This post is to introduce our two main characters, Sulayman and Yusuf from the new Sulayman book series.  You may have met Sulayman and Yusuf before if you have followed our other books: The Secret Blessing: The Dala’il al Khayrat for Children and The Tree of Light series concerning the lives of the Prophets available now on Amazon.

In our earlier books Sulayman and Yusuf are learning stories and ideas from their sage Grandfather because they want to go to the Al Chemya school one day.  These earlier stories give a background to the context of our main characters and their early education.  For homeschoolers the format of these earlier books and dialectic education will be all too familiar.  When the boys begin to learn about Islam and their world it is an organic and opportunistic way.  There is no syllabus, no schedule, no agenda.

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Tree of Light vol.2

Usually once children begin their formal education there is an uncomfortable adjustment, especially among free range type children.  Because part of the purpose of the Sulayman series is to introduce new ideas to the spectrum of islamic education the story will explore the struggle of this adjustment and possibilities for how islamic education can better serve young muslims.  I welcome your ideas as well, please share your best projects in the comments or at the contact and you may yet see them in print.

Sulayman and the Green Lamp is the first novel concerning the adventures of Sulayman and Yusuf but their adventures began in the earlier books where they learn important lessons about life from their Grandfather’s stories and guidance.  In The Secret Blessing: The Dalai’l al Khayrat for Children Sulayman and Yusuf learn about the Dalai’l al Khayrat, a beautiful collection of salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad (sws).  In this book we do not ask the english speaking Muslim child to memorize a salawat that they do not understand, we ask the child to contemplate that salawat in their own language.

In The Tree of Light series Sulayman and Yusuf learn about the lives of the Prophets.  Each story is accompanied by a framing story where Sulayman and Yusuf use what they have learned from the lives of the Prophets in their own experiences and struggles.  In this way I wish to encourage the internalization of the wisdom of the Prophets over any dictatorial approach.  The point in this series is not that any child memorize the history of the Prophets, the point is to learn to use what they have learned.

The Secret Blessing: The Dala’il al Khayrat for Children

These existing books have inspired me to work on a traditional hero’s journey story for Sulayman where he will have to opportunity to use what he learned in his early education, his formal education at Al Chemya and his own life experiences to navigate his latest challenge.

If you would like to know more follow our website and please share your ideas for developing dynamic characters for children.