Iqra. Read. This is the first word revealed in the Quran.
It is a word repeated in madrasahs, quoted in lectures and taught to children from a young age. But in an era shaped by algorithms, endless scrolling and shrinking attention spans, the command feels even more important. Across
South Africa and beyond, literacy has become one of the defining challenges of our time, raising important questions about how communities nurture faith, character and critical thinking in the next generation.
This is one of the challenges that Zaahied Sallie, author and publisher at Red Kufi Books, has dedicated much of his work to addressing.
Through his publishing efforts and advocacy for literacy, Sallie argues that value-based storytelling is not simply a tool for entertainment but an important means of shaping moral, spiritual and intellectual development. In his view, books remain one of the most powerful ways to nurture young minds and strengthen communities.
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Stories were never just stories
Modern society often treats stories as leisure. They are what children enjoy after homework is completed or what adults turn to when they have spare time. The Islamic tradition presents a different understanding.
The Quran itself teaches through narratives. The stories of the prophets, past nations and ordinary people are woven throughout its pages, with lessons on faith, perseverance, justice and human nature.
Storytelling is not separate from education. It is education. For this reason, value-based storytelling carries a responsibility far greater than simple entertainment. The stories children consume help shape how they understand the world and how they view themselves.
Before a child can study theology or jurisprudence, they can learn courage from Prophet Musa (AS), patience from Prophet Ayyub (AS) and trust in Allah from Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Stories are the first classroom of a curious child.
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Literacy is more than an educational issue
South Africa’s literacy crisis has been discussed for years, but the weight of it extends far beyond what has been mentioned. A child who struggles to read often struggles to access every other area of learning. Opportunities become limited. Confidence decreases. The ability to engage critically with information becomes increasingly difficult.
For Muslims, literacy carries great significance. Faith itself is rooted in seeking knowledge. Understanding the Quran, engaging with Islamic scholarship and developing a meaningful connection with religious texts all depend on the ability to read and comprehend.
This is why the first divine instruction was so significant. The first command was not to build, earn or lead. It was to read.
Knowledge is foundational to both personal growth and spiritual development.
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The real challenge may not be technology
It is easy to blame smartphones, social media and streaming platforms for declining reading habits. But technology alone is not the problem.
Every generation has encountered innovations that changed the way people communicated and consumed information. What ultimately determines the outcome is whether families remain anchored in their values while adapting to change.
Children learn far more from observation than instruction. If adults spend hours on their devices but rarely pick up a book, children absorb that reality. If reading is visible and valued within the home, children are more likely to see it as a natural part of life.
In many ways, the literacy challenge is not simply about what children are doing. It is about what adults are modelling.
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Feeding minds as well as bodies
One of the more uncomfortable questions facing communities today concerns what we choose to invest in. Food drives, relief programmes and charitable initiatives remain essential. They address immediate needs and fulfil important responsibilities.
However, intellectual development is often overlooked. Many children still grow up without access to books. Some have never owned a storybook. Others have little exposure to literature that reflects their faith, culture and values.
If communities genuinely want to build future scholars, leaders and professionals, literacy must be viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury. Feeding minds is every bit as important as feeding bodies. Books are not just objects on a shelf. They are tools of empowerment.
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Creating homes where reading thrives
Perhaps the most practical solution begins at home. Children naturally imitate what they see. Just as they learn religious practices by observing their parents, they develop attitudes towards reading through the environment around them.
A home filled with books creates a powerful generation. Regular library visits, family reading time and visible reading habits help create a culture where literacy feels normal rather than forced.
The most successful reading cultures are often built through small habits that are repeated over many years.
Returning to a forgotten priority
In a world overflowing with information, literacy remains one of the most important skills a person can possess. It is the key to education, understanding, opportunity and even faith. It shapes how individuals navigate both worldly challenges and spiritual responsibilities.
The call made by literacy advocates such as Zaahied Sallie is ultimately a call to return to a principle that has always been central to Islam: the pursuit of knowledge.
As communities search for solutions to modern challenges, the answer may not be in the latest technology or educational trend, but something as simple as a child, a book and a lifelong commitment to reading.
For more on this discussion, watch the interview below:
Image via Vecteezy.
