Traditionally, the hour between the maghrib and isha prayers in Ramadan is meant to be a time for relaxation and reflection. It’s when the day’s fast is done, the appetite and the spirit are satiated, and families come together.
Stories – be they narrations of larger-than-life bravery or cultural tales passed down over the generations – are a great way to bond, so believes the team at Bismillah Buddies, an Islamic educational brand for children.
Following the success of publications such as The Bismillah Book, an under-the-sea-themed singalong, and The Story of Mecca, a DIY paper craft kit, the company has launched After Iftar Tales.
The collection of 10 stories convey familial values, as well as the fundamental concepts of Ramadan, all done in an engaging way with colourful illustrations and a diverse cast of young protagonists.
Written by eight authors from Dubai, Egypt, London and South Africa, three of whom are part of the Bismillah Buddies team, After Iftar Tales encompass themes such as fasting, the pandemic, family heirlooms, courage and travel.
Islam for children
Bismillah Buddies began as a playgroup, which then expanded to meet the demand for engaging Islamic content for children. "The need of the hour definitely points towards value-based content based on a spiritual upbringing," Mehnaz Anshah, co-founder of Bismillah Buddies, told The National.
“We feel Islamic education should be on a par with everything else that children are learning. It should be joyful and engaging. We want our children to be proud of their religious identity. This can happen only if they truly connect to faith, at a fundamental level, in a manner that is relevant to them.”
Anshah says Bismillah Buddies is joined in its quest by “a community of like-minded parents who share our concerns regarding the future of our children and the world they are growing up in”.
Ramadan stories
After Iftar Tales is made up of a diverse range of imaginative stories and illustrations.
Anshah, for example, has conceptualised The Missing Envelope, the story of Alayna, a little girl bored of staying home during the pandemic. Can the spirit of Ramadan can make her feel better?
Bismillah Buddies co-founders Tayyaba and Sadia Anwar, meanwhile, have written Iftar in Space and Abdu's Eid Wish, respectively. The former takes children on a journey alongside Commander Noora, as she breaks her fast in a very special place, while the latter centres around little Abdulla, who lives in a little village in Kerala.
Other titles include The Ramadan Fun Club by Mona Siddiqui; A Mother's Memory by Jihan Anshah; A Ramadan Surprise by Malika Kahn; The Iftar Thief by Maryam Mohamed Osama; Haboba's Candy Tin by Mehnaz Anshah; The Ramadan Lantern by Tayyaba Anwar; and The Master Iftar Disaster by Zimarina Sarwar.
After Iftar Tales is priced at Dh120, and is available from the Bismillah Buddies website, as well as from Mumzworld
