Nabi Nuh - Taufik's version

We've started exchanging stories my son and I. Where before I used to make up all the stories, this time around he has started making up stories to tell me. Our story telling sessions takes place on those long and daily drives to and from his school. A good time for quiet chats and composing exciting little stories to share with each other.

One of the first complicated Islamic stories I have told him without a single illustration to help me, only words at my disposal to help him paint a picture in his mind, was the story of Nabi Nuh (peace be upon him) and his ark. Thus began the introduction of his very first prophet.

Keep in mind that about this time too I had started explaining to him the idea of death. He is absolutely fascinated with it. F us Muslims, death is as natural as life and is very much an accepted fact of life that we do not hide from. And I wanted him to take death as naturally as possible and be prepared for the idea in stages.

Recently, he decided to tell me a story. He began with the traditional "once upon a time" line. "Once upon a time there was Nabi Nuh. Nabi Nuh hit mommy, and mommy died. Mommy died and went back to Allah and never coming back. And that's the end of the story."

Morbid perhaps? But it had me chuckling too.