Explore the joy of Ramadan through a new children's book
Pictured at the back, from left, are Maryam Sallie, her parents, and co-authors Zaahied, and Nurah Tape. In front are their sons Suhaib and Yusuf. Their children are characters in the book "We Love Ramadan".
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
With less than three months to Ramadaan, the month of fasting for Muslims, a Goodwood couple has penned their second children's book in their faith pillar series.
Journalist Nurah Tape and her husband, author and publisher Zaahied Sallie, launched We Love Ramadan at Mosque Shafee, a historic mosque located at the corner of Chiappini and Church Streets in Bo-kaap, on Sunday, November 30.
Ramadaan will probably start mid-February next year, depending on the sighting of the moon. Muslims fast for 29 to 30 days. The Hijri calendar is lunar, meaning it follows the moon cycle for its months, with each month beginning when a new crescent moon is sighted.
Mr Sallie is the son of renowned Islamic jurisprudence teacher and author Sheikh Abdurraghiem Hasan Sallie, who led the mosque congregation from 1979 until his passing in 2013.
Author and publisher Zaahied Sallie, from Goodwood.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
The book, set in Cape Town with Bo-kaap featured prominently, is the story of their children - Yusuf, Suhaib, and Maryam - learning and experiencing the pillars of faith.
The first book, called We Love to Play Pray, was published in 2016.
Mr Sallie explained that Islam is built upon five pillars: to believe in one God, to pray, fast, pay zakaah (charity), and to go on hajj (pilgrimage).
He said that the concept of "iqra" (read) was the first revelation, highlighting the centrality of reading in Islam.
Mr Sallie said that the learning environment was critical for children's futures.
"Specifically, we must make our homes a sanctuary of books, creating a deliberate environment by design, where books are visible and easily accessible," he said.
He proposed a daily reading programme with one's child.
"It is amongst the best ways to foster healthy emotional, mental, and physical attachment. It involves emotional cognition, which is vital at a young age. We must be the architects of our children's future, and it starts with a book, cultivating the love language for reading within them," he said.
Journalist and co-author Nurah Tape, from Goodwood.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Ms Tape paid to the city's original contributors - the earliest teachers, artisans, dressmakers, tailors, wagon makers, and carpenters.
"They've passed the baton on to us, and so it is important for us to not only pass on the knowledge but to improve upon that which was passed down to us.
She said books had always been a part of her life.
"I'd like to thank my parents for instilling the importance of reading, the command of iqra into our lives," she said.
As a primary school pupil, Ms Tape had struggled with Afrikaans as a subject, and to improve learning, her mother would buy the Afrikaans newspaper for her to read aloud daily.
"It improved my Afrikaans mark," she said.
Grassroots Educare Trust director Mareldia Tape.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Grassroots Educare Trust director Mareldia Tape, also Ms Tape's aunt, said that early childhood development centres should have the book for pupils to read.
"It is about storytelling. Bringing it into the homes of families," she said.
Ms Tape senior, explained that the book would teach children about tolerance and about another culture.
"Parents are the best people to tell stories, and we need to get into that space with our children," she said.
The books are available from www.redkufi.co.za or WhatsApp 060 8803 776.