The Adventures of Aisha and the Honest Goldfish

Aisha had been begging her mama for a goldfish for three whole months. She made charts. She made posters. She even wrote a very serious letter that began, 'Dear Mama, please consider the following important reasons…' On her eighth birthday, a small glass bowl appeared on her desk with a tiny orange fish swimming inside. Aisha named him Mr. Bubbles.

Mr. Bubbles, it turned out, was a very particular goldfish. He flicked his tail when she said salaam. He danced little circles when she recited Surah Al-Fatihah. But on the third day, something strange happened. Aisha's mama asked, 'Did you finish your homework?' And Aisha — who had not finished her homework — said, 'Yes, Mama!' very fast.

Mr. Bubbles stopped dancing. He turned his back to her. He refused, absolutely refused, to eat his fish flakes. Aisha tapped the glass. 'Mr. Bubbles? Are you sick?' The fish just stared at the wall.

Her older brother Bilal walked past and laughed. 'Maybe he heard you fib,' he said. Aisha frowned. Bilal said, 'The Prophet ﷺ said that truthfulness leads to goodness, and goodness leads to Paradise. Even fish probably know.' Then he ate a samosa and walked away, because he was that kind of older brother.

Aisha sat very still. Her ears felt hot. She tiptoed to the kitchen and said, in the smallest voice she had, 'Mama. I didn't really finish my homework. I'm sorry.' Her mama didn't get angry. She just hugged her and said, 'Thank you for telling me. Go finish it now.' And Aisha did — every single math problem, even the long ones.

When she came back to her room, Mr. Bubbles was dancing again. He gobbled up his flakes. He blew the biggest bubble Aisha had ever seen. Aisha grinned. 'Okay, Mr. Bubbles,' she whispered. 'I get it. From now on — only the truth.' The fish flicked his tail, which Aisha was almost positive meant 'Alhamdulillah.'