Stories from the Quran 5

Stories from the Quran 5 is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 6 with two short stories from the Qur'an about Maryam and her son, the Prophet Isa (AS): Maryam and the angel, and baby Isa speaks.

In the first story, Maryam's mother promises her baby to Allah before she is born, and Maryam grows up in the temple, in the care of Zakariya (AS), who makes her a special place to pray. One night, as she prays, the angel Jibril comes to tell her that she will have a special son. She is happy, and she is worried about what people will say, so she goes to a quiet place to have her baby.

In the second story, alone under a palm tree, Maryam hears a voice telling her not to be sad: Allah is taking care of her, and she should eat dates from the tree and drink from the stream at her feet. When she brings baby Isa home, people shout at her. Maryam points to her baby, and Isa speaks: he is the servant of Allah, Allah has made him a prophet, and He has made him kind to his mother.

The book shows very young children how Allah looked after Maryam, and it introduces Isa (AS) as a prophet and a servant of Allah. It is written by Dalia Salam and takes about five minutes to read aloud.

Maryam and the angel

Maryam's mother, called Anne in the book, was very excited, because she was going to have a baby. She made a promise to give the baby to Allah. This meant that the child would grow up in the temple, where people studied and prayed. Allah gave her a little girl, and she named her Maryam, or Mary.

When Maryam was old enough, she went to live in the temple. Everyone wanted to take care of her, and it was decided that Zakariya (AS), Maryam's uncle, should do it. Zakariya was a very holy man. As Allah wished, he made a special place in the temple where Maryam could pray.

One night, while she was praying, Maryam saw a flash of light, and suddenly an angel named Jibril appeared. "Maryam, do not be afraid," said the angel. "I have come as a messenger from Allah to tell you that you are going to have a special son."

Maryam was amazed that Allah had chosen her to have this baby, and she was very happy. But she was also very worried. What would people say when she had a baby who had no father? She decided to leave the temple and go to a quiet place to have her baby. This special baby would become a great prophet.

Baby Isa speaks

Maryam sat under a palm tree to have her baby. She was all alone, and she was hungry and scared. Then she heard a voice. "Maryam, do not be sad. Allah is taking care of you. Shake this tree, and dates will fall for you to eat. There is a stream at your feet. Drink." Maryam did as the voice said.

She had a beautiful baby boy, just as the angel Jibril had told her, and she named him Isa, or Jesus. This was the name Allah wanted for him.

Maryam decided to go back home, and she wondered what she would tell her family and friends. When she reached home with baby Isa, people shouted at her and said she was a bad woman. Maryam just put her finger to her lips and pointed to her baby. They laughed. "How can we talk to a baby?" they said.

Just then, baby Isa began to speak. "I am the servant of Allah," he said. "Allah has blessed me and made me a prophet. He has made me kind to my mother."

The people were very surprised. "This is a real miracle," they said. "This baby is not like other babies." They knew then that baby Isa had been sent by Allah. They did not ask Maryam any more questions, and they were kind to her. Maryam was very happy to be back home.

• Surah Al Imran 3:35-37: The wife of Imran vows her child to Allah; Maryam is born and grows up in the care of Zakariya (AS), who finds provision with her in her place of prayer.
• Surah Al Imran 3:42-47: The angels tell Maryam that Allah has chosen her and gives her news of a son, Isa (AS).
• Surah Maryam 19:16-33: Jibril comes to Maryam; under the palm tree she is told to shake it for dates and drink from the stream; baby Isa (AS) speaks from the cradle.