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Kareem Means Generous: An Eid reading by Ali Hassan

To celebrate Eid al-Fitr, we invite you to settle in and listen to Canadian comedian and CBC host Ali Hassan read Kareem Means Generous from the short story collection Once Upon An Eid.

The comedian and CBC host reads the short story by Canadian author Asmaa Hussein

CBC Radio ·
A children's bicycle silhouetted against the sunset.
In Kareem Means Generous, the titular character is faced with an important decision that tests his generosity when a new neighbour loses his bicycle. (Vanatchanan/Shutterstock)
As It Happens9:43Kareem Means Generous: An Eid reading by Ali Hassan

Story Transcript

For many families, the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr is a time to recognize the importance of charity, be together in prayer with family, break fast, and enjoy the gifts and celebration that mark the end of Ramadan.

All this and more is present in Kareem Means Generous, a short story by Canadian writer Asmaa Hussein. 

The story's titular character, Kareem, has a lot to be thankful for: He's successfully saved up for a new bike and his grandmother sent him money in the mail, too. 

But at home there are challenges. His father is a graphic designer facing a creative block. And when his mother convinces Kareem to help out the new kid across the hall, Shawn, with his paper route, things don't go well. When Shawn's bike gets crushed by a car — and mistakenly chucked into a garbage truck — Kareem faces an important decision.

To celebrate the festival of the breaking of the fast, we invite you to settle in and listen to Canadian comedian and CBC host Ali Hassan read Kareem Means Generous from the short story collection Once Upon An Eid, edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed and published by Abrams. It's available wherever books are sold with all royalties going to charities that feed the world's hungry, regardless of background.