The Most Precious Gift

The Most Precious Gift is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 about Ziyad the zebra, who wants to know why Muslims pray.

Early one morning, Ziyad finds Mama and Baba just finishing their prayer and asks them why we pray. Baba tells him that prayer is the most precious gift, a blessing Allah has given to each one of us. It is the day of the monthly jungle party, so Ziyad and Baba go and ask the animals who are getting it ready what prayer gives them. Each friend has a different answer: peace in stressful times, thankfulness, a connection to Allah, happiness, calm, patience, courage, hope, togetherness with family, and a chance to stop five times a day and remember Allah.

Back at home, Mama explains that we look after a precious gift by caring for it, and that we care for prayer by keeping up our five prayers every day. When the sun sets and the party is about to start, Ziyad calls the adhan and gathers everyone to pray Maghrib together.

The book gives children ten simple reasons to love salah, in words they can remember, and shows them that even on an exciting day there is time to pray. Written by Yasmine Abuzeid and illustrated by Melani Putri, it takes about seven minutes to read aloud.

Why do we pray?

It was early morning in the jungle, and Ziyad the zebra was snuggled up in bed. He peeked out from under the covers through the window. It was still dark outside, before sunrise. He could hear Mama and Baba awake in their room, so he ran in to see them. They had just finished praying.

"Habibi, you're up," said Baba lovingly. "Come and sit with us," said Mama.

Ziyad sat on Mama's lap. He knew that prayer happened five times a day, but he did not understand why. "Mama, Baba, why do we pray?" he asked.

Mama and Baba smiled. "Well, Ziyad," said Baba, "the most precious gift of prayer was given to us by Allah. He gave this great blessing to each one of us."

"What is a blessing, Baba?" asked Ziyad.

"A blessing is like when you get a really amazing gift," said Baba. "And this most precious gift can give us so much."

"Like what?" asked Ziyad.

Just then they heard a lot of noise outside. It was the day of the monthly jungle party, and all the animals were setting up for the fun. Baba had an idea. "How about we ask everyone who is setting up for the party what the most precious gift gives them?" Ziyad was so excited that he quickly put on his shoes.

Ten gifts of prayer

On the way, they met Leanne the lion, who was busy blowing up balloons. "Salaam, Leanne," said Ziyad. "What does the most precious gift of prayer give you?" Leanne answered at once: "It can give us peace in stressful times."

Jamila the giraffe was hanging streamers on the trees. Prayer, she said, allows us to be thankful for the big and small things in our lives. Bayan the butterfly, hanging twinkle lights on the treetops, overheard and said that it gives us a connection to our best friend, Allah.

Tarek the toucan was filling goodie bags for the children at the party. Prayer, he said, gives us happiness when we are feeling sad. Ilyas the elephant stopped setting up the tables to tell Ziyad that it makes us calm when we are worried. Aliyah the alligator was stirring the soup, and she said that it teaches us patience when we feel we cannot bear things any longer.

Hamza the hippopotamus was filling the water jugs with fresh water. He said that prayer gives us courage and makes us brave when we are scared or nervous. Firas the frog placed the last cookie on a platter of sweets and said that it gives us hope when there seems to be no other way. Uncle Suleyman the snake, putting chairs by the tables with his daughter, said that it gives us a feeling of togetherness when we pray with our family. Last of all, Maryam the monkey, gathering fruit with her big brother, said that it gives us a chance to stop five times a day and remember Allah.

"You see, my son," said Baba, "your friends have told you ten different things that the most precious gift can give us, and there are many more."

"Wow!" said Ziyad. "I didn't know prayer could give us all that."

Looking after the gift

Ziyad went home to rest for a little while. He ran to Mama, who was busy making pies for the party, and told her excitedly that prayer can give us peace, make us thankful, give us a connection to Allah, give us happiness, make us calm, make us patient, give us courage, give us hope, give us a feeling of togetherness, and give us a chance to remember Allah.

Mama giggled. "Yes, habibi. But the most important thing is to take care of the most precious gift Allah gave us. You know how you take care of a gift from someone you love?"

"You mean like how I take care of the train tracks Giddo got me for Eid?" asked Ziyad. "Like tidying them up when I'm done, and making sure I don't lose a piece?"

"Yes, just like that," said Mama, smiling.

"But how do we take care of prayer, Mama?"

"We take care of it by always keeping up our five prayers each day," said Mama. The most precious gift could give them so much and help them in so many ways, she said, so they should love it, never see it as too much trouble, and see it as the best thing they could do, five times every day.

Ziyad nodded. He understood how important prayer was, and what a great blessing it truly is.

Time for Maghrib

Later, when the sun set over the jungle and the party was almost ready to begin, Ziyad called the adhan for the Maghrib prayer.

"Everyone," he said, "I know we're all busy, and it's almost time for the party. But it's time to pray. Let's go. The most precious gift awaits."