Young children hear the story of Ibrahim and Isma‘il every Eid al-Adha. Told badly, it can frighten them. Told well, it is a story about a father and son who trusted Allah completely – and about Allah's mercy, who never wanted the sacrifice of a child (Quran 37:102–107).

01Tips for parents

• Start with Ibrahim as the friend of Allah who loved his family.
• Emphasise that Allah stopped him and sent a ram – the point of the story is the trust, not the knife.
• Connect it to the udhiyah meat you share with neighbours and the poor.