Folklore for Kids: Ahmad and Muhammad: North Sumatra Folktale for Kids

Once upon a time, in the faraway land of North Sumatra, there lived a husband and wife with their two sons. The elder boy was called Ahmad, and his younger brother was called Muhammad.

Everyone in the village agreed that Ahmad and Muhammad were kind and well-behaved boys. They obeyed their parents, helped with the work in the fields, and went to the mosque every day to pray and recite the Koran.

Chapter 1: The Special Merbuk Dove

In those days, the people of North Sumatra believed that the merbuk dove was a very special bird. They said that anyone who ate the head of a merbuk would become a king, and anyone who ate its heart would become a minister.

One sunny morning, after the brothers had finished helping their parents in the fields, Ahmad spotted something in the bushes.

Ahmad: "Look, Muhammad! There is a little nest over there!"

Muhammad: "Oh! And there is a merbuk dove sitting inside it!"

The two brothers tiptoed closer and gently caught the little bird. They knew the merbuk was special, but they did not want to eat it. They only wanted a friend to care for.

Ahmad: "We must never harm it, Muhammad. Let's take it home and look after it."

Muhammad: "Yes, Brother! I will share my food with it every day."

Chapter 2: A Very Tame Little Dove

The brothers carried the merbuk home and cared for it with all their hearts. They fed it every day, and they never locked it in a cage. Instead, the little dove flew freely around the house and the yard.

When the boys went to the fields, they took the merbuk along, and it kept them company while they worked. Slowly, the dove grew very tame. It would soar into the sky and flutter among the trees, but whenever it saw Ahmad or Muhammad, it would swoop down and land right beside them.

Muhammad: "Look, Brother! It came back to us again!"

Ahmad: "Of course it did. It knows we are its friends."

Chapter 3: The Parents' Secret Plan

One day, the boys' parents found out about the merbuk. Their father's eyes lit up.

Father: "A merbuk dove! If I eat it, I might become a king, or at least a minister!"

Mother: "But the boys love that bird dearly, Husband."

Father: "Then we must find a way to catch it while they are away."

The next morning, Ahmad and Muhammad got ready for the fields, and the merbuk landed beside them as usual.

Muhammad: "Mother, may we take the merbuk with us today?"

Mother: "Oh, I don't think so, my dears. It is tame, and someone might catch it in the fields. Leave it here at home, where it is safe."

The brothers trusted their mother, so they left the merbuk at home and set off for the fields. As soon as they were out of sight, their mother caught the little dove, and she roasted it in the kitchen.

Chapter 4: A Sad Surprise

When the brothers came home in the afternoon, they looked for their friend everywhere.

Ahmad: "Where is our merbuk, Mother?"

Mother: "Oh, my dears, I am so sorry. A cat pounced on it while you were away. I picked it up quickly and roasted it, so it would not go to waste."

Ahmad and Muhammad felt very sad. Their tummies were rumbling too, for they had worked hard all day and were hungry.

Muhammad: "Brother, should we eat it? It would be a shame to waste it."

Ahmad: "You are right. Let us eat it, and remember our little friend kindly."

So Ahmad ate the head of the merbuk, and Muhammad ate its heart. Their mother was busy preparing lunch in the kitchen, so she did not notice what they had done.

Chapter 5: Cast Out of the House

Soon their father came home from the fields.

Father: "Wife, where is the merbuk? I want to eat it now!"

Mother: "Oh, Husband... the boys have already eaten it."

The father was furious. His face turned red, and he shouted at his sons.

Father: "You naughty boys! How dare you eat the merbuk! Get out of my house at once!"

Muhammad: "Father, please, we did not know..."

Father: "Go! I do not want to see you here again!"

Ahmad and Muhammad were shocked. With tears in their eyes, they left their home with no food and nothing to carry, walking hand in hand down the dusty road.

Chapter 6: A Night at the Edge of the Forest

The brothers walked on and on without knowing where they were going. When they felt hungry, they picked wild fruits and dug up tubers to eat. By the evening, they had reached the edge of a great forest, and their legs were very tired.

Ahmad: "Let us rest here, Muhammad. Climb up into this big tree and sleep on a branch, where it is safe."

Muhammad: "But where will you sleep, Brother?"

Ahmad: "Don't worry about me. I will sleep on the ground beneath the tree, just in case anyone comes near."

So Muhammad climbed into the tree, and Ahmad lay down below it. Soon both brothers were fast asleep.

Chapter 7: The King's Special Contest

That forest was part of a kingdom ruled by a very old king. The king had no son, and by the custom of the land, his daughters could not take the throne. So the old king made a special plan.

King: "I will let my white elephant choose. Whoever the elephant bows down to shall be king after me."

The next morning, the royal white elephant was set free, and the Prime Minister and the palace soldiers followed behind it. The great elephant walked slowly through the fields and reached the edge of the forest. There, beneath a big tree, lay Ahmad, fast asleep.

The elephant stopped and knelt down before him, and it bowed its head to the ground.

Chapter 8: A Prince Is Found

The Prime Minister and the soldiers could hardly believe their eyes.

Prime Minister: "Look! The white elephant is bowing before this young man!"

Soldier: "Does this mean he is the one, Prime Minister?"

Prime Minister: "It does! We have found the future king! Lift him gently onto the elephant's back, and take him to the palace."

The soldiers lifted Ahmad, who was still sleeping soundly, onto the elephant's back, and they marched back to the palace.

Chapter 9: Ahmad in the Palace

When Ahmad woke up, he was lying in a soft, comfortable bed in a grand palace. He rubbed his eyes in wonder.

Ahmad: "Where am I? How did I get here?"

King: "Welcome, young man. My elephant chose you, and my soldiers brought you here. From now on, you shall be the prince of this kingdom, and one day you will be king."

Ahmad could hardly believe his luck, but his heart was heavy, for he missed his brother.

Ahmad: "Oh, Muhammad... I hope you are safe, wherever you are."

Meanwhile, Muhammad had woken up in the tree and found that his brother was gone.

Muhammad: "Brother? Ahmad! Where are you?"

There was no answer. Muhammad feared that a wild animal had taken his brother, and he cried until his eyes were red. But then he wiped away his tears.

Muhammad: "No. I will not give up. I will search for my brother until I find him!"

Chapter 10: The Magic Branch

Muhammad wandered a long way through the forest. One day he saw two huge eagles fighting in the sky over a wooden branch. Suddenly, the branch fell to the ground near his feet.

Muhammad: "Why were the eagles fighting over this? This must be no ordinary branch. It must be magic!"

He picked it up and made a wish.

Muhammad: "O magic branch, please take me to my brother!"

At once, Muhammad's body rose up into the air! He floated over the treetops, and then he gently landed in the garden of the royal palace.

A princess who was walking in the garden saw him and screamed.

Princess: "Help! A stranger is in the garden!"

The palace soldiers rushed in and caught Muhammad. They took him away and locked him in prison, to wait for the king's judgment.

Chapter 11: The Trial

The next day, the soldiers brought Muhammad before the king. Prince Ahmad was sitting nearby, but the brothers had been apart for so long that Ahmad did not recognize him.

King: "Tell me, young man, why did you enter my palace without permission?"

Muhammad: "Your Majesty, I am sorry. I was only looking for my older brother, who was lost in the forest. This magic branch carried me here."

Ahmad listened closely, and his heart began to beat faster.

Ahmad: "Your Majesty, please forgive this young man. I believe he is my younger brother, Muhammad!"

Muhammad: "Brother? Is it really you, Ahmad?"

The two brothers ran into each other's arms, and they hugged each other tightly with tears of joy. The king smiled kindly and set Muhammad free.

King: "What a wonderful reunion! Stay here, Muhammad, and live with your brother in the palace."

Chapter 12: A King and His Prime Minister

Soon after, the old king held a grand wedding for both brothers. He gave his eldest daughter to Ahmad, and his youngest daughter to Muhammad. Kings, princes, nobles, and villagers from all across the land came to join the celebration.

A few days later, the old king spoke to his people.

King: "I am old and tired now. Today, I give my throne to Ahmad, and I appoint Muhammad as my Prime Minister."

So the merbuk's magic came true after all, but in a way that no one had expected. Ahmad became a king, and Muhammad became his Prime Minister.

Together, the two brothers ruled the kingdom with fairness and wisdom. They loved their people, and their people loved them dearly. And they all lived happily ever after.

The Moral of the Story

Kindness and love between brothers are worth more than any crown. Greed can make people do unkind things, but those who stay honest, caring, and loyal to one another will find happiness in the end.

Follow Ahmad and Muhammad's adventure in this interactive story! Help them catch the merbuk dove, survive being cast out, and meet the kingdom's white elephant — complete with narrated storytelling (mutable) and an Indonesian/English language toggle. Play the game below! 👇

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Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Ahmad and Muhammad: North Sumatra Folktale for Kids