Zak and His Little Lies by J Samia Mair

Zak is on his final warning. If he tells one more lie, however little, he won’t be going to the skate park with Baba and Hana.

With one job left to do, what could go wrong? A lot, it turns out, including an encounter with two bothersome boys, being chased by a mighty animal called Moose, and an adventurous lizard called Dwayne.

ISBN 978-0-86037-627-9

THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION United Kingdom www.islamic-foundation.com

Recommended for ages 5+

9 780860 376279

51295

>

L K I E A S Z and His

Little

By

J. Samia Mair

J. Samia Mair and Omar Burgess

ISBN 978-0-86037-627-9 | $12.95

ZAK and His Little LIES

ZAK is back, this time to learn a lesson about lying.

Illustrated by

Omar Burgess

This book is dedicated to my mother, who is affectionately called Tootie, and who continually encourages my writing. – J. Samia Mair Distributed by KUBE PUBLISHING LTD Tel +44 (01530) 249230, Fax +44 (01530) 249656 E-mail: info@kubepublishing.com

L K I E A S Z and His

Little

Website: www.kubepublishing.com Text © J. Samia Mair, 2018 Illustrations © Omar Burgess, 2018 Note to Parents and Teachers Please note that an asterisk* has been used in the text to indicate where Muslims should say a blessing after mentioning the name of the Prophet Muhammad* (peace and blessings be upon him).

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner Author J. Samia Mair Illustrator Omar Burgess Book design Nasir Cadir Editor Yosef Smyth A Cataloguing-in-Publication Data record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-0-86037-627-9 Printed in China by Midas Printing International Limited

THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

This book is dedicated to my mother, who is affectionately called Tootie, and who continually encourages my writing. – J. Samia Mair Distributed by KUBE PUBLISHING LTD Tel +44 (01530) 249230, Fax +44 (01530) 249656 E-mail: info@kubepublishing.com

L K I E A S Z and His

Little

Website: www.kubepublishing.com Text © J. Samia Mair, 2018 Illustrations © Omar Burgess, 2018 Note to Parents and Teachers Please note that an asterisk* has been used in the text to indicate where Muslims should say a blessing after mentioning the name of the Prophet Muhammad* (peace and blessings be upon him).

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner Author J. Samia Mair Illustrator Omar Burgess Book design Nasir Cadir Editor Yosef Smyth A Cataloguing-in-Publication Data record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-0-86037-627-9 Printed in China by Midas Printing International Limited

THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

Zak was having a great day. He only had one more chore to do—delivering baklava to some neighbours. After that, Baba had promised to take him and Hana to the new skateboard park.

“Zak, is Dwayne in his terrarium?” Mama asked as he was walking down the stairs.

“Zak!” his mother called from downstairs. “Make sure that the lid to Dwayne’s terrarium is on tightly before leaving.”

Zak looked at the terrarium. The lid was off, and Dwayne, his pet bearded dragon, was nowhere to be seen. “Dwayne,” Zak whispered. “Wherever you are, stay here and be good.”

4

Zak hesitated. He didn’t want to tell his mama that Dwayne had escaped again But he didn’t want to lie either.

Zak thought about telling the truth…

5

Zak was having a great day. He only had one more chore to do—delivering baklava to some neighbours. After that, Baba had promised to take him and Hana to the new skateboard park.

“Zak, is Dwayne in his terrarium?” Mama asked as he was walking down the stairs.

“Zak!” his mother called from downstairs. “Make sure that the lid to Dwayne’s terrarium is on tightly before leaving.”

Zak looked at the terrarium. The lid was off, and Dwayne, his pet bearded dragon, was nowhere to be seen. “Dwayne,” Zak whispered. “Wherever you are, stay here and be good.”

4

Zak hesitated. He didn’t want to tell his mama that Dwayne had escaped again But he didn’t want to lie either.

Zak thought about telling the truth…

5

…but instead he said, “Safe and sound.”

Hana started to giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Zak asked angrily.

Hana pointed to his shoulder. Dwayne was sitting there comfortably with a big grin on his face.

“What did Baba and I tell you about lying?” Mama asked. “If you lie one more time today, there will be no skateboard park later. Do you understand?”

Zak nodded. He knew his mama was right.

“Good,” she said. “Please put Dwayne back. Then you and Hana can deliver these two boxes of baklava to the neighbours.”

6

Zak ran to his room and quickly put Dwayne back. He then hurried back downstairs, excited to finish his last chore.

At the front door he grabbed a box of pastries from his mama and jumped on his skateboard.

“Whatever you do kids, do not even go near Miss Martha’s flowerbed,” Mama said as they were leaving. “She still hasn’t forgotten when Dwayne ate her geraniums.”

7

…but instead he said, “Safe and sound.”

Hana started to giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Zak asked angrily.

Hana pointed to his shoulder. Dwayne was sitting there comfortably with a big grin on his face.

“What did Baba and I tell you about lying?” Mama asked. “If you lie one more time today, there will be no skateboard park later. Do you understand?”

Zak nodded. He knew his mama was right.

“Good,” she said. “Please put Dwayne back. Then you and Hana can deliver these two boxes of baklava to the neighbours.”

6

Zak ran to his room and quickly put Dwayne back. He then hurried back downstairs, excited to finish his last chore.

At the front door he grabbed a box of pastries from his mama and jumped on his skateboard.

“Whatever you do kids, do not even go near Miss Martha’s flowerbed,” Mama said as they were leaving. “She still hasn’t forgotten when Dwayne ate her geraniums.”

7

Their first stop was Mrs. Clark’s house.

Mrs. Clark opened her door and Zak handed her a box of baklava.

“Mmm, these smell great.” Mrs Clark said. “I’m sure you will raise a lot of money for your masjid with these. Hana, come with me and I’ll give you the money. Zak, the boys are in the kitchen. I’m sure they’d love to see you.”

Zak wasn’t so sure he wanted to see them. Mrs. Clark’s sons were a few years older than Zak and they teased him a lot in school.

“Little Zakky!” one of the boys said when Zak walked into the kitchen. “I dare you to try one of my mum’s famous jalapeño fireballs.” He picked up a plate full of food and thrust it under Zak’s nose.

Zak had never heard of a jalapeño fireball before, but it sounded hot and spicy.

And he didn’t like hot and spicy things at all. If he told the truth, the older boys would tease him. But he didn’t want to lie because he really wanted to go the new skateboard park.

Zak thought about telling the truth…

8

9

Their first stop was Mrs. Clark’s house.

Mrs. Clark opened her door and Zak handed her a box of baklava.

“Mmm, these smell great.” Mrs Clark said. “I’m sure you will raise a lot of money for your masjid with these. Hana, come with me and I’ll give you the money. Zak, the boys are in the kitchen. I’m sure they’d love to see you.”

Zak wasn’t so sure he wanted to see them. Mrs. Clark’s sons were a few years older than Zak and they teased him a lot in school.

“Little Zakky!” one of the boys said when Zak walked into the kitchen. “I dare you to try one of my mum’s famous jalapeño fireballs.” He picked up a plate full of food and thrust it under Zak’s nose.

Zak had never heard of a jalapeño fireball before, but it sounded hot and spicy.

And he didn’t like hot and spicy things at all. If he told the truth, the older boys would tease him. But he didn’t want to lie because he really wanted to go the new skateboard park.

Zak thought about telling the truth…

8

9

Discussion Questions

Qur’an and Hadith Mentioned

What do you think Zak thought was more important than going to the new skateboard park at the end of the story?

Nothing in the earth and in the heavens is hidden from Allah. (Surah Al Imran 3:5)

What do you think Zak and his family are doing with all the gardening tools on the last page?

What do you think Zak is going to say when he visits Mrs. Clark and her sons?

Did you ever feel like lying to belong? Not to be teased? To get out of trouble?

Sometimes lying might feel like the right thing to do at the time, but it isn’t.

If you are about to lie, what can you do to stop yourself?

Hana said that she wouldn’t tell their parents that Zak had lied if he raced her home? That’s not lying but was that good to do? Should she have told their parents that Zak had lied?

Do you know what the word taubah or “repent” means? If you do something wrong in Islam, Allah tells us to make taubah. How do you make taubah to Allah?

Why is it important to take care of your pet? Pets aren’t toys; what does that mean? If someone is mistreating an animal, what would you do?

28

The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him said, “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.” (Bukhari) Surely the men who submit (to Allah) and the women who submit (to Allah), the men who have faith and the women who have faith, the men who are obedient and the women who are obedient, the men who are truthful and the women who are truthful; the men who are steadfast and the women who are steadfast, the men who humble themselves (to Allah) and the women who humble themselves (to Allah), the men who give alms and the women who give alms, the men who fast and the women who fast, the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard their chastity, the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember Allah much: for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:35) Tell them, (O Prophet): “My servants who have committed excesses against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s Mercy. Surely Allah forgives all sins.

He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Zumar 39:53)

29

Discussion Questions

Qur’an and Hadith Mentioned

What do you think Zak thought was more important than going to the new skateboard park at the end of the story?

Nothing in the earth and in the heavens is hidden from Allah. (Surah Al Imran 3:5)

What do you think Zak and his family are doing with all the gardening tools on the last page?

What do you think Zak is going to say when he visits Mrs. Clark and her sons?

Did you ever feel like lying to belong? Not to be teased? To get out of trouble?

Sometimes lying might feel like the right thing to do at the time, but it isn’t.

If you are about to lie, what can you do to stop yourself?

Hana said that she wouldn’t tell their parents that Zak had lied if he raced her home? That’s not lying but was that good to do? Should she have told their parents that Zak had lied?

Do you know what the word taubah or “repent” means? If you do something wrong in Islam, Allah tells us to make taubah. How do you make taubah to Allah?

Why is it important to take care of your pet? Pets aren’t toys; what does that mean? If someone is mistreating an animal, what would you do?

28

The Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him said, “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.” (Bukhari) Surely the men who submit (to Allah) and the women who submit (to Allah), the men who have faith and the women who have faith, the men who are obedient and the women who are obedient, the men who are truthful and the women who are truthful; the men who are steadfast and the women who are steadfast, the men who humble themselves (to Allah) and the women who humble themselves (to Allah), the men who give alms and the women who give alms, the men who fast and the women who fast, the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard their chastity, the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember Allah much: for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:35) Tell them, (O Prophet): “My servants who have committed excesses against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s Mercy. Surely Allah forgives all sins.

He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Zumar 39:53)

29

Zak is on his final warning. If he tells one more lie, however little, he won’t be going to the skate park with Baba and Hana.

With one job left to do, what could go wrong? A lot, it turns out, including an encounter with two bothersome boys, being chased by a mighty animal called Moose, and an adventurous lizard called Dwayne.

ISBN 978-0-86037-627-9

THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION United Kingdom www.islamic-foundation.com

Recommended for ages 5+

9 780860 376279

51295

>

L K I E A S Z and His

Little

By

J. Samia Mair

J. Samia Mair and Omar Burgess

ISBN 978-0-86037-627-9 | $12.95

ZAK and His Little LIES

ZAK is back, this time to learn a lesson about lying.

Illustrated by

Omar Burgess