Prophet stories for kids- Prophet Nuh (alayhis salam)

Muslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by Allah (God) and given revelation to deliver to mankind. We muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well.
Each prophet  preached the same main belief of worshiping Allah and in the avoidance of idolatry and sin. Prophet Noah or Nuh (alayhis salam) was among one of those prophets. It is a true, interesting and moral story to tell the kids about a prophet who created a big boat. When I tell this story to kids and after few days I ask 'Can you tell me the name of prophet who made a big boat?' and they quickly answer me 'Prophet Nuh (AS)


Prophet Nuh (alayhis salam)

Nuh (alayhis salam) lived many years after Adam (alayhis salam). The people with whom Nuh (alayhis salam) lived refused to listen to him. When he said that they should worship only Allah (Ta'ala) and do good, they paid no attention.

Nuh (alayhis salam) told them they would be severely punished for ignoring him and the message he brought from Allah. Even so, the people did not believe what Nuh (alayhis salam) told them.

They laughed at him and said, "You are only a man like us. Only poor, weak people believe you. If you are telling truth, then show us the punishment you threaten. You are nothing but a liar!"
"I do not want anything from you," Nuh (alayhis salam) answered, "and I shall never send away the poor or the weak. As far as the punishment is concerned, Allah will bring it upon you whenever he pleases. Dont imagine you can stop Allahs plans!"
Nuh (alayhis salam) was both sad and angry that people would not heed his message. But Allah informed Nuh (alayhis salam) that he should not feel this way. There was much more important work to do. Nuh (alayhis salam) must build a big ship.
Prophet Nuh (alayhis salam) was commanded to build a big ship/Ark, In obedience to Allahs instructions, Nuh (alayhis salam) began to build the ship on land. The people who saw it when they were passing made fun of him and his ship.

But Nuh (alayhis salam) had a warning for them. "You are making fun of us now," he said, "but soon we will know who has to suffer the severe punishment!" When the ship was completed, it started to rain without ceasing and the waters on earth began to rise. Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala) told Nuh (alayhis salam) to go into the ship, together with his family and all his friends who believed. Nuh(alayhis salam) should also take one male and female from each kind of animal on earth.

Nuh (alayhis salam) did as he was told and then he said, "In the name of Allah, we shall now sail away, and when the time is right, we shall return again to the land."

It is said that the flooding lasted one hundred and fifty days. When the waters receded, the ark came to rest over Mount Ararat. The occupants of the ark came out and thanked the Lord for their miraculous survival. They then spread out to inhabit the Earth again with the blessings of their Lord.

You can read about Nuh (Alayhis Salam) in the Qur’an, Sura 7,Ayat 59-64; Sura 11,Ayat 25-49; Sura 26,Ayat 105-122; Sura 54,Ayat 9-15; and Sura 71,Ayat 1-28.

Related and Useful links:

* Prophet Noah's boat

Prophet stories for kids- Prophet Adam (alayhis salam)

While telling stories of prophets to kids, your language should be very easy and as you cannot show them illustrations. I read "Goodwordbooks" as reference and sometimes shows the pictures to the kids. These books are very colorful and stories are written in easy language.
Still I edit the details and try to use easier language for my nursery class. This series of  "Prophet stories" is written as a reference for parents or teachers who want to teach these stories to the kids.


Prophet Adam (alayhis salam):
Adam (alayhis salam) was the first man created by Allah. He was created to live on earth. However, Iblis did not like this. Although Iblis was made of fire, he lived with the angels. He thought he was better than Adam, so he became Adams enemy and decided to make Adam (alayhis salam) disobey Allah.

Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife used to live in paradise, where they were put by Allah. Paradise was the most beautiful place you can imagine. It was neither hot nor cold. Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife were never hungry or thirsty. This was another thing which Iblis did not like. So Iblis came to Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife and told them to eat from a certain tree. Now, Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife knew very well that Allah had told them they must not even go near that tree. So they did not listen to Iblis, but Iblis kept on and on at them. He tempted them by saying that they could live for ever if they ate from that tree and would become like angels. At last, worn down by the nagging of Iblis, Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife gave in. They came to believe what Iblis was telling them, and they ate from the tree, against Allahs command. But they soon came to regret very much their disobedience and their weakness in listening to Iblis.
 Adam and his wife were very sad and asked Allah for His forgiveness. Allah forgave them, for He is very forgiving. Allah then told Adam and his wife that they must now go down to earth and live there for some time. But He promised that they would be allowed to return to paradise as long as they and their children were obedient to Him in future. Allah also told Adam (alayhis salam) that he would be Allahs first prophet. 
Many prophets would be sent to mankind, and if man listens to the prophets words, he will come into paradise when he dies. But if he does not listen, then he will go to hell and remain there with the evil Iblis. 

So, Adam (alayhis salam) and his wife cam down to earth. On earth, they raised their children, and their children in their turn raised their children. In this way succeeding generations of mankind lived on earth and Allah sent His prophets to all of them. These prophets said: Worship only Allah. Allah has created you. Allah has made for you the plants and the animals so that you can eat them. Be grateful to Allah and always do good. This is what Adam (alayhis salam), the first prophet of Allah, told his children. After him there came many other prophets, and Muhammad is the last of the Prophets.

You may add a simple moral at the end of the story like in Prophet Adam (alayhis salam) I say that 'you know why Allah sent Hazrat Adam (AS) on earth? ----because if we don't obey Allah we cannot live in Jannah. And to live in Jannah we need to obey Allah in this world. As my audience is the group of kids from age of 4 to 5 plus, I chose the words of story carefully. I hope that this series of stories are helpful for you as well. Place your comments or suggestions (if any---). 

Useful links:
* An interactive ebook 'The story of Adam(As)'

* Story of Hazrat Adam (AS)

Prophet Stories - Prophet Younus (PBUH) and the Whale

The story of prophet Younus (pbuh) and the whale is a favorite story among children. This story of Prophet Jonah(Younus) is a parable of mercy. In our Islam curriculum for nursery class there are few prophet stories which I tell to kids. Selecting easy language is helpful in narration of stories.
In the Noble Qur'an, in chapter 28 by the name of Al-Qasas (Narratives / Stories), which itself is proof that man is in need of narratives and stories. So it is clear that kids need to listen the stories. Best option for story telling may be choice of prophet stories as there is a lot of learn from it.

In many places in the same Noble Qur'an, stories of Prophets, kings and nations have been mentioned. Prophet Younus, a great Prophet sent to the people of Nineveh (which was a city where the modern-day Iraqi city of Mosul is). Prophet Prophet Yunus/Jonah (pbuh) is also addressed by two other surnames * "Sahibil-Hot" (Companion of the Fish).


Story of Prophet Younus (PBUH) for kids:
Prophet Yunus (alayhis salam) was sent by Allah to a big town where the people had forgotten Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)'s orders and did many things which Allah had forbidden.


"You should believe only in Allah and obey only Him", Yunus (alayhis salam) told them. "You should worship Him alone and do good, otherwise a severe punishment will come upon you!"
But Yunus (alayhis salam) soon discovered that the people did not want to listen to him. He lost patience with them and left the town in anger. Afterwards, Yunus (alayhis salam) decided to go across the sea, and boarded a ship for the voyage. But when the ship was in the middle of the ocean, Yunus (alayhis salam) suffered a great misfortune. 
He was thrown overboard and swallowed up by an enormous fish!.

Fortunately, though, the fish had swallowed Yunus (alayhis salam) in one big gulp, so he landed in its stomach unhurt. It was very dark inside the fish's stomach, and Yunus (alayhis salam) grew very fearful. In his loneliness, he started to think over what had happened in the town, and came to realize that he should not have acted so hastily and in such a quick-tempered manner. Poor Yunus (alayhis salam)was in a terrible state! He lay on the shore, weak, ill and helpless. He felt dreadfully miserable, but Allah caused a tree to grow and this tree provided Yunus (alayhis salam) with shade and nourishing fruits, alhamdulilah. Before long, Yunus (alayhis salam) had recovered his health and strength.

When he was better, Allah sent Yunus (alayhis salam) back to the town. This time, though, the people there listened to Yunus (alayhis salam) when he told them: "You should believe in Allah and worship Him alone.
You must do good."

Related: http://www.oocities.org/mutmainaa/kids/story/yunus.html

Watch YouTube story of Prophet Younus (pbuh) according to Quran Narration:

One of the distinguished feats of the Noble Qur'an is this very story of Prophet Yusuf (as), which it refers to as the 'best of the narratives', and at the end of which, it says: In these stories there is a lesson for those, who desire to take a moral and adopt the path of the Perfect Men. 

* You can find prophet stories in simple language to tell to kids at many sites like:

* 'Help for convert.net'

* 'The islamic bulletin'
* Story of Prophet Yunus/Jonah (pbuh)

Story of Prophet Jonah in Bible