Learn the lives of the Sahaba by creating real collectible cards
❗ Only 8 seats available — new groups may open based on demand and availability
Two sessions, one real project. Children discover the life of a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, then work as a team to brainstorm, design and produce his collectible card using real design and AI tools — so they can pass the story on to other children.
Ages 8–14 (boys) · Saturdays 9:30–11:30 AM · Leicester
Real cards made by our first pilot group
Drawn, written and laid out by the children themselves — three of the 20 cards to come out of last year's group.
Why this project?
A flyer can't capture the full scope of what the children actually experience. Here's the spirit behind it.
Know and reflect
Discover the lives of the Sahaba to draw inspiration from their choices, and bring their stories to life for children today.
Build as a team
Every card comes out of a small team brainstorming, disagreeing, and refining an idea together — the same back-and-forth that drives any real engineering project.
Get introduced to tech and AI
Pick up the practical, hands-on skills needed for this project — including a thoughtful use of artificial intelligence — on a real project, not a theoretical exercise.
Create to pass it on
Every card made is designed to be shared and played with by other children — the knowledge travels beyond the session.
Who we are
Founder of Our Pious Predecessors, the platform retelling the lives of the Sahaba — and the team behind this activity.
10+ years in software engineering
A Software Engineering Manager with a decade of hands-on experience — the kids don't just get taught tools, they get coached to brainstorm, build and iterate as a team, the way engineers actually work.
8+ years of Islamic studies
Student of Cheikh Younous in France for over 8 years — the foundation this activity's approach to the Sahaba's lives is built on.
7 years with children
7 years working in a youth and sports centre, BAFA-certified (the French youth-leader qualification, equivalent to the English youth work certification).
7
children trained
7–14
years old, first group
20
cards created
Results from the first pilot group, run last year — proof that the concept works.
How it works
Two sessions, two key moments: first live the story, then turn it into a creation.
A classroom turned into a journey through time
Projected on a large screen, an infographic designed specifically for each Sahabi — and sometimes for a defining event such as the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq) — brings his life story to the room. Children discuss, ask questions, and the session ends with an interactive quiz to lock in what they've just discovered.
Turning a whole life into a single image, together
Split into small teams, the children brainstorm the single image that best represents the Sahabi — pitching ideas, pushing back on each other, and converging on one. Then, out of everything they just learned, they choose only 4 moments to carry into the card's 4 circles. It's the same process behind any real engineering project: define the problem, argue it out as a team, and land on a solution together.
The result isn't just an image — it's also a game. The cards are designed to be used between children — "Who is it?" from the 4 circles, or a "Happy Families"-style game.
And then, real action
For every story, the group looks for a concrete action inspired by the Sahabi's life. It's not just a creative workshop — it's an exercise in living the lesson out.
Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah
On how he chose to spend the money he received from Umar — wanting to be useful to people without them even knowing.
→ The group went out to pick up litter in their neighbourhood.
Sa'd ibn Mu'adh
On how his leadership and character earned him the trust of his entire tribe, whom he then led to Islam.
→ Each child took a turn leading the others, and had to earn that trust through their own qualities.
A real digital-skills experience
The children don't just draw on paper: they get functional, practical knowledge of the same design and AI tools used to build this project — enough to create with them, not to become designers.
No prior knowledge is required — everyone is welcome, whatever their level with computers.
Affinity Publisher
Professional page layout for the cards
Canva
Accessible, fast design
AI tools (ChatGPT...)
Generating ideas and illustrations
Practical information
Age
8 to 14 years old
Who
Boys only
Group size
Only 1 group open — 8 children max
Price
£80 / month
Schedule
Every Saturday, 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Location
Sirat Institute, Leicester — 15 Evington Valley Road, LE5 5LL
Register & questions
❗ Only 8 seats available — new groups may open based on demand and availability
Only one group is currently open, limited to 8 children. Depending on demand we may open more — but this isn't guaranteed, so register early.
Ready to register your child?
Registration takes just a few minutes through our online form.
Open the registration form