The Most Precious Gift
Ziyad the zebra asks his jungle friends what prayer gives them and learns ten of its blessings, in an audiobook about salah for young children.
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What is The Most Precious Gift about?
The Most Precious Gift is an Islamic audiobook for children about Ziyad the zebra, who wants to know why Muslims pray.
Early one morning, before sunrise, Ziyad finds Mama and Baba just finishing their prayer. He knows that prayer happens five times a day, but he does not understand why. Baba tells him that prayer is the most precious gift Allah has given us, a blessing like a really amazing present. It is the day of the monthly jungle party, so Baba suggests they ask the animals setting up for it what the gift of prayer gives them.
As Ziyad goes from friend to friend, each one stops work to answer. Prayer gives us peace in stressful times, says the lion blowing up balloons. The giraffe hanging streamers says it helps us be thankful, and the butterfly says it connects us to our best friend, Allah. The others add happiness when we are sad, calm when we are worried, patience, courage, hope, the togetherness of praying as a family, and a chance to stop five times a day and remember Allah.
Back home, Mama explains that we look after this gift, just as Ziyad looks after the train set his grandfather gave him for Eid, by keeping up our five prayers every day. That evening, as the party is about to begin, Ziyad calls the adhan for Maghrib and invites everyone to pray first.
Written by Yasmine Abuzeid, illustrated by Melani Putri and read by Rania Kurdi, the story is about 7 minutes long and music-free.
What your child will learn
- Prayer is a precious gift from Allah, and we look after it by praying five times a day.
- Prayer can bring us peace, calm, patience, courage and hope.
- Praying together as a family brings us closer to each other.
- Prayer comes first, even when we are busy or excited.
Talk about it afterwards
- Why did Ziyad want to know about prayer?
- Which of the ten gifts of prayer do you like best, and why?
- How does Ziyad look after the train set his grandfather gave him?
- What did Ziyad do before the party began?
Words to know
- Adhan
- The call to prayer.
- Maghrib
- The prayer just after sunset.
- Habibi
- An Arabic word meaning "my darling", which Mama and Baba call Ziyad.
Frequently asked questions
What does The Most Precious Gift teach children about prayer?
It gives ten things prayer brings us, such as peace, thankfulness, calm, courage and hope, and shows that we look after the gift of prayer by keeping up our five daily prayers.
How long is The Most Precious Gift?
About 7 minutes.
Does The Most Precious Gift have music?
No. It is music-free.
