Five gentle tales from the Prophets' journey — for reading aloud in a warm voice before sleep.
On a quiet night, Adam (peace be upon him) sat and lifted his eyes to the sky. The stars twinkled like tiny, faraway lamps. Adam remembered that God had taught him the names of everything he saw. So he whispered in a soft voice: star... moon... white cloud. Adam smiled a warm smile, and his heart filled with peace. Then he closed his eyes, and drifted into a deep, lovely sleep.
After the long days, the water grew calm and clear. The ark floated gently, like a leaf on a still lake. Inside the ark, the animals slept in their warm places, and little birds tucked their heads under their wings. Noah (peace be upon him) sat by the small window, watching the sunset paint the sky gold. He breathed slowly, and felt calm fill his heart. Then he closed his eyes, and drifted into a quiet, deep sleep.
On a clear night, Abraham (peace be upon him) walked out to the hill near his home. He lay back on the cool grass and looked up. The stars glittered above him like sugar grains on dark blue cloth. Abraham wondered: who made all this beauty? Then he understood that the Creator is greater than anything he could see, and He never sleeps and never fades. Abraham smiled at this beautiful thought, and whispered: thank you. Then he closed his eyes beneath the stars, and slept in peace.
Night had fallen, and the sea lay still like a great mirror. Moses (peace be upon him) stood on the shore, his heart at peace because God was with him. And suddenly, a dry, soft path opened in the water, like a walkway of golden sand. Moses and his people walked quietly, the water standing on both sides like walls of blue glass. No one was afraid, for the path was safe and the stars watched over them from above. When they reached the far shore, they sat down to rest under the moonlight, their hearts full of gratitude and peace.
On a warm evening, Jesus (peace be upon him) sat beneath a great olive tree. A little child came to him, crying because his toy had broken. Jesus gently wiped the child's tears with his hand, and smiled at him a warm smile. He said to him: do not be sad, for a kind heart is worth more than all the toys. The child laughed again, and hugged Jesus with love. Then the birds sang their evening song, and the child fell asleep in his mother's arms, his heart full of warmth.
The bedtime stories are gentle retellings of the five journey tales — not copies of them. Each ends with one calm question for family discussion.