Thank You, Postman!

"Ding-dong!" The doorbell rang.

Baby Ais ran to the window. At the gate was an orange motorbike and a man in a blue cap. It was the Postman!

"A parcel for Baby Mo's family," said the Postman, holding up a brown box with a pink ribbon.

Umi opened the gate and took the parcel. On the box, in big letters, it said: FROM GRANDMA.

"A present from Grandma!" shouted Baby Ais and Baby Mo together.

They carried the box into the house, half running. Baby Ais couldn't wait. She was already tugging at the ribbon.

But Umi said gently, "Wait a moment, Ais. We've forgotten something."

Baby Ais stopped. "What, Umi?"

"Who brought this present all the way from Grandma's house to ours?"

Baby Ais thought. Then her eyes went round. "The Postman!"

She ran back to the window. The Postman was already on his motorbike, ready to go. His shirt was damp with sweat. On the back of his bike were lots and lots of parcels still to deliver.

"Postman! Wait!" shouted Baby Ais, running to the gate.

The Postman turned round, surprised.

Baby Ais stood at the gate, out of breath. "Postman… thank you for bringing Grandma's present!"

The Postman was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled a huge smile, so big his moustache went up. "Well, you're very welcome, little one! It's been a long time since anyone ran after me just to say thank you."

Baby Mo followed with a glass of cold water Umi had poured. "This is for you, Postman. So you won't be thirsty."

The Postman drank every drop. "Alhamdulillah, so refreshing. May Allah reward your kindness."

He waved and rode away. Vroom, vroom. Baby Ais and Baby Mo waved until the orange motorbike disappeared round the corner.

Only then did they open Grandma's parcel. Inside were two picture books, one for Baby Ais and one for Baby Mo, and a letter with a heart drawn on it.

"Umi, we have to say thank you to Grandma too!" said Baby Ais.

They drew a card for Grandma: Baby Ais drew flowers, Baby Mo drew the Postman's orange motorbike. Umi wrote the words: "Thank you, Grandma. We love you."

Umi hugged them. "Do you know? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught that thanking people who do good to us is part of being thankful to Allah."

"Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah." (Abu Dawud 4811, Tirmidhi 1954)

Baby Ais thought for a long time. Then she began counting on her fingers. "Thank you, Grandma. Thank you, Postman. Thank you, Umi. Thank you, Abi. Thank you, Mo… Thank you, ya Allah!"

The next day, the card for Grandma went into the blue postbox outside the house. And Baby Ais hoped the very same Postman would deliver it.

Talk it over with your little one: who helped us today? Let's name them one by one and say thank you! 💌