Wrestling Against Anger: Sulaiman's Challenging Neighbour

by Aliya Vaughan, Rakaiya Azzouz (Illustrator)

Overview

Wrestling Against Anger is the fourth book in the series about the adventures of a young Muslim boy. Sulaiman has a neighbour but he is not very nice. He sits on a wall and shouts at people in the street. One snowy, winter evening, as Sulaiman is walking back from the supermarket with his mum and siblings, their neighbour tries to attack them. Something terrible happens that changes their lives for the better. Sulaiman learns the true essence of what it means to be strong and, by overcoming his anger, he is able to forge a friendship with his neighbour. This story aims to teach children from a young age how important it is to control one’s temper when angry and to use other ways to diffuse or resolve an argument. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780860379829
Publisher:	Kube Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	06/18/2024
Series:	Sulaiman Series , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Aliya is an English revert to Islam and lives with her husband and six children in the UK. She gained her first award for a writing competition aged 10. She later began writing children’s stories while home schooling her children. In 2008, she won two awards at the Muslim Writers Awards for best children’s story and writer of the Year.

Rakaiya Azzouz has been illustrating for around ten years, specialising in Islamic children’s books. Her passion is creating pieces of art that connect children to their deen, through engaging, exciting, and emotive illustrations, particularly in books. When she was very young, it would frustrate her to see that religious books didn’t have the same standard of illustrations as non-religious books, so when she began illustrating, she set out to change that. Rakaiya has also been studying the Arabic language for several years. 

Read an Excerpt

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 

"The strong man is not one who is good at wrestling, but the strong man is one who controls himself in a fit of rage."

Reported by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported. Bukhari and Muslim

Chapter One

“I’m bored!” Sulaiman moaned; his face pressed into the cushions on the sofa. He only complained when he knew his mum was listening. Every time she came into the room, he’d sigh and flop dramatically in front of her. His mum was trying to ignore him up until now. It was the middle of half term and despite taking him to the park and the swimming pool he was still unable to find things to occupy himself. 

“Find something to play with?”  Mum insisted, gently nudging his feet off the sofa to rest the heavy laundry basket of damp clothes. “I’ve got to dry these and I’ve got a ton of other things to do this afternoon.”

“But I’ve played with everything,” Sulaiman whined, “Hannah’s on the laptop and I’m bored of my other games.” 

“I don’t know what else to suggest,” Mum shrugged. “You need to think of something though, as I’m super busy right now.” 

Sulaiman knew exactly what to do to relieve his boredom. As soon as his mum left the room, he tiptoed behind Hannah and released the lever on her computer chair tilting her backwards unexpectedly. Quick as lightning he released the height adjuster.

 

“Aaaah!” Hannah squealed plummeting down with a jolt. She grabbed a cushion from the sofa and walloped Sulaiman across the back of his legs. Their noisy fighting brought their mother running back into the room. Stepping in amongst their flailing arms she managed to break them apart.

 “Stop it!” She scolded, holding Sulaiman back by his hoodie. “Just calm down! Fighting doesn’t solve anything.” Hannah poked out her tongue and taunted him from a safe distance behind her mother.

 “Only cowards pick on people weaker than them,” she goaded. Sulaiman snarled at her aggressively. 

 “I need some bread and milk,” Mum sighed wearily. “If I give you some money, can you go to the shop for me please?” Sulaiman nodded eagerly. His mum had promised to give Sulaiman more responsibility in the house and shopping was one of the chores he enjoyed most. If there was any money left over, he was allowed to spend it on sweets to share with Hannah and Musa. 

Coming out of the block of flats, Sulaiman noticed his neighbour sitting on a wall. He was shouting horrible things at people passing by. Sulaiman didn’t like him very much. In fact, no one did. He was rude and mean. He always looked scruffy and unshaven, his eyes were permanently glazed and his cheeks were flushed against a ghostly white complexion.

“What you staring at?” the old man yelled, waving his fist at an elderly lady passing by. Startled by his sudden roar, she clutched her handbag and scampered away in fright. 

“Yeah, that’s right! Get lost if you know what’s good for yer!” he hollered after her. Sulaiman ducked behind a bush to avoid being seen and then made a dash through the gates until he was shielded from view behind a tall tree. The old man glared menacingly in his direction but fortunately he hadn’t seen him. 

“I’ll have to come back through the other entrance.” Sulaiman thought to himself as he hurried on his way to the shop. This was not the first time Sulaiman had to dodge his neighbour. In fact, it was sadly becoming a regular occurrence.

Table of Contents

Note to Parents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Comprehension Questions

Ayah & Hadith from the Qur’an and the Sunnah