The Hundredth Name

This picture book for young readers about family, friendship and faith is rich in the details of Middle Eastern village life. It tells the warm story of a bond between a father, a son, and the son’s favorite camel, as well as their devotion to the Muslim faith, and the power of prayer in their daily life.

Salah and his camel, Qadiim, are constant companions: They work together, eat together, and sleep together. Salah is distressed, however, because his camel always seems so sad and downcast, hanging his head low. But in middle of one night, Salah remembers what his father has told him -- that while mankind knows only ninety-nine names for Allah, there are actually one hundred names. What if Qadiim, the camel, could learn the hundredth name? Under the stars Salah prays "to Allah with all his strength." The next day-- a seeming miracle! -- the camel Quadiim carries his head high with a most knowing look. Does Quadiim know the one hundredth name?

Beautifully written by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim and complemented by illustrations by Michael Hays that portray the lush, verdant landscape of the Middle East – from the banks of the Nile to its luminous starlit nights -- here is a spiritual and touching story of an Islamic family.

School Library Journal says: “Set in a Muslim village in Egypt, this tale of friendship and faith is warm and satisfying... (t)old with sincerity and dignity, this tale skillfully weaves together cultural and religious images... Hays's handsome acrylic-on-linen illustrations create a strong sense of place.”