You don’t burn out when you’re busy lighting each other up. This allegorical tale highlights the significance of the journey over the destination. As Mouse embarks on his journey to the “far away land” he meets both helpful creatures and destitute beings. The way others sacrifice for him, and in turn, his own sacrifice for others, help children understand the importance of our responsibility to each other. Along the way, Mouse gives a part of himself to those in need. At first, it seems his service to others is depleting, even crippling, him, but later we learn that in fact it is transforming him—an important lesson in the virtue of sacrificing selflessly for others. The story ends with Mouse transforming into an eagle, and we learn that the transformation itself, from a lowly creature into a majestic one, was ultimately the destination.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the wisest of all human beings, taught us that giving of ourselves never decreases our wealth, our time, our status, or our possessions. This book reinforces that message—the act of giving nourishes our souls and replenishes our ability to give more. Allah’s ﷻ blessings are boundless. We only limit them when we draw boundaries around our ability to give.