The Apple Tree
Shaima learns to share the apples from the tree she planted with Baba, in an audiobook based on a hadith about charity.
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Listen to a sample
What is The Apple Tree about?
The Apple Tree is an Islamic audiobook for children about a little girl who plants an apple tree with her father and learns that sharing its fruit is a charity that Allah rewards.
One morning after Fajr, Little Shaima finds Baba digging a hole in the front garden. He tells her that the Prophet ﷺ said that when a person, an animal or a bird eats from a tree someone planted, it counts as charity, even if someone steals from it. Shaima is not impressed: she wants every apple for herself. So Baba reminds her how much she likes rewards, and tells her that the greatest reward of all comes from Allah. Together they plant the seed.
When the tree finally bears fruit, the family shares an apple pie. Then Shaima is tested day after day. A hungry boy climbs the tree for his family, a squirrel carries apples to her babies, and birds peck at the branches. Each time Shaima's first feeling is anger, and each time she chooses to give. By Thursday there are so many apples that she calls the whole neighbourhood to fill their baskets.
Written by Mariam Al-Kalby, illustrated by Yee Von Chan and read by Rania Kurdi, the story is part of The Prophet Says series. It shows children that sharing can be hard, and that giving to people and animals is an act of worship.
What your child will learn
- Planting a tree that feeds people and animals is a charity.
- Sharing can be hard, but Allah rewards those who give.
- Animals and birds are part of Allah's creation and deserve our kindness.
- The greatest reward comes from Allah.
Where this audiobook comes from
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2320: No Muslim plants a tree or sows a seed from which a bird, a person or an animal eats, but it is counted as charity for him.
- Sahih Muslim 1552: What is eaten from a tree a Muslim planted is charity for him, even what is stolen from it.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why didn't Shaima want to share her apples at first?
- What made her change her mind about the boy, the squirrel and the birds?
- Who else eats from a tree besides people?
- What could you plant or share this week?
Words to know
- Hadith
- A saying or action of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, passed down by his companions.
- Fajr
- The prayer at dawn, the first of the five daily prayers.
- Habibti
- Arabic for "my darling", said to a girl.
- Insha'Allah
- If Allah wills.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Apple Tree based on a hadith?
Yes. It is based on the hadith that whatever a person, an animal or a bird eats from a tree a Muslim planted counts as charity, reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
How long is The Apple Tree?
About 6 minutes.
Does The Apple Tree have music?
No. It is music-free.
