The Apple Tree

The Apple Tree is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 about a little girl who plants an apple tree with her father and learns that sharing its fruit is a charity 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. Shaima is not impressed: she wants every apple for herself. So Baba explains that the greatest reward of all comes from Allah, and together they plant the seed.

When the tree finally bears fruit, Shaima is tested day after day. A hungry boy climbs the tree, 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 instead. By the end of the week she is calling the whole neighbourhood to fill their baskets.

Part of The Prophet Says series, written by Mariam Al-Kalby and illustrated by Yee Von Chan, the story brings a well-known hadith to life in a way young children can feel. It shows that sharing can be hard, and that giving to people and animals is an act of worship.

Baba plants a tree

Little Shaima woke up at Fajr and peered out of her bedroom window. Baba was in the front garden, digging a hole in the ground. Curious, she jumped off her bed, raced down the stairs and flung the front door open. She plopped down beside the pile of soil and asked, "Baba, why are you digging a hole?"

Baba put down his shovel and smiled. "Habibti, I'm going to plant an apple tree, insha'Allah. Whoever plants a tree gets the reward of charity."

"What does the reward of charity mean, Baba?" asked Shaima.

"Our Prophet, peace be upon him, said that if a person, an animal or a bird eats from a tree someone planted, it counts as charity," said Baba. "Even if someone steals from the tree, it doesn't take away the good of the hard work it took to plant it."

"I don't want anyone to eat from my apple tree," said Shaima. "I want all the apples for myself."

The greatest reward

Baba reminded her how much she liked rewards: ice cream from Mama when she helped with the dishes, and a sticker from her teacher when she did well in a test. Then he led her to the hole, dropped a small seed into her palm and said, "Let me tell you something. The greatest reward you can receive is from Allah. It is better than all the rewards of the whole world."

Shaima's eyes lit up. "I want to plant the seed!" She dropped it into the hole, covered it with soil and sprinkled it with water from the watering can. Then she and Baba sat in front of the little mound and smiled.

Time went by. The seed grew and grew until it blossomed into tiny flowers, and then, one clear Sunday morning, the tree was full of apples. Shaima picked some and carried them home in her basket. Mama baked an apple pie, and the whole family ate it together. Shaima was happy.

A week of visitors

On Monday, Shaima looked out of her window and saw a little boy climbing the tree to reach a big apple. She raced outside and shouted, "Don't take my apples!" The boy slid down and said he was sorry: his family was hungry, they had no money, and he wanted to bring them something to eat. Shaima felt sad for him. She gave him a basket and told him to take some apples.

On Tuesday, she saw a furry creature on the grass eating one of her apples. It was a squirrel. Shaima stomped down the stairs, but when she opened the door she saw the squirrel feeding the apple to her babies. She closed the door quietly, glad that the babies had something to eat.

On Wednesday, Shaima was riding her bike when she spotted birds pecking at the apples. She was about to shoo them away when she remembered what Baba had said: whoever plants a tree gets the reward of charity from whoever eats from it. In three days, a boy, an animal and some birds had eaten from her tree.

Enough for everyone

On Thursday, Shaima lay on the grass under the apple tree. So many apples had fallen that they covered the ground. There were far too many for her to eat by herself, and Shaima had an idea. She ran to all the neighbours and told them to bring baskets. People came and happily filled them with apples, and Shaima was glad to be sharing.

She sat down on the grass and remembered what Baba had told her on that special morning: the greatest reward you can receive is from Allah, and it is better than all the rewards of the world.

• 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.