This book contains ten Sahabah stories, five males and five females, conveyed over 121 large 9×12 pages in an easy engaging manner for elementary aged children. The stories are told one at a time, with simple illustrations, easy to read font, and pullouts featuring engaging blurbs that increase understanding, connection, or challenge the reader to think about something further. The conversational tone and breaking of the fourth wall helps keep the readers interested while focusing on engaging bits and not a Sahabah’s entire biography. Inclusion of hadith and ayats and seeing that a named Shaykh has written the forward really makes this book a great one to have in one’s home to read at story time, and to keep on the shelf as a resource.
The Sahabahs included are: Mus’ab Bin Umair, Salmaan Al-Faarisiy, Abu Dharr Al-Ghifaariy, Jafar Bin Abi Talib, Bilal Ibn Rabaah, Sumayyah Bint Khayyat, Safiyyah Bint Abdil Muttalib, Asma Bint Abi Bakr, Umm Ayman (Baraka Bint Tha’laba) Lubabah Bint Al-Harith, may Allah swt be pleased with all of them. The first page of each section has the Sahabahs name and one line description before the story begins. Each section concludes with a dua to Allah swt to make us like the Sahabah we have just learned about in a specific way. The pages about the Sahabah contain what they are most known for, some attributes about them, and function as a snapshot for young children to grow familiar with these “super heroes” and how we can emulate them in our own lives.
The tone is similar to the staple Migo and Ali Prophet Stories, and proves how desperate we are for Islamic texts that appeal to our children (and how few quality English resources we have). The pictures aren’t great, but they are sufficient, and I appreciate that there are no faces or depictions. Even an image that could be seen as Sumayyah (rA) has an arrow saying “your grandmother” so there is no confusion. The binding is a bit weak, I was warned before starting, so I read the first few times for review and picture purposes at a table, before handing to my children and reading to my youngest at bedtime. I’d encourage wrapping the book in contact paper upon receiving it. I appreciate all the letters of approval at the start, and the simple activities at the end, and am impressed overall with the book and how it engaged my children, alhumdulillah.
Islamic School Librarian 