Usborne Books’ The Story of Islam is the best book one could get as a child, because it has everything a youngster needs to know about their religion. Being part of a series, which has books regarding sports, space, history and literature, it simplifies Islam for the young mind and talks about its history in a friendly way.

Written by famed writer Rob Lloyd Jones, who has written on many other topics, The Story of Islam narrates the basic story of Islam. From the early years of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), this book traces the origin of religion and explains its teachings and its spread across the world. The beginning years of Islam are explained the way ‘young’ minds would like it to be. With supported illustrations and images, the story itself turns into a movie, in the young reader’s mind.

Moving forward, the chapters cover the way Islam prospered in the era of the first four caliphs, followed by the many dynasties that helped the religion grow across the globe. The compilation of the Holy Book, the geniuses of Muslim scientists, doctors, mathematicians and the eventual downfall of the Caliphate system, is also explained in the book. Usually these are not explained to kids.

The spread of Islam to various parts of the world and how it branched away from the Middle East, is as good as reviewing a world atlas with religious know-how. From the cave where the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) got his first call, to the Holy Mosques, the rise of Islamic calligraphy to the instruments that even led to the discovery of many places, including America, the images are fascinating in every page.

The way important cities like Makkah, Medina, Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Constantinople are mentioned in the book, is intriguing for young minds. The rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire also explains the good and bad days of a once-powerful empire.

The 60-odd page book is as good as a time-travel machine for kids, who will not stop asking questions, once they are through with this book.

The timeline at the end of the book summarises the story and is a collectors’ item. Just reading one chapter a day would make you healthier, wealthier and wiser.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 30th, 2022