Getting things cosy…
Getting things cosy…
This is a true story from the Quran. Long, long ago, there lived a prophet called Sulayman عليه السلام. Allah gave him many gifts. Allah even taught him to understand the birds!
One day, Prophet Sulayman عليه السلام set off with his great big army. Lots and lots of soldiers! Birds too! Everyone went along in neat, tidy rows.
March, march, march!
They came to the valley of the ants. Tiny ants. Busy ants. Lots and lots of ants.
Tip-tap, tip-tap went their tiny feet.
March, march, march!
Then one little ant called out to all the others:
"O ants! Go into your homes, so Sulayman and his army do not step on you by accident!"
The little ant was looking after the other ants. What a kind little ant!
And guess what? Prophet Sulayman عليه السلام heard her. Allah had taught him to understand what she said!
Prophet Sulayman عليه السلام smiled a big, big smile at her words.
Then he made a dua to Allah.
"My Lord, help me to thank You for the gifts You gave me and my mother and my father. Help me to do good things that please You. And by Your mercy, make me one of Your good servants."
Little ants are still busy today. Tip-tap, tip-tap. When we go outside, we can look down and step around them carefully.
That is how we can be kind to tiny creatures, too.
Now the sky is dark and the day is done. Goodnight, little ants outside, snug in your homes. Goodnight, little birds.
And goodnight to you, my little one. Close your eyes. Shh… sleep tight.
In Surah An-Naml, one tiny ant called the other ants into their homes to keep them safe, and Prophet Sulayman عليه السلام smiled at her words and asked Allah to help him be thankful. Kindness can start very small: watching where we step and caring for little creatures.
Because every little heart deserves a real answer.
Being kind means looking after others, even tiny ones. The little ant looked after the other ants, and you can look after little creatures by being gentle and careful.
Allah made every creature, big and small. The Prophet ﷺ taught us that Allah is kind, and He loves kindness. So when you are gentle with even a tiny ant, you are doing something Allah loves.
Next time you are outside, look down before you step. If you see an ant, walk around it gently.
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَىٰ وَادِ النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا مِّن قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, "O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not." So [Solomon] smiled, amused at her speech, and said, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants."”
Quran — Surah An-Naml 27:18-19
Translation: Saheeh InternationalRead it on quran.com ↗
Snuggle up and wonder together. There are no wrong answers.