Allah Gave Me Two Eyes to See

Allah Gave Me Two Eyes to See is an Islamic picture book for children aged 4 to 9 that celebrates the five senses as gifts from Allah and teaches children to thank Him for them.

Each sense has its own short rhyming verse. With their eyes, children see the green leaves of plants and trees, the black of night, the white of snow, the colours of the rainbow, tall grey buildings and a tiny brown bee. With their ears, they hear a hummingbird, barking dogs in the park, a father's loud sneeze and the doorbell ringing. With their tongue, they taste chocolate cake, sour cherries and spicy dips. With their nose, they smell flowers by the fence, burning leaves and buns in the bakery. With their skin, they feel slippery soap, sticky gum, a kitten's soft fur and a mother's healing hands.

The book ends with the gifts we cannot see: a mind to think, a heart to love and a mouth to smile and praise Allah. Its last lines teach three phrases of praise, Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar, with their meanings.

Written by Fatima M. D'Oyen, the book is short enough to read at bedtime and full of everyday things young children know, so they can point out the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and textures in their own day.

Allah gave the child in the book two eyes to see: the shiny green leaves of plants and trees, the black of night, the white of snow and the colours of the bright rainbow, tall grey buildings and a tiny brown bee.

Allah gave them two ears to hear: a hummingbird humming as it drew near, the evening stillness, so quiet and clear, noisy dogs barking on a walk in the park, Father's loud sneeze and the whispering breeze, the tea kettle singing and the doorbell ringing.

Allah gave them a tongue to taste: chocolate cake, so much fun to bake, sour cherries and sweet blueberries, salty chips and spicy dips, and cold ice cream eaten in haste.

Allah gave them a nose to smell: sweet incense and the flowers around the fence, burning leaves and pepper that made them sneeze, good food cooking while they waited and looked on, and the buns for sale in the bakery.

Allah gave them skin to feel, with fingers and toes, elbows and heels: slippery soap and sticky gum, a kitten's soft fur and its rough, tickly tongue, bark on trees and scrapes on knees, and Mother's hands, made to heal.

And Allah gave them a mind to think, a heart to love Him and thank Him for His gifts from above, and a mouth to smile and praise Him all the while: Subhanallah, glory to Allah; Alhamdulillah, praise to Allah; Allahu Akbar, Allah is the greatest.

• Surah An-Nahl 16:78: Allah brought you out of your mothers' wombs knowing nothing, and gave you hearing, sight and hearts so that you might be grateful.