A Seed Needs More Than Goodnight — An Illustrated Read-Aloud Story

Sami put a seed in a pot and covered it with a little soil.
“Allah, please make it grow,” he said.
Then he pulled up a chair and waited. Not one leaf appeared.

Sami fetched a piece of cloth.
“Perhaps my seed wants to go to sleep!”
“Have we watered it?” Dad asked.
Sami looked at the empty watering can. “I prayed for it.”

“And we water it too,” Dad said. “We ask Allah to make it grow, and we care for it.”
They tipped the can gently. Water trickled into the soil.
“That’s enough for now,” said Dad.

They put the pot near the window.
“Will it come up before bedtime?” asked Sami.
“We don’t know. Seeds need time.”
Sami leaned close to the soil. Nothing yet.

Over the next few days, Dad checked the soil, and Sami helped whenever it was time to water.
Sami wanted to dig down and look at the seed.
Then he put his spoon away. “I’ll leave it in the soil.”

More days passed. At the window, Sami suddenly stopped.
A tiny bit of green!
“Yes,” Dad said. “It’s growing. Alhamdulillah—praise be to Allah.”
Sami did not tug the shoot. At bedtime he yawned,
“My blanket is for me. My seed doesn’t need one!”