16/09/2026
Really important lesson for we elder too
*The Meatballs at Etelä Hervanta Daycare*
September 03, 2026
The following is a fictional story created for educational and moral reflection.
*Setting and Opening Scene*
It was the first week for Mariam and Sara at Etelä Hervanta Daycare. Everything was new: the classrooms, the playground, and all the children.
One morning, while playing with building blocks, they met a cheerful girl named Sofia.
"Hi! My name is Sofia," she said.
"I'm Mariam," said Mariam.
"And I'm Sara," said Sara.
The three girls quickly became friends. They built towers, played tag outside, and laughed together all morning.
Soon it was lunchtime, and they walked together to the dining hall.
*A Curious Question*
The children lined up with their trays.
Sofia took some meatballs and mashed potatoes.
"These meatballs are really tasty," she said. "You should try them!"
Sara smiled.
"Thank you, but we don't eat the meat at daycare."
Sofia looked surprised.
"You don't?"
Mariam shook her head.
"No. We eat halal meat at home, but we don't eat meat outside."
The girls sat down together.
Sofia pointed at Mariam's plate.
"What does halal mean?"
Sara replied,
"Halal means something that is permissible for Muslims. When an animal is slaughtered for food, the name of Allah should be mentioned. Muslims say, 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar,' and then the meat becomes halal to eat."
"We are Muslims," added Mariam. "So we try to follow that."
"Oh," said Sofia. "I didn't know that."
Then she suddenly pointed toward another table.
"But wait! Abdullah is Muslim too."
The girls looked over.
Abdullah was sitting with some friends, happily eating meatballs.
Sofia frowned.
"If Abdullah is Muslim and he's eating meatballs, why don't you eat them?"
Mariam and Sara looked at each other.
They did not know how to answer.
Finally, Mariam said,
"We'll ask our parents."
*Mariam Asks Her Father*
That evening, Mariam came home.
Her father, Ahmed, was sitting in the living room.
Mariam sat down beside her father.
"Father, I want to ask you something."
"Of course," Ahmed replied.
"You told us that Muslims should eat only halal meat. But today at daycare I saw Abdullah eating meatballs. He is Muslim too. So how can that be?"
Ahmed smiled gently.
"That is a very good question, Mariam."
He paused for a moment and then said,
"Allah has explained in the Qur'an what food is permissible for us. Allah says:
'This day all good foods have been made lawful for you. The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them.' (Qur'an 5:5)
"And Allah also teaches us not to eat meat over which His name has not been mentioned. So Muslims agree that meat slaughtered in the name of Allah is halal. Allah also permits the food of the People of the Book, meaning Jews and Christians."
Mariam listened carefully.
"Then why do some Muslims eat the meatballs at daycare and others don't?"
Ahmed replied,
"The difference is not because they follow a different Qur'an or a different Prophet. All Muslims follow the same Allah, the same Prophet Muhammad īˇē, and the same Qur'an.
"The difference comes when Muslims try to apply these teachings to the situation around them.
"Some Muslims in Finland think like this: 'Most people in this country come from Christian backgrounds, so the meat is likely slaughtered by Christians. Therefore, we can eat it.' Based on that understanding, they eat the meat served in schools and daycares."
"And what about us?" asked Mariam.
Ahmed continued,
"Our family understands the situation differently. Today, many people in Finland do not practice Christianity and many do not believe in God at all. Because of that, we are not sure that the meat comes from people who fit the description mentioned in the Qur'an. So we choose to eat only meat that we know is halal."
Mariam thought for a moment.
"So Abdullah's family and our family are both trying to follow Islam?"
"Exactly," said Ahmed. "Both are using the same teachings from Allah. Both want to obey Allah. The difference is that they look at the current situation and reach a different conclusion. They believe the meat is permissible, while we believe it is safer to avoid it unless we know it is halal."
Mariam nodded.
"I understand now. The difference is not about the teachings. The difference is about how people understand the situation."
*The Important Lesson*
Mariam thought about her father's explanation for a moment, and then another question came to her mind.
"Father," she said, "I really like meatballs. Can I eat them at daycare?"
Ahmed smiled.
"I know you like meatballs, Mariam."
Mariam smiled back.
Ahmed continued,
"My dear daughter, in life we should always try to choose what is safest when we are unsure about something. Allah does not only look at what we do. He also looks at the sincerity in our hearts."
Mariam listened carefully.
Ahmed asked,
"Tell me, if you knew for certain that the meatballs were halal, would it be okay to eat them?"
"Yes," Mariam replied. "If they were halal, then I could eat them."
"That's right," said Ahmed. "Now think about the situation here. Our family believes that because many people in Finland do not believe in God, we cannot be certain that the meat comes from the People of the Book mentioned in the Qur'an. That is why we choose not to eat meat unless we know it is halal."
Mariam nodded.
"So we are not sure."
"Exactly," Ahmed said. "And when a person is not sure, it is often better to choose the safer option."
He then asked gently,
"If you are not sure whether the meatballs are halal or not, what do you think is the better choice?"
Mariam thought for a moment.
"I think I should not eat them."
"Why?" Ahmed asked.
"Because I am not certain that they are halal."
Ahmed smiled.
"That is a sincere answer."
Then he continued,
"You see, Mariam, sometimes we want something very much. We may like its taste, its smell, or the way it looks. But we cannot simply follow our desires whenever they appear. Sometimes Allah tests us through the things we like."
"A test?" Mariam asked.
"Yes," said Ahmed. "Allah wants to see whether we will follow our desires or whether we will sincerely try to do what we believe is right. If we always follow our desires without thinking, they may lead us in the wrong direction."
Mariam reflected on his words.
Ahmed continued,
"At home, your mother and I try our best to teach you. We prepare halal food for you and explain what we believe is right. On the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask each of us about our own choices. Your mother and I can advise you, but in the end, you must decide for yourself what you believe is pleasing to Allah."
Mariam sat quietly for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"I understand, Father."
"What did you understand?" Ahmed asked.
Mariam replied,
"I learned that sincerity is important. If I truly believe something may not be halal, then I should act according to that belief. I should not ignore it just because I like meatballs."
Ahmed smiled proudly.
"Very good, Mariam. Allah loves sincerity. What matters is that we try our best to do what we believe is right for His sake."
That night, Mariam went to bed feeling peaceful. She still liked meatballs, but she had learned something even more important:
*Moral of the Story*
Sincerity is very important in our actions. A sincere believer does not simply follow what they want. They try to follow what they believe is pleasing to Allah.
When we are unsure about something, choosing the safer option can bring peace of mind.
