Asking Why? | The Boy and the Owl by Siraj Mowjood
There are two words that stand out in early childhood. They are “no” and “mine.” Thankfully, a third and far more pleasant word, “why” makes a quick début.
“Why are you laughing?” “Why do birds sing?” “Why should I eat my broccoli?”
To brush off the use of “why” as a simple, cute or even irritating addition to your child’s vocabulary would be a missed opportunity. Some of the most intelligent people on the planet share one, consistent feature — they ask questions. Lots of them.
Einstein once pondered, “What if I rode a beam of light across the universe?” and that “what if” lead him straight to the theory of relativity.
So the next time your child looks at you wide-eyed and asks, “why?” embrace their God-given curiosity with excitement and thanks. Oh — and then read this book together.
The Boy and the Owl by Siraj Mowjood is a wonderful adaptation of an early 20th century poem by Moroccan thinker Muhammad b. Jafar al-Kattani al-Hasani al-Fasi. Known as the Creed of Salvation, the original poem covers all the theological cornerstones of Muslim creed. The Boy and the Owl, however, takes one section of the original poem and brings it to life in clear, simple prose. Mowjood brings the reader on a wonderful journey, asking along the way, “Who is God?”
It is a wonderful question to explore with children, a question that inevitably begs, “Why did Allah create me?” To which the wise owls declares, “So that you may know Him.”
May you and your child grow in knowing Him. Ameen.
Alexis York Lumbard
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