Alhamdulillah We Say

Alhamdulillah We Say is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 that goes through the four seasons Allah created and gives thanks for the blessings of each one.

Each season has its own verse, and each verse ends with the same happy words: Alhamdulillah, we say. In spring, colourful flowers brighten the day and baby animals bark, moo and neigh. In summer, the sun shines so brightly that it melts the ice creams, and it is time to build sandcastles at the beach. In autumn, children play with red and gold leaves while Allah sends heavy rain clouds to water the trees. In winter, they wrap up in gloves and scarves to play in the snow, then come home on dark evenings to hot soup and books.

At the end of every verse, the next season is already on its way, so the book goes round like the year itself.

Written by Rabia Bashir, the book is short and full of repetition, so young children can soon say the words along with the reader. It teaches them to notice how the world changes through the year, and to say Alhamdulillah for the sun, the rain, the snow and everything else Allah gives in every season.

Springtime came first. Alhamdulillah, we say: there were lots of colourful flowers to brighten up the day, and baby animals that Allah had created, barking and mooing and neighing. And springtime meant that summer was on its way.

Then it was summertime. Alhamdulillah, we say: the sun shone so brightly that it melted the ice creams away, and it was off to the beach to build sandcastles. Hooray! And summertime meant that autumn was on its way.

Then it was autumn. Alhamdulillah, we say: there were leaves of red and gold to play with, and branches to watch swaying. Allah sent heavy rain clouds, and that was how He watered the trees. And autumn meant that winter was on its way.

Then it was winter. Alhamdulillah, we say: it was time to wrap up in gloves and scarves, because there was snow outside to play in, and the dark evenings meant hot soup and then books, a cosy end to the day. And winter meant that spring was on its way once more.