The Kitten in the Rain

That afternoon the sky turned grey. Then tip… tip… tip… the rain began, harder and harder.

Baby Mo and Baby Ais walked home with Abi under a big yellow umbrella. Their boots went splish-splosh in the puddles.

Suddenly Baby Ais stopped. "Listen!"

They all went quiet. Between the sounds of the rain was a very tiny sound: "Meow… meow…"

It came from a box at the side of the road. The box was wet and almost falling apart. Inside was an orange kitten, its fur flat and soggy, its body shivering.

"Poor thing…" whispered Baby Mo.

"Abi, the kitten is cold," said Baby Ais. Her eyes were shining with tears.

Abi crouched down. "Do you want to help it?"

Baby Mo and Baby Ais nodded together, so fast their rain hats wobbled.

"Then what does a kitten caught in the rain need?" asked Abi.

Baby Mo thought hard. "A dry place!"

Baby Ais added, "And warm! And… a drink!"

Abi smiled. "Clever. Let's share the jobs."

Baby Mo held the yellow umbrella high over the box, even though his arms ached. Baby Ais trotted to the porch and brought an old towel from the basket.

Abi lifted the kitten gently and wrapped it in the towel. It was still shivering, but it wasn't meowing so loudly any more.

On the porch, Baby Ais poured water into a bottle cap. The kitten lapped it up. Slurp, slurp.

"It's drinking!" cried Baby Ais.

Baby Mo crouched beside it and whispered, "Slowly, little kitten. You're safe now."

They sang a little song they made up themselves: "Little kitten, don't you fear, we are here and you are near. Let the rain keep falling down, you'll stay dry here safe and sound."

Slowly, the kitten stopped shivering. It purred softly — prrr, prrr — like a tiny engine.

Abi sat down beside them. "Did you know? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once told of a man who gave water to a thirsty dog. Allah thanked him and forgave him. The companions asked whether being kind to animals is rewarded too. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ answered:"

"In (kindness to) every living creature there is a reward." (Bukhari 6009, Muslim 2244)

Baby Ais stroked the kitten's head with one finger. "So we got a reward just now?"

"In sha Allah," said Abi. "And the kitten got a home for now."

That night, the rain kept falling. But on the porch, in a new dry box, the orange kitten slept soundly on the towel. And inside the house, two little children fell asleep with warm hearts.

Talk it over with your little one: when we see an animal in trouble, what can we do safely? Remember, always get a grown-up first! 🐱