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Introducing "Amazing Stories with Zaki the Hoopoe!" 🎉
Get ready for a storytelling adventure that’s not just for kids, but for the whole family—including parents! Zaki, the lively and clever hoopoe bird, invites everyone to explore the wonders of ancient tales, where prophets, brave animals, and magical moments come to life. 🌟 Tailored for kids aged 5-8, but with plenty of fun, humor, and fascinating lessons to keep parents entertained, too!
Zaki's adventures take you to deserts, seas, and enchanted forests, where you’ll meet the brave ant that stood up to Prophet Sulaiman 🐜, Prophet Ibrahim standing up against the evil King Nimrod, Prophet Nuh and his legendary Ark, and many more legendary Prophets. With a sprinkle of jokes, interactive questions, and exciting sound effects, each episode is an engaging experience for all ages!
Parents, you’ll love the way Zaki weaves timeless lessons with humor and charm, making this the perfect family bonding time. Whether in the car, during bedtime, or just for fun, Amazing Stories with Zaki is your go-to source for entertaining, educational stories that spark curiosity and values in kids—and even surprise grown-ups!
So, gather around, sit back, and let Zaki take you on a magical journey that everyone will enjoy. Ready? Let’s fly into adventure! ✨
Captain Sohail, I've made a decision.
Captain Suhail:Is it about not flapping your beak every two minutes?
Zaki:I'm ready for my moment, my big discovery. Any day now, someone important is going to spot me.
Captain Suhail:Aye. Someone important, like the crow who runs the lost and found.
Zaki:No. Bigger. Bigger. What if what if we make this podcast super famous? More followers, more listeners.
Zaki:Imagine it.
Captain Suhail:Imagine the noise complaints from all the new neighbors. We could
Zaki:have posters, t shirts, maybe even a cereal. Zaki-os, every bite of story.
Captain Suhail:Aye. And the prize inside be a feather you lost from flapping too much.
Zaki:I could make a marketing plan. Step one, tell every parent listening to share this podcast with five other parents.
Captain Suhail:Step two, drive them all mad with endless chirping. No. No. Think about it. If every parent shares it, more kids hear the stories, more listeners, more fame.
Captain Suhail:Lad, ye chase fame like a cat chasing its own tail, spin until you tumble.
Zaki:But wouldn't it be amazing to be the most famous storyteller bird in the world?
Captain Suhail:Or the most tired? Fame's a heavy anchor, Zaki. Sometimes the reward of the work is the work itself.
Zaki:You mean telling the stories is already the treasure?
Captain Suhail:Aye. And a real storyteller needs no crown. The truth shines bright enough on its own.
Zaki:I never thought of it like that.
Captain Suhail:That's why you keep me around, lad, to toss a little salt on your daydreams and sometimes wounds.
Zaki:No, no, no. I need to do this. This will be the most popular podcast in the whole wide sky.
Captain Suhail:Meraj Digital presents The Amazing Stories with Zaki the Hoopoe Season two, Episode four: The Boy, the Monk, and the Protector.
Zaki:Salaam, my adventurous friends. It's me, Zaki the Hoopoe, your favorite flying storyteller. Today's story is about journeys, big dreams, and treasures you can't see with your eyes. Spoiler alert: it's not about gold or camel snacks or fancy feather hats.
Zaki:We're traveling back to ancient Makkah, a city bustling with merchants shouting prices, camels stomping their hooves, and the air thick with the smell of spices and fresh baked bread.
Captain Suhail:Ay, nothing like the scent of a hundred sweaty camels to sharpen the senses.
Zaki:And somewhere among all that noise and dust was a boy named Prophet Muhammad. Wait kids, what do we say after his name? Peace be upon him. He had the love of his uncle Abu Talib and the hidden signs of a future the world wasn't ready for yet. Kids, do you know what a caravan is?
Captain Suhail:Aye. It's when all the camels line up for a dance competition. Is it not?
Zaki:Not quite, captain. A caravan was how merchants traveled across the desert. Groups of people, camels, and goods, all moving together for safety and trading.
Captain Suhail:I still say there was dancing. You try walking that far without a jig in your step.
Zaki:Caravans were like moving villages, full of food, cloth, spices and stories, all crossing the endless sands together. Picture it, a caravan stretching like a long ribbon across the endless desert, the sun beating down, and a boy walking quietly among grown men, his eyes full of light. So grab your satchels, friends, steady your camels, dust off your sandals. Because we're about to cross the Golden Dunes, meet a mysterious monk, and uncover a secret that even kings would fear to touch. Long ago, in the city of Makkah, under the golden sun and swirling winds, a young boy named Muhammad, peace be upon him, prepared for a journey he would never forget.
Zaki:He wasn't going alone though. His kind uncle Abu Talib, a respected leader of their tribe, was leading a caravan. And their destination, the bustling markets of Basra in the land of Syria.
Captain Suhail:Aye, famous for its dates, camels and dancing goats, wasn't it?
Zaki:Maybe not the goats, captain. But Busra was an important place where merchants from all over the world came to buy and sell. Picture it. Long lines of camels groaning and stomping, merchants calling out prices, the air thick with the smell of dates, spices, and leather saddles.
Captain Suhail:Aye, and dust clogging every feather and nose hair ye had. Good times.
Zaki:But this journey wasn't just about business for Abu Talib, it was about love. You see, Muhammad's father had passed away before he was even born. His mother died when he was just six years old. And then his grandfather, Abdul Mutalib, who had cared for him so dearly, also passed away. Abu Talib became more than an uncle.
Zaki:He became Muhammad's protector, his guardian, and his biggest supporter. And young Muhammad, even at 12, wasn't just along for the ride. He helped, worked, listened, and learned every step of the way. Although between you and me, I bet tying a camel is harder than it looks. Everyone who traveled with them noticed something special about Muhammad.
Zaki:His kindness, his honesty, his calm even when the desert winds blew wild. Days and days passed as the caravan traveled over golden dunes, across rocky valleys and under endless blue skies. The camel's feet beat steady rhythms into the sand, and the traders shared songs and old desert tales by firelight. Finally, after a long and dusty road, the caravan neared a town called Basra, a place bustling with traders, monks, and travelers from every corner of the world. But just before reaching the town, they stopped by a small monastery, nestled among olive trees, standing alone in the dry hills.
Zaki:And if you're wondering, a monastery is like a very quiet place where monks live, pray and study all day. And inside that monastery lived Bahera, a monk known far and wide for his wisdom. Bahera wasn't like the other monks. He studied old scriptures and ancient signs. He knew prophecies of a great messenger who would rise among the Arabs.
Zaki:As the caravan approached, Bahara looked out and he saw something that made him gasp. A single small cloud was following Muhammad, shading him from the burning sun.
Captain Suhail:It was a lazy cloud, had nothing better to do. Or maybe it
Zaki:was a sign that the one walking below it was no ordinary boy. Bahera hurried out of his monastery and, surprise, invited the whole caravan for a feast.
Captain Suhail:You're not wrong, captain, but Bahera
Zaki:You're wasn't after gold or trade, he was looking for someone. The caravan traders gathered inside the monastery's cool stone halls, sitting on rugs while platters of dates, olives, bread were passed around. Bahera watched carefully, searching every face, but the boy he was looking for wasn't with them. Young Muhammad had been left to watch the camels outside, always humble, always serving. Bahera insisted that every member of the caravan be called inside, including the boy by the camels.
Zaki:When Muhammad, peace be upon him, entered the room, the light seemed to follow him. Bahara's heart raced, this was no ordinary child. Bahara realized, this was the one the ancient books spoke about. This was the last prophet of Allah, the final messenger to the world.
Captain Suhail:Like finding a lighthouse glowing on a dark coast.
Zaki:Exactly Captain, Bahera knew this boy's future was written among the stars. But Bahera also knew the world could be cruel to someone so precious. He pulled Abu Talib aside and said urgently, This boy is destined for a mighty future. Protect him. Enemies may seek to harm him if they realize who he is.
Captain Suhail:Wise words, a candle needs a hand to shield it from the storm.
Zaki:Abu Talib listened with his whole heart. His arms tightened around Muhammad protectively. And at that moment, Abu Talib decided he would not continue to Syria. He would turn back to Makkah. Under the blanket of desert stars, the caravan prepared to continue north toward Busra.
Zaki:But Abu Talib made a different choice. A harder choice. He decided to leave the safety of the caravan and turn back toward Makkah. With young Muhammad by his side. Abu Talib knew it would be dangerous.
Zaki:Without the caravan's many camels, guards, and fellow travelers, they would be exposed to bandits, wild animals, and the brutal sun. Plus, caravans were like big teams. You could trade together, protect each other, and help each other. Alone, you were just a tiny speck in a very big desert. Abu Talib would lose the chance to sell his goods, make a profit, and
Captain Suhail:bring back supplies. Aye, no trade, no treasure, just dust and danger.
Zaki:For a man in Abu Talib's position, losing a whole trade trip could mean hard times for his family back home. But still, without a second thought, without a moment's hesitation, Abu Talib chose Muhammad's safety first.
Captain Suhail:Like a captain throwing his cargo overboard to save a single soul.
Zaki:He knew that protecting his precious nephew was more valuable than gold, more important than any business deal. As they turned away from the caravan lights and back into the lonely darkness of the desert, Abu Talib rode closer to Muhammad, shielding him with his very presence. Imagine being out there, with no bright torches, no crowd to hide in, just the quiet of the sand and the wide open sky above you.
Captain Suhail:And no snack carts either, I reckon.
Zaki:No snack carts, captain, only faith, trust and a heart full of courage. I started to understand something greatness isn't loud. Greatness isn't about getting applause. True greatness is about choosing the right thing even when it costs you everything. Abu Talib didn't protect Muhammad because it made him rich.
Zaki:He protected him because it was right.
Captain Suhail:Aye, some treasures are measured in courage, not in coin.
Zaki:And maybe being great means staying steady when no one else sees it but Allah.
Captain Suhail:Maybe the bravest journey is the one you take when the world isn't clapping for you. And aye, lad. That's the journey that shines forever even when the crowds are gone.
Zaki:What an amazing journey today, my friends. We learned that true greatness isn't about being famous or getting big crowds. It's about doing what's right, even when it's hard, even when no one's clapping for you. Just like Abu Talib, he protected Muhammad, peace be upon him, even when it cost him everything. And we can do the same.
Zaki:Stand up for what's right, be kind, be brave, even when no one notices.
Captain Suhail:Aye. Better to be right in the eyes of Allah than famous in the eyes of fools.
Zaki:Exactly, captain. We don't need spotlights or trophies to matter.
Captain Suhail:Although speaking of spotlights I've been thinking, lad. Maybe we should get this podcast to go big, real big.
Zaki:Captain, are you serious?
Captain Suhail:I will go viral, whatever that means. Though I hear it's some sort of nasty rash that spreads fast. Best to catch it early.
Zaki:Captain, viral just means lots of people hear about it. As
Captain Suhail:long as it don't involve any itchiness, I'm in.
Zaki:You heard him, friends. If you liked today's story, share it with someone you love before Captain Sohail gets any more confused.
Captain Suhail:And if I start sneezing, ye know who to blame.
Zaki:Well, my wonderful adventurers, that's our story for today. I'm so glad we could travel through the desert together and discover what true greatness really means. And hey, remember, even if no one's clapping, even if no one sees, Allah sees, and that's more than enough.
Captain Suhail:Unless ye be wanting to go viral, then you better start sneezing. No sneezing needed, captain, just good hearts and good stories.
Zaki:Oh, and next time, we'll be hearing about a very special pact. Where the young Muhammad, peace be upon him, stood up for justice before he was even a prophet.
Captain Suhail:A pact, ye say. Did it involve a treasure map and a secret handshake?
Zaki:Not quite, Captain. But it did change Makka forever and showed what real bravery looks like. So be sure to join us next time for another amazing adventure.
Captain Suhail:And maybe, just maybe, by then, I'll be the famous one with me own cereal brand. Sohalos, now with extra fish.
Zaki:If you're the prize inside, captain, it'll be the saltiest breakfast ever. Until next time, my friends. Stay brave, stay kind, and keep shining quietly and brightly.
Zaki:This story was produced by Meraj Digital. Voices provided by Wayne Holland as Zaki, and Curtis Fletcher as Captain Suhail.
Zaki:Episode written, directed, and edited by Syed Kashif and Atif Hussain. For more content by Meraj Digital, please visit our site at www.meraj.digital.
Copyright:Content copyright and production copyright 2025 by Meraj Digital.