Safiyya and the Empty Lunchbox

Safiyya's mama packed her the BEST lunchbox. Cheese sandwich cut into triangles (not squares, triangles, very important). An apple. Two dates. A juice box with a tiny straw. Safiyya loved lunchtime almost as much as she loved her cat.

But on Tuesday, a new girl named Hawwa sat alone at the corner table. She didn't have a lunchbox. She didn't have a snack. She didn't even have a juice box. She just sat there, swinging her feet and pretending to read a book that was upside down.

Safiyya's stomach growled. Her sandwich looked SO good. But she remembered something her grandma had told her: 'You are never poorer for giving, my love. Allah is the One who feeds everyone — sometimes through us.' Safiyya picked up her lunchbox and walked over.

'Salaam,' she said. 'Want to share?' Hawwa's eyes got very wide. 'Really?' Safiyya nodded and slid one triangle, one date, and exactly half the apple across the table. They ate together. Hawwa laughed at Safiyya's joke about the cheese. Safiyya laughed at Hawwa's joke about the upside-down book.

After lunch, Safiyya's tummy felt a little hungry, but her heart felt very full. When she got home, her mama opened the lunchbox and said, 'Where did half your lunch go?' Safiyya told her. Her mama didn't say anything. She just kissed the top of her head and made her an extra big snack. And from that day on, mama started packing two sandwiches — one for Safiyya, one for Hawwa. Because that, said mama, is how barakah works.