Nasruddin & the Donkey
Nasruddin, his son Ali and Wonky the donkey try to please everyone on the way to market, in a funny 8-minute audiobook for children aged 4 to 6.
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What is Nasruddin & the Donkey about?
Nasruddin & the Donkey is an Islamic audiobook for children aged 4 to 6 that retells a traditional teaching story about the wise "fool" Nasruddin, and the day he learns that you cannot please everyone.
It is Saturday, market day. Nasruddin wakes his sleepy son Ali, and then his donkey, Wonky, with the promise of an ice cream, and the three set off along the hot road. At a tea stall, some old men say it is mean to make a child walk, so Nasruddin puts Ali on the donkey. A group of women then scold Ali for riding while his father walks, so they swap. A man on a bicycle says there is room for two, so they both climb on, until people waiting for a bus call them cruel for overloading the poor animal.
At last Nasruddin has a very clever idea and heaves Wonky onto his own back. The passengers on the bus point and laugh at the man who carries his donkey instead of riding it. So the three go on to the market exactly as they started.
Nasruddin tells Ali that it is not possible to please everyone all the time, and that it matters far more to do what is right in your heart and please Allah alone. Ali understands, and so, in his donkey mind, does Wonky. Told in two short parts and read by Edmund Dane, the story has plenty of donkey noises for young listeners to join in with. It is a Miraj original.
What your child will learn
- We cannot please everyone all the time.
- It matters more to please Allah than to worry about what people think.
- We should do what is right in Allah's eyes, not what will please the people watching.
- We can listen to advice, but we still need to think for ourselves.
Chapters
- Part 1
- Part 2
Talk about it afterwards
- Why did Nasruddin keep changing who rode the donkey?
- How do you think Wonky felt when both of them rode on his back?
- Why did the people on the bus laugh at Nasruddin?
- Has anyone ever told you to do something differently? What did you do?
- How can we know what Allah likes?
Frequently asked questions
What age is Nasruddin & the Donkey suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 6. It is short, funny and easy to follow, with a simple lesson at the end.
How long is Nasruddin & the Donkey?
About 8 minutes, in two parts.
What does Nasruddin & the Donkey teach children?
That we can never please everyone, so it is better to do what is right and please Allah alone.
