Storytelling is an art that is sadly not a part of our lives anymore, due to many distractions including the internet, and the fast-paced lifestyle we live. It used to be a regular feature until the days when our parents were kids, and a grandfather-like figure would spread knowledge to all.

The book ‘Nabiyon ki Sachi Kahaniyan’ takes us back into that era since it tells us stories about the many prophets including Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

The book is not only a good way to pass time in the holy month of Ramazan, but would also prove to be a good addition to your collection. It has taken real-life incidents from the famous Qasas-ul-Ambia book and presented it in the form of stories.

Compiled by Idara-tul-Quran and presented by Hazrat Syed Razi Uddin Ahmed Fakhri, the book’s biggest advantage is the easy-to-understand language in which the stories have been told.

Written in a conversational style, where the author talks to the readers rather than narrates stories, it begins with the creation of Hazrat Adam, how Hazrat Hawwa was born, and the reason for their expulsion from Heaven.

It is followed by stories of prophets coming after Hazrat Adam; namely Hazrat Nooh, Hazrat Idrees, Hazrat Saleh, and Hazrat Ibrahim. At the end of each story, the writer summarises the positive and negative aspects of the story, communicating in a way, lost in time.

Hazrat Ibrahim gets detailed chapters, where we get to know about his early life, his search for God, clashes with countrymen, and being thrown in Namrood’s fiery furnace. How the family of Hazrat Ibrahim relocated to other parts and the eruption of ‘Zam’ and the logic behind ‘Bani Israel’ is also described well here.

The second prophet who gets a couple of chapters to himself is Hazrat Moosa, whose life has been followed since his birth. From his upbringing in the Pharaoh’s house to his days as a prince, his time as a fugitive, to his meeting with Allah, all gets mentioned in the book.

Many other stories from the Quran can be found on these pages; the importance of Baitul Maqdas, Zulqarnain, people of the cave leading to Prophet Isa, and his second coming. The last few chapters are written about the humble beginnings of the Last Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and one would find all elements which other prophets faced in his life. He had to grow up without a father figure like Prophet Isa, endure pains like Prophet Ayub, had to be confined to a place like Prophet Younis, and had to defeat the so-called gods like Prophet Moosa.

The book turns out to be quite interactive. On one hand, the writer is talking about Abyssinia, and the next moment he is correcting one of the kids that he is not talking about Abyssinia lines, which is a locality in Karachi. The writer also makes sure the reader does not fall asleep and continuously pumps them up. He injects messages of sticking to the truth, humility, caring and sharing to the reader so that we can learn a lot from the lives of the noble prophets.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 8th, 2023