The Journey of Two Seeds

The Journey of Two Seeds is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 about two tiny apple seeds who learn to trust in Allah as they grow into strong trees.

Late one summer, an apple falls from a tree and cracks in half, and two seeds pop out and become best friends. In autumn the wind blows hard and it rains almost every day, and the seeds feel small, weak and frightened. A wise old tree tells them that they are stronger than they look: they should let the wind take them on a journey, trust in Allah, and remember that Allah loves them. The wind drops them on some soil, and they find themselves buried in the dark, unable to see each other or to move. Remembering the tree's words, they pray to Allah day and night. In spring they sprout up into the sunlight, find each other again and thank Allah. Year after year, Allah gives them light and water, until they become strong, wise trees with seeds of their own to guide.

The book's subtitle, Allah is Al-Qaadir, names Allah as the All-Powerful. It teaches children that Allah cares for them however small they feel, and that frightening changes and long waits can be faced with trust and dua. Written by Rabia Gelgi, it takes about three minutes to read aloud and is music-free.

Once there was an apple tree with many fruits. One day, late in the summer, one of its apples fell from the tree and cracked into two halves. Two seeds popped out of the apple, and they became best friends.

In the autumn the wind blew strong. It was cold, and it rained almost every day. The two seeds did not know what to do or where to go. They shivered and looked around. "Everything else is so big," they said, "but we are small and weak."

An old, wise tree heard them talking. "Don't be frightened," she said. "You may look small and weak, but you are very strong. Let the wind take you on a journey. Trust in Allah, and if you feel scared, remember that Allah loves you."

The two seeds looked at each other and thought about what the tree had said. They were tiny seeds: how could they be strong? But they trusted in Allah, and they let the wind take them on a journey.

The wind carried them from place to place, and at last it dropped them on some soil. They found themselves buried, and it was dark and scary. They could not see each other, and they could not move. The soil was all around them. But they remembered what the wise tree had said: Allah loved them, and He would make them strong. So they prayed to Allah day and night.

After some time, spring came. The two seeds sprouted, pushed their way up through the soil and into the sunlight, and started to grow. When they saw each other, they were amazed. They looked so different. But they were happy to be together again, and they thanked Allah.

As time passed, Allah provided them with light and water, year after year. The two friends grew bigger and bigger, produced many apples and became strong, wise trees.

New seeds popped out of their apples, ready for adventures of their own, and the two wise trees were there to guide the tiny seeds on their own journey to becoming trees.