Once Upon a Time in Medina

Once Upon a Time in Medina is an interactive Islamic story for children aged 6 to 9 that tells how the Muslims of Medina welcomed the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions who arrived from Makkah with nothing.

Children meet the Ansar, the helpers of Medina, who shared their homes, their food and their date gardens with the Muhajirun, the people who had left everything behind. They help carry bricks for the Prophet's ﷺ mosque, share a meal in the dark so a guest can eat, and see how a whole city became like one family.

The story teaches generosity, brotherhood and welcoming others. It is based on the Qur'an and authentic Hadith and has been reviewed by Islamic scholars.

When the Muslims of Makkah were told to leave their city, they travelled to Medina with almost nothing. They had left their homes, their shops and their families behind.

The people of Medina came out to meet them. They were called the Ansar, which means the helpers. The Prophet ﷺ paired each helper with one of the Muslims from Makkah, and told them they were now brothers.

Sharing everything

The helpers shared their homes, their food and their gardens. One helper offered his brother half of everything he owned. His brother thanked him and asked only to be shown the way to the market, so he could work and earn his own living.

A guest in the dark

One night a hungry guest came to the Prophet ﷺ, and a helper took him home. There was only enough food for the children. So the helper and his wife put the children to sleep, turned out the lamp and pretended to eat, so their guest could eat his fill. Allah praised them in the Qur'an for putting others before themselves.

• Surah Al-Hashr 59:9: Allah praises the Ansar for loving those who came to them and putting them first.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 3798: The helper and his wife who turned out the lamp so their guest could eat.