Summary

Riad awakes in the middle of the night panicked because he has forgotten to get a pocket sized Quran for school. His father gives him his Quran and tells him not to worry. At school, Riad’s teacher chastises Riad for having the wrong Quran, talking about his father too much, and for not listening to her. However, she doesn’t beat him because “she wasn’t going to hit someone who brought a Quran!” (102).

Riad’s teacher asks for someone to read the first sura, Saleem reads to the class. Riad’s teacher congratulates Saleem and asks for someone to share the five pillars of Islam. One of the smelly kids from the back of the class recites the five pillars and blushes with pride when the teacher congratulates him. Riad is scared that everyone else knows more about this than he does...