Teaching children about the prophets without frightening them
By Zubair Sattar, founder of Online Quran Learnings · Updated · 3 min read
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The short answer
Start with stories young children can relate to: kindness, patience, trust in Allah and family. The ark of Nuh, Yusuf and his brothers, Musa as a baby, and Yunus and the whale are good first stories. Leave the stories of destroyed nations until children are older and can understand them.
Good first stories by age
| Age | Stories that work well |
|---|---|
| 4 to 6 | Adam in Jannah, the ark of Nuh and the animals, baby Musa in the basket, Yunus and the whale |
| 7 to 9 | Ibrahim and the fire, Yusuf and his brothers, Sulaiman and the ants, Ayyub’s patience |
| 10 and up | The full story of Musa and Firawn, the people of Nuh, and the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ |
How to tell them
- Keep it short. One story, one lesson.
- Ask a question at the end: “What would you do?”
- Link it to their day: patience while waiting, kindness to siblings.
- Use only true sources. Avoid made-up details.
Quick questions
Should I tell my child about Jahannam and punishment?
Gently, and later. Young children learn best through love of Allah first. Hard topics come as they grow.
