Storytime with Uncle Asad: Al Baseer

Storytime with Uncle Asad: Al Baseer is an Islamic audiobook for children aged 4 to 9 in which Uncle Asad teaches the name Al-Baseer, the One who sees everything, through a story about an honest little mouse.

Uncle Asad begins by explaining the name. Allah sees everything, from the smallest ant to the most distant star. It would be no good playing hide and seek with Allah, because wherever we hid, He would find us right away. He sees when we are kind and truthful, and He also sees when we are unkind, cheat or lie.

Then he tells a story his granddad told him. Long ago in Africa, an old king gave every animal a tiny seed: whoever grew the tallest sunflower would be the next leader. Sniffle the Mouse loves growing things, and she waters her seed every day, but nothing grows. She thinks about swapping it for a new seed, but she remembers that Al-Baseer sees everything, even in secret. Six months later, the animals march in with sunflowers so tall they touch the sky, and Sniffle brings an empty pot, her head hanging in shame. But the king stops at her pot. The seeds he gave out had been baked dry in the sun and could never grow: he wanted to find out who was honest.

Part of the Storytime with Uncle Asad series, the story is music-free and a Miraj original. It ends with Uncle Asad's reminder: even when no one else is around, Allah is watching, so do the right thing.