Title: It’s Jummah Day
Author: Devina Aisha Sharma and Roger Ibn Tyrone
Genre: Children’s Book
Illustrator: Roger Ibn Tyrone
Publisher: Minaret Mountain Books
Released: 2019
Format: Paperback
Pages: 62
Source: I received a paperback from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Links: Purchase | Facebook | Instagram
A slice of life poem about two boys enjoying their favourite day of the week Jummah Day! Join these two brothers on their day following the sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (saw) and travelling with their father to the masjid. Teach your kids about the value of going to Friday prayer and how it becomes a special family day for Muslims around the world. Read it to them on a Thursday night after Surah Yasin and get them excited about going to the Masjid!
“We sat, we listened to our dad recite.
We sat, it glistened,
the words had a shining light.
Salawat on the Prophet – Peace be upon him.
We make dua to Allah,
to save us from the hour so grim.”
– It’s Jummah Day, Devina Aisha Sharma and Roger Ibn Tyrone
When I received this book along with The Butterfly Refugee, I was elated to see the the packaging. Both books were wrapped in textured brown paper wax sealed with the publisher’s logo. You could see their love for their products and readers through it, masha Allah.
The book, It’s Jummah Day, takes us through the Day of Jummah – Friday – through the lives of two brothers along with their dad. The book follows them right from the start of the day till they return back home from jummah after visiting the park and a sweet shop. Through the story, the reader is shown the sunnah ways of preparing for Friday prayers, based on the following hadith, the likes of which is mentioned at the end of the book: Narrated Salman Al-Farsi: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Anyone who takes a bath on Friday and cleans himself as much as he can and puts oil (on his hair) or scents himself; and then proceeds for the prayer and does not force his way between two persons (assembled in the mosque for the Friday prayer), and prays as much as is written for him and remains quiet when the Imam delivers the Khutba, all his sins in between the present and the last Friday will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari, Book 11, Hadith 34)
Once again, the author-cum-illustrator’s artwork is marvelous. I love the mystical mattress that looks like clouds, the enchanting background of waterfall and birds in the restroom (which I so want in my dream house), the fragrance of musk that you can almost smell, and the camel car that looks fun to ride in. When it comes to visual representation, I notice the intricate details have been well thought out, like the care the older brother expresses to his younger brother, the loving manner in which the mother observes her children from behind, and even the imaginary way the inanimate stuffed doll replicates its owner.
There were two things that put me off a bit:
- The transliteration of Surah Al Kahf was not right according to me. It was spelled as ‘Sural Al khaf‘.
- The practice of wiping or rubbing the face after asking du’a is not from the Sunnah. The ahadith that support it are weak and not authentic. The only authentic place it is mentioned to wipe or rub over our face is during the bedtime sunnah while reciting the three Qul surahs. Narrated ‘Aisha: Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 66, Hadith 39)
Other than the above, it is a lovely book for kids to learn and know more about the etiquette of conducting oneself on a Friday. The book also has a Jummah Checklist at the end for easy reminder.
Do check out their website for free craft resources for kids. Your kids (and maybe even you) would love them 🙂
Have you read It’s Jummah Day? Let me know your thoughts on it in the comments.
Umm Afraz Muhammed 