Salah ad-Din and the Frankish Boy Part 1
Hamid catches a young crusader outside the castle of Chastellet, and Salah ad-Din asks him to make his enemy a friend, in an audiobook for ages 7 to 12.
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What is Salah ad-Din and the Frankish Boy Part 1 about?
Salah ad-Din and the Frankish Boy Part 1 is an Islamic audiobook for children aged 7 to 12 about the great Muslim leader Salah ad-Din and a boy in his army who learns that kindness can turn an enemy into a friend.
More than 800 years ago, Salah ad-Din's army lays siege to Chastellet, a crusader castle in Syria that is not yet finished. The crusaders answer his offer of peace with arrows and a catapult load of rubbish. Salah ad-Din asks his clever engineer, Salim of Mosul, to find a weak spot, and Salim takes his son Hamid, who looks after the oxen that pull his workshop wagon, to spy on the walls. They find a crack in the highest tower.
That night, while Hamid measures the tower's base, a boy slides down a rope and lands right on top of him. The young crusader will not speak, and a captain draws his sword, but Salah ad-Din reminds everyone that Muslims may not harm the women and children of their enemies. He asks Hamid to look after the prisoner and make him his friend.
With good meals and patience, Hamid wins the boy's trust. His name is Richard, and he slipped out of the castle to find a healing herb for his sick mother. When Hamid unties him to climb for it, Richard keeps his word and does not run away. Salah ad-Din rewards his honesty with his freedom, but the crusaders shut their gate on him, and Salah ad-Din promises to keep him safe.
The first of three parts, it is read by Edmund Dane. The battle and the castle are real; the characters are imagined. It is a Miraj original.
What your child will learn
- Kindness can turn an enemy into a friend.
- Keeping your word shows who you really are.
- Muslims must never harm women and children, even in war.
- A good leader is fair and compassionate to friends and enemies alike.
Chapters
- The Siege of Chastellet
- Saleem Investigates
- Little Crusader Spy
- An Unexpected Friendship
- Search for Yellow Herb
- Unwanted Gift
Where this audiobook comes from
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3015: The Prophet ﷺ forbade the killing of women and children in war.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why did Salah ad-Din ask Hamid to make Richard his friend?
- How did Hamid show kindness to Richard?
- Why did Richard not run away when Hamid untied him?
- How do you think Richard felt when the castle gate was shut on him?
- Is it hard to be kind to someone who is unkind to you?
Frequently asked questions
What age is Salah ad-Din and the Frankish Boy Part 1 suitable for?
Children aged 7 to 12. It is set during a real siege, with arrows and swords, but no one is hurt in this part.
Is Salah ad-Din and the Frankish Boy a true story?
The siege of the crusader castle of Chastellet is real, but Hamid, Richard and the plot are imagined, as the audio explains at the start.
How long is Salah ad-Din and the Frankish Boy Part 1?
About 38 minutes, in six chapters.
