Juz by Juz: Story of Ka'b ibn Malik

Juz by Juz: Story of Ka'b ibn Malik is an Islamic video for children aged 4 to 9 in which Sheikh Azhari and his children tell the true story of Ka'b ibn Malik, a Companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who put off a good deed and learnt a hard lesson.

The Prophet ﷺ heard that an army was coming to attack the Muslims from far across the desert, and everyone got ready to go and meet it. Ka'b kept saying he would get ready tomorrow, or the day after, while Shaytan whispered to him that there was always time later. Before he knew it, the Muslims had gone all the way there and come back, and he had never left.

When the Prophet ﷺ returned to the masjid, Ka'b did not make up an excuse. He told the truth. But for a long time no one would speak to him, not even his cousin, who ignored his salam. Ka'b was all alone. For fifty nights he asked Allah for forgiveness. Then a man called out from a mountain: Allah has forgiven you! Ka'b was so happy that he gave the man the top he was wearing, and had to find another one to go and see the Prophet ﷺ. At the masjid many people shook his hand, but one man gave him a hug, and Ka'b never forgot him.

The Sheikh's lessons: when there is a good deed to do, we do it straight away; we never lie; and when someone is sad, we help them feel better and special.

The children draw what they would pack to cross a desert, and answer a quiz about when we break our fast, when dua is accepted and which shoe to put on first.

• Surah At-Tawbah 9:118: Allah forgives the three who stayed behind, after the earth, for all its space, felt narrow to them.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 4418: Ka'b ibn Malik tells his own story of staying behind from the expedition to Tabuk, telling the truth, and Allah's forgiveness.