PARIS,
October 12, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Ramadanian tales for children
from around the world have made the chapters of a book issued in
France by Irene Rekard, a French writer, who reverted to Islam.
Rekard
said Wednesday, October 12, the book aims at giving answers to
questions raised by children on the value and essence of fasting.
“Et
si Ramadan m’etait conte…,” [What Ramadan told me…] was
published to coincide with the advent of the holy fasting month of
Ramadan, which started in France Tuesday, October 4.
The
book contains 30 separate stories, one for each day of the holy month.
The
30 featured tales aim at “educating the children about the fasting
and basics of this spiritual practice”, said the author, adding
“children will discover with every tale some values and explain the
humanitarian perspective in Islam.”
“Fasting,
my son, highlights the unity of Ummah (Muslim nation),” Rekard put
it in the mouth of Om Hassan, one of her characters.
Rekard’s
starting point is French Muslims’ life but then she generalizes by
quoting stories from places across the globe, from Frankfurt, Germany
to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, according to IOL correspondent.
Educational
In
the first tale, Hassan, a boy, is told by his mother to turn the TV to
Makkah to watch prayer.
Unaware
of time differences, the child rushes to his mother telling her to
quickly prepare Iftar (breakfast) as he hears Maghreb Azan, according
to Makkah local time.
Prayer
is continuant round the clock in the four corners of the world, one
time in Saudi Arabia, another in Palestine and so on, Hassan learns.
The
French writer printed key words in a different color, including the
transliteration of some religious terms; including Tawarih, Maghreb
and Sahur (late evening meal).
In
the second chapter, Yusuf wants to go to the mosque with his father to
perform Tarawih prayers as he had two days off from school.
The
author links fasting to school and studying by drawing attention to
the fact that fasting does not stop children studying, but, on the
contrary, they can double efforts during fast hours.
Hafiza,
a Muslim girl, is studying more than ever during the fasting month,
according to her teacher.
