Feature Story “The increasing dissemination of misconceptions surrounding Islam has compelled writers and authors in the Islamic community to use the power of the pen to educate and dispel the myths of Islam.” Ilyas & Duck is a series created by Omar S. Khawaja and illustrated by Leo Antolini demonstrating elements of the Islamic faith through humorous childlike curiosity. In the first book, Ilyas & Duck Search for Allah, a boy and his best friend who is a duck go on a quest to find “Allah,” which translates to God in Arabic. On their quest, Ilyas & Duck journey to the top of a mountain, the depths of the ocean, the rainforest, and even to outer space in search of Allah. After the journey, the two recognize that “Allah was all around them,” which aligns with the Muslim belief that God in omnipotent and omniscient. In the second book, Ilyas & Duck: the Fantastic Festival of Eid-al-Fitr, the characters find the best way to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan known as “Eid-al-Fitr.” Duck, though excited, does not know how the holiday is celebrated. Duck therefore brings Ilyas a “pine tree and a sack of presents,” assuming that this is how the holiday is celebrated. Once Christmas is explained to Duck, Duck runs back out only to come back with dreidels and a menorah. Ilyas then explains Chanukah. To better understand the Feast of Ramadan, Ilyas and Duck fly over town in their hot air balloon to the mosque or masgid and discover how the holiday is celebrated with the help of a robin. At the end of the book the author includes “Professor Duck Lesson 1½,” which provides a simple yet complete glossary of the foreign words used in the book. This book has become a family favorite, and we cannot help but chuckle each time it’s read! In addition to the three children’s picture books, I felt it was necessary to include a book for older children that can provide an understanding of the Islamic religion as a culture to demonstrate how much of our daily lives are a product of the contributions that Islam has made to civilization for centuries. National Geographic Kids released 1,001 Inventions and Awesome Facts from Muslim Civilization. From the golden age of Muslim civilization, which is considered the 7th to 17th centuries, Muslim inventions spread all over the world in various fields, including “science, math, medicine, technology, and architecture.” The book is actually an initiative with National Geographic and the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilization that is part of a series of exhibits to bring a new found appreciation for those who have created or innovated many of the modern conveniences we enjoy in this day and age. Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this book was the portrayal of the Muslim community. We are often inundated with barbaric stereotypical images of Islam that exploit a minority of Muslims. This book demonstrates the contributions that the Muslim world has brought to the modern world, including zoology, biology, botany, geometry, algebra, and engineering, particularly in water transmission and windmill energy. For more information on Islam, The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding provides thorough and objective information regarding the Islamic faith, culture, and people. www.ispu.org. • 26 Story Monsters Ink | June 2016 | StoryMonstersInk.com
StoryMonstersInk.com | June 2016 | Story Monsters Ink 27