The Little Blue Prayer Mat

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. The rain tapped on the window like tiny fingers.

Zainab was playing in the warm sitting room when Mummy went to get ready for something special.

Drip, drip, drop! At the sink, Mummy made wudu, washing from her hands all the way down to her feet. Then she came back and rolled out her soft red prayer mat.

"Mummy, what are you doing?" whispered Zainab.

"I'm going to pray, my love," said Mummy. "It's my special, quiet time to talk to Allah."

A special time with Allah! Zainab wanted one too.

So first, with Mummy's help, Zainab made wudu. Drip, drip, drop!

Then Mummy unrolled a little blue prayer mat, just Zainab's size. Zainab stood on it, right next to Mummy.

Hands up. "Allahu Akbar," said Mummy softly. Allah is the Greatest.

Zainab put her hands up too.

They bowed down low, and stood up tall. Then down, down, down they went, until their foreheads touched the mat. It was quiet and cosy. Outside, the rain went pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

When the prayer was finished, Mummy smiled. "Do you know the best part, Zainab? Allah was listening. Allah always listens."

"Even to me?" asked Zainab.

"Yes, even to you. Allah hears every little whisper."

So Zainab whispered, very softly, "Thank You, Allah, for the rain. Thank You for my biscuits. Thank You for my Mummy."

And her heart felt warm, like a blanket fresh out of the tumble dryer.

Zainab rolled up her little blue mat and gave it a hug. Five special times to talk to Allah, every single day. And Allah is even kinder to her than Mummy is.

That night, snuggled under her duvet, she whispered, "Thank You, Allah," one more time.

And the rain sang Zainab to sleep — pitter-patter, soft and slow.