Song: The Monkey, the Cow & the Wolf
Zain Bhikha tells three stories in one song for ages 4 to 9: a cheat and his monkey, a cow that speaks, and a wolf's warning to a shepherd.
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What is Song: The Monkey, the Cow & the Wolf about?
Song: The Monkey, the Cow & the Wolf is an Islamic video for children aged 4 to 9: story time with the singer and songwriter Zain Bhikha, in a song that tells three short stories, each with a lesson that has stood the test of time.
The video is set in a little puppet theatre, where a cartoon Zain Bhikha introduces each story before the curtains open on it.
The first story is about a monkey. A wicked man sold people lots of lies: he showed them something whole, cut it in half, and kept the rest. Then, the song says, Allah sent him a monkey that he loved more than life itself. Without his knowing, the monkey cleaned up his wealth, and threw half of his money into the sea. Allah hates cheating and lies, the song says, so give what is due and receive what is right.
The second is about a cow. A farmer worked his animals harder and harder. He overloaded his cow, and then rode on top of it too. One day, to his enormous surprise, the cow spoke: it was not created for this burden, and its Creator had let it speak. So be kind and fair to animals and to people.
The third is about a wolf. A shepherd loved his sheep so much that he ran to them at every little bleat. When a wolf grabbed a lamb, he chased it until it let go. But the wolf warned him: one day you will be gone, and I will be the shepherd of the land. Be strong in faith, the song ends, and may Allah keep us safe when the wolf breaks through.
The video lasts about 4 minutes.
What your child will learn
- Allah does not like cheating and lies.
- Give people what is due to them, and be fair in what you sell.
- Animals were created by Allah, and we must be kind to them.
- We should stay strong in faith and ask Allah to keep us safe.
Where this video comes from
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3471: The Prophet ﷺ told of a cow that spoke to the man riding it, saying it was not created for that, and of a wolf that spoke to a shepherd.
Talk about it afterwards
- What did the monkey do with the man's money, and why?
- What did the cow say to the farmer?
- How did the shepherd look after his sheep?
- Which of the three stories did you like best, and what did it teach?
Frequently asked questions
What age is Song: The Monkey, the Cow & the Wolf suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 9. Each story is short and told in rhyme, with a chorus that repeats.
Are the stories in Song: The Monkey, the Cow & the Wolf from a hadith?
The cow and the wolf that spoke come from a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ in Sahih al-Bukhari. The monkey story is a well-known moral tale, not a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ.
How long is Song: The Monkey, the Cow & the Wolf?
About 4 minutes.
