Getting things cosy…
Getting things cosy…
This is a true story from the Quran. It is about Prophet Yunus عليه السلام.
Yunus عليه السلام was on a big boat, far out on the wide, blue sea. The boat was full, full, full.
Then — SPLASH! — into the water he went. And by Allah's will, a big, big fish swallowed him up. Gulp!
Inside the big fish, it was dark. Dark inside the fish. Dark under the sea. Dark, dark, dark.
His heart felt sad and heavy. So, in the dark, dark, dark, Yunus عليه السلام called out to Allah. He began like this:
"La ilaha illa Anta, subhanaka…"
That means: "There is no god but You. Glory be to You…"
And Allah heard him. Allah hears everything — even a voice inside a big fish, under the sea.
Allah answered him, and Allah saved him.
Allah brought him out of the dark, out of the big fish, and onto the shore. And Allah made a plant grow over him, with big, shady leaves.
Allah tells us in the Quran that He saves people who believe in Him and call on Him. Just like He saved Yunus عليه السلام.
And do you know what? Allah hears you, too.
Sometimes it is dark at night, and you feel a little bit scared. Then you can talk to Allah, just like Yunus عليه السلام did. Whisper, "I trust You, ya Allah. Please look after me."
So snuggle down, all warm and cosy. It is dark outside, but you are never alone. Allah sees you. Allah hears you. And Allah never sleeps, so He is looking after you while you sleep.
Now close your eyes, and whisper it once more: "I trust You, ya Allah." Shh… goodnight.
Prophet Yunus عليه السلام called out to Allah from deep in the dark, and Allah heard him and saved him. Your child can talk to Allah anywhere, even in the dark of night, and He always hears. The full dua of Yunus عليه السلام in Quran 21:87, which you may like to teach your child, is "La ilaha illa Anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin" (Saheeh International: "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.").
Because every little heart deserves a real answer.
Trusting Allah means knowing that Allah is looking after you, and turning to Him when you need help. Prophet Yunus عليه السلام was in the dark, dark, dark, and he called out to Allah.
Allah hears everything, even a voice inside a big fish under the sea. So you never have to feel alone, not even in the dark.
If you wake up in the dark, or you feel a little bit scared, you can talk to Allah. Whisper, "I trust You, ya Allah" — He always hears you.
فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”
Quran — Surah Al-Anbya 21:88
Translation: Saheeh InternationalRead it on quran.com ↗
Snuggle up and wonder together. There are no wrong answers.