Yusra Says Salaam

One sunny morning in Birmingham, Yusra zipped up her pink coat. Dada, her grandad, put on his flat cap.

"Let's get bread from the shop," said Dada. "Remember our special words?"

Yusra nodded. She knew them by heart.

At the gate they met their friend the postman, with his heavy red bag.

"Assalamu alaikum!" said Yusra, with a big, big smile.

"Wa alaikum assalam!" said the postman. And he smiled right back.

Down the road they went. Step, step, step.

The lollipop lady held up her tall round sign. All the cars stopped, and across the road they went.

"Assalamu alaikum!" said Yusra, with a big, big smile.

"Wa alaikum assalam!" said the lollipop lady. And she smiled right back.

Ding-a-ling! went the shop door. Uncle Javed was stacking shiny oranges.

"Assalamu alaikum!" said Yusra, with a big, big smile.

"Wa alaikum assalam!" said Uncle Javed. And he smiled right back, as bright as his oranges.

Home they went with the warm bread. Her baby brother, Ahmed, was crying in his bouncer. Waah! Waah!

Yusra leaned in close. "Assalamu alaikum, Ahmed," she whispered, with a big, big smile.

Ahmed was too little to talk. But he stopped crying and gave her a wide, gummy smile.

"Dada," said Yusra, "everybody smiles when I say salaam!"

Dada gave her a cuddle. "Assalamu alaikum means 'peace be upon you'. It's a gift of peace. The Prophet ﷺ told us to say salaam to each other, and then we will love each other. A smile makes the gift even brighter."

That night, Yusra snuggled under her blanket. Dada switched off the big light.

"Assalamu alaikum, Dada," she whispered, with a sleepy, sleepy smile.

"Wa alaikum assalam, my little star," said Dada softly.

And Yusra closed her eyes, and dreamed of smiles.