes.
Does Circle of Sandcastles have music?
No. It is music-free.
