Under a Crescent Moon

The story of the first migration to Abyssinia, when the persecuted Muslims crossed the sea to find safety with a just king, and Ja'far spoke the truth that moved a nation

The lesson: Remember, when you go somewhere new, don't be afraid. Al-lah puts kind people in every corner of the world. Strangers can become friends. And sometimes, the safest place you'll ever find is the one you never expected.

The storybooks are out now - bring the stories home at underacrescentmoon.com/books

Sources: Quran 19:16-21 (Surah Maryam, Ja'far's recitation to the Najashi); Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter 28, migration to Abyssinia, Ja'far's speech, Najashi's response; Ahmad, supplementary details of the interaction with the Najashi

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.

The story of the early Muslims who were persecuted for their faith, Bilal, Sumayyah, and Yasir, and how courage inspired others, including the mighty Hamza

The lesson: Remember, standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly is one of the bravest things you can do. You might be scared. It might be hard. But Al-lah sees every act of courage, no matter how small. And sometimes, when one person stands up, it gives everyone else the courage to stand up too.

The storybooks are out now - bring the stories home at underacrescentmoon.com/books

Sources: Quran 16:110; Sahih Bukhari, Book of Merits of the Companions (Bilal sections); Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter 28, persecution of early Muslims, Bilal's trial, Sumayyah's martyrdom, Hamza's conversion

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

The story of the first people to believe in the message of Prophet Muhammad, sallal-lahu alayhi wa sallam, Khadijah, Abu Bakr, Ali, and Zayd, and how a small group of believers changed the world

The lesson: Remember, speaking up for what is right is never easy. Sometimes you will be the only one. But you never know who is listening. One brave voice can change everything. Just ask the first believers.

The storybooks are out now - bring the stories home at underacrescentmoon.com/books

Sources: Quran 3:110; Sahih Bukhari, Book of Merits of the Companions of the Prophet; Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter 28, early converts, secret preaching, Dar al-Arqam

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

The story of the night that changed the world, when the angel Jibreel came to Muhammad, sallal-lahu alayhi wa sallam, in the Cave of Hira with the first words of the Holy Quran

The lesson: Remember, when something feels too big and too new and too scary, do not run away. Al-lah always sends someone to help you through it. You are never, ever alone.

The storybooks are out now - bring the stories home at underacrescentmoon.com/books

Sources: Quran 96:1-5 (Surah Al-Alaq, the first revelation); Sahih Bukhari, Book of Revelation, Hadith 3, the detailed account of the first revelation; Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Khadijah's response; Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter 28, Cave of Hira sections

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.

The story of how young Muhammad, sallal-lahu alayhi wa sallam, was known as Al-Amin, the trustworthy, and how he solved the dispute of the Black Stone with wisdom and fairness

The lesson: Remember, you don't always have to pick a side. Sometimes the bravest thing is to find a way where everyone is included. That is what it means to be trustworthy. That is what it means to be fair.

The storybooks are out now - bring the stories home at underacrescentmoon.com/books

Sources: Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter 28, rebuilding of the Ka'bah, Black Stone dispute; Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, Black Stone account; Sahih Muslim, character references regarding Al-Amin and As-Sadiq titles

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

The story of how young Muhammad, sallal-lahu alayhi wa sallam, grew up as an orphan, cared for by his grandfather and uncle, and how Al-lah never left him alone

The lesson: Remember, Al-lah never leaves anyone alone. If you see someone who feels different, or left out, or like they don't quite belong, be the one who shows them they are loved. Because that is exactly what Al-lah did for the little orphan boy from Makkah.

The storybooks are out now - bring the stories home at underacrescentmoon.com/books

Sources: Quran 93:6-8 (Surah Ad-Duha); Quran 94:5-6 (Surah Ash-Sharh); Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter 28, birth, Halimah's fosterage, Abd al-Muttalib's care, Abu Talib's guardianship

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.

Yusuf's cousin lies constantly and never gets caught - he broke a vase and blamed the cat, takes extra cookies and denies it - and Yusuf wants to know: if nothing bad happens to him, why can't I do it too? Baba tells him about Prophet Lut, who lived in a city where everyone around him was doing terrible things. Even someone in his own family didn't support him. But Lut did the right thing anyway, because right is right regardless of what others choose. When Allah's punishment came, Lut and the believers were saved. A story about moral courage, integrity, and choosing your own path even when the people closest to you are choosing wrong.

The lesson: What is right does not change just because everyone else is doing wrong. Allah sees everything - even when no one else catches you.

Free colouring pages come with every new story — underacrescentmoon.com/join

Sources: 7:80–84 (Lut rebukes his people; they mock him; Allah rescues Lut; rain of stones); 11:77–83 (Angel visitors arrive; the mob; angels reveal identity; Allah overthrows the city); 29:28–35 (Lut warns his people; angels bring news to Ibrahim; Lut delivered; the city destroyed); Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir, Ch. 10 (Lut’s journey from Ibrahim to Sodom; years of preaching; the arrival of the angels; destruction of the city)

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.

Yusuf tried out for the school soccer team three times and got rejected every time. He's ready to quit - what's the point of asking if the answer is always no? Baba tells him about Prophet Zakariyah, an old man with white hair and weak bones who made dua for a child year after year after year. When he saw Allah provide out-of-season fruit for young Maryam, his hope surged - and he made one final, beautiful prayer. Allah answered with a son named Yahya, a name never given before. A story about the power of dua, persistence in prayer, and trusting that Allah's timing is always perfect.

The lesson: Never stop making dua. Even if the answer is slow, even if everyone says it’s impossible, Allah always hears every prayer.

Free colouring pages come with every new story — underacrescentmoon.com/join

Sources: 19:2–11 (Zakariyah’s secret prayer; old age; glad tidings of Yahya; the sign of three nights of silence); 3:38–41 (Zakariyah prays for good offspring after visiting Maryam; angels announce Yahya; three days without speech); Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir, Ch. 25 (Zakariyah’s old age, visiting Maryam, finding out-of-season fruit, the inspiration to make dua)

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.

Yusuf is drowning in homework - math, reading, a science report - and he doesn't see the point of any of it. Why can't he just play video games? Baba tells him about Prophet Idris, the first person in human history to write with a pen, who studied the stars and taught people to pray, fast, and give charity. Idris had a saying: "The real joy of life is to have wisdom." Allah honored him by raising him to a high station - not because he was rich or powerful, but because he never stopped learning. A story about curiosity, the value of knowledge, and why every book you open follows in the footsteps of a prophet.

The lesson: Learning is never a waste of time. Every time you learn something, you are building something inside yourself that nobody can ever take away.

Free colouring pages come with every new story — underacrescentmoon.com/join

Sources: 19:56–57 (Idris: ‘He was a saint, a prophet. And We raised him to high station.’); 21:85 (Ishmael, Idris, and Dhu’l-Kifl: ‘All were of the steadfast.’); Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir, Ch. 2 (Idris in Babylon; first to write with a pen; studied the stars; called people to justice, prayer, fasting, and charity)

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.

A grumpy, mean kid at school sits alone every day at lunch. The teacher asked Yusuf to sit with him, but Yusuf didn't want to - why should he be kind to someone who isn't kind to anyone? Baba tells him about Prophet Isa, whose every miracle was an act of mercy: healing the blind, curing the leper, giving hope to those everyone else had given up on. Isa didn't wait for people to earn his kindness - he led with it. A story about compassion, reaching out to the lonely, and how a kind word can heal a hurting heart.

The lesson: Being kind to someone who is unkind is one of the hardest things you can do, but also one of the most beautiful. Sometimes people are grumpy because they’re hurting inside.

Free colouring pages come with every new story — underacrescentmoon.com/join

Sources: 3:45–51 (Angels announce Isa to Maryam; miracles described: clay birds, healing the blind and leper, raising the dead); 5:110–112 (Allah recounts His favours to Isa: the holy Spirit, speaking in the cradle, miracles, the disciples’ belief); Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir, Ch. 27 (Isa’s birth, Maryam’s story, the baby speaking in the cradle, miracles of mercy, and Allah raising him to heaven)

Music created in collaboration with ElevenLabs

Quran translation graciously provided by Clear Quran, with permission from Talal Itani.