 I love this book. It's one of my favorites. It's called Who Will Help Me Make Iftar. We're going to read the book. We don't want to surprise everyone. Have it as a surprise. By Esmat Hussain. Okay. So what should I say before I begin? Thank you. Good. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. Every year on the first day of Ramadan, Mustafa Emka and his wife cooked a delicious meal for all their neighbors. But his wife, Aiza Taiza, was not well this year. Let's cancel the iftar, she said. Our neighbors will understand. Can I show you guys that picture? No, we must continue our tradition, Mustafa Emka replied. I'll prepare the soup, the rice, and the beef kurvma, the salad, and the ravani all on my own. I've watched you do it for 40 years. But who will help you, she said. You're an old man now. Your bones creak and your hands shake. Don't worry, he replied with a laugh. I will find help. Mustafa Emka called out to his daughter, Halima. Will you help me buy the dates to break our fast? I can't, said Halima. I am far too tired from fasting. So Mustafa Emka went to the market with a pocket full of jingling coins and bought the sweet dates himself. It wasn't lazy during Ramadan? Yeah, I think you're right. During Ramadan, it helps get our digestive system healthy. It makes you faster, gives you more energy. I guess when we fast the month of Ramadan, we can check with ourselves to see how we feel after. We're going to keep reading. We'll raise our hands after. On his way home, Mustafa Emka ran into his friend Mahmoud. Will you help me make the red lentil soup for our if-daught, he asked. I can't, said Mahmoud. The onions always burn my eyes. So Mustafa Emka cut the onions and carrots himself. He washed the lentils and sprinkled the bubbling soup with paprika and dried mint. Mustafa Emka spotted his neighbor Bashir outside. Will you help me make the pilar rice and beef kavurma for our if-daught, he asked. I can't, said Bashir. I will get my new shirt dirty. So Mustafa Emka seasoned and stirred the spicy beef with one hand and he mixed the rice and crispy vermicelli with the other. Mustafa Emka found his granddaughter Zaina playing a video game. Will you help me cut the cucumbers and tomato for the salad, he asked. I can't, Zaina said. If I leave my game now, I'll lose all my points. Well, he's looking really tired now. So Mustafa Emka sliced and diced a mountain of tomatoes and cucumbers himself and he topped them with the feta cheese and a handful of black olives. He's looking really tired now. He's doing a lot of things by himself. The delicious smells of Mustafa Emka's cooking tickled his family's nose. It filled the air and made his neighbor's mouth swatter. It was finally time to break the fast. Will you eat some dates with me? Mustafa Emka called out to the masjid. But I did not help buy the dates, Sir Halima. How can I break my fast with them now? Allah loves those who feed fasting Muslims, Mustafa Emka said. And he passed the juicy dates around to all the fasting men and women. Even though they didn't help, he wants Allah to be happy with him. So he did it because Allah would be happy with him. After prayer, Mustafa Emka motioned for everyone to come and into his courtyard for a meal. But I did not help make the pilaf rice or beef kavurma, said Bashir. How can I enjoy it now? And then I did not help cut the onions for the lentil soup, said Mahmood. How can I sip and slurp it now? And I did not help cut up the salad, said Zanab. How can I happily munch on it now? Do you think they're feeling guilty for not helping? Yeah, I think they're feeling bad. Mustafa Emka laughed and said, Allah loves those who are generous, especially to their families, neighbors and guests. And I always want Allah to love me. And he ladled the fragrant soup into everyone's bowls and he filled their plates with mounds of rice, beef and salad. Yummy. Yummy. Yummy. It does. That was a really nice thought he made. Masha'Allah. When all the guests had happily filled their bellies, Mustafa Emka stepped into the kitchen to prepare the tea. He suddenly realized he had forgotten to make the Ravani. That's a dessert. He forgot to make the dessert. Oh, but what will my guest have for dessert? He said, looking around. How about this? His wife, Aisha, pointed to a large tray filled with moist Ravani, syrupy baklava and sticky squares of Turkish delight. I may be sick, she said, but I can still find ways to help my old husband. Wasn't that kind and thoughtful of her? Even though she was sick, she wanted to help. But he just didn't see her. He was just there when he was not looking. When he was busy doing all the cooking and preparing, she saw that he might forget and she helped him. She didn't say, hey, you forgot dessert. She said, let me help him. He's doing so much work already. So when Halima had finished the last crumb of her sweet Ravani, she stood up and said, who will help me watch the dishes? Mahmood asked, who will help me sweep the floors? Bashir asked, who will help me take some food to the needy? So now they're like, it's time to help, masha'Allah. The neighbors washed the dishes, the children swept the floors, and their friends made plates of food to share with the needy. That was very considerate of them. The needy are those who might not have as much as we do. When Mustafa Emka heard the call to Aisha prayer, he stood up before he could all ask all the voices around him said together, yes, we will all come to pray with you. Alhamdulillah.