The Owners of the Garden: A Free Qur'an Storybook for Kids
The story of the garden owners from Surah al-Qalam, told simply for children, with pictures, their du'a and a colouring page.
Updated 25 October 2026
15 pagesStorybook
A4 & US Letterprint at home
Ages 4–9best for
10–15 minutestime it takesA kind man owned a beautiful garden and always shared its fruit with poor people. After he passed away, his sons planned to pick all the fruit early in the morning so that no poor person would get any, and they did not say "In sha Allah". That night something from Allah came over the garden, and in the morning they found it burnt. They said sorry to Allah and turned back to Him in hope. Allah tells us this story in Surah al-Qalam.
This storybook tells the story in simple sentences, one picture to a page, so young children can follow along. Children learn that everything we have is a gift from Allah, that sharing brings blessing, and to say "In sha Allah" when we make plans.
At the end there are three questions to talk about together, the du'a of the garden owners in Arabic with transliteration and meaning, and a page to colour in.
How to use it well
- 1A beautiful garden
A kind man owned a garden full of fruit and always shared it with poor and hungry people.
- 2The sons' plan
His sons planned to pick all the fruit early in the morning, and they did not say "In sha Allah" (Qur'an 68:17–18).
- 3At night
While they were asleep, something from Allah came over the garden (Qur'an 68:19–20).
- 4Off at dawn
At dawn they set off, whispering, "Don't let any poor person come in today" (Qur'an 68:21–24).
- 5The burnt garden
When they saw it, they thought they had lost their way, then understood they had lost everything (Qur'an 68:26–27).
- 6Saying sorry to Allah
They said, "Glory be to our Lord! We were wrong," and turned to Him in hope of something better (Qur'an 68:29–32).
What children learn from this story
- Everything we have is a gift from Allah.
- Sharing with people in need brings blessing.
- Say "In sha Allah" when we plan to do something.
- When we make a mistake, we say sorry to Allah and hope for something better.
Peek inside
How to use it
Print it and read it together, a few pages at a time. Point to the pictures and ask your child what is happening. On the du'a page, say the du'a slowly together. Use the "Talk about it" questions at the end, then let your child colour in the last page.
Let a teacher take your child from Qaida to fluent Qur'an
Our online Maktab for ages 4 to 13 is taught live by a female teacher: Noorani Qaida, Qur'an with Tajweed, duas, kalimahs and Salah. Pick any time between 5 and 8 PM.
Your first class is free. No payment needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is this story from the Qur'an?
Yes. Allah tells the story of the owners of the garden in Surah al-Qalam (68:17–33).
What age is this storybook for?
It is best for children aged 4 to 9. Younger children can listen and look at the pictures, and older children can read it by themselves.
What is the du'a of the garden owners?
'Asa rabbuna an yubdilana khayram minha, inna ila rabbina raghibun: "Maybe our Lord will give us something better than it. We turn to our Lord in hope." The Arabic, transliteration and meaning are on page 11 and page 13.
Are there pictures of people in the book?
No. The pictures show the garden, the fruit, the baskets and the burnt trees. There are no people or faces.
Is it free to print?
Yes. Download the A4 or US Letter PDF and print as many copies as you like for your family, class or masjid.
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