Opening the ayah…
وَكَانُوا۟ يَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا ءَامِنِينَ
Wa kānū yan'ḥitūna mina l-jibāli buyūtan 'āminīna
Out of the mountains did they hew (their) edifices, (feeling themselves) secure.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Looking for reflections…
Shared reflections are reviewed before they appear. We feature ones that follow the spirit of the 4-I journey and suit families of all backgrounds.
Guided by the 4-I journey: Inspire, Investigate, Integrate, Impart. Use it as a starting point and make it your own.
Opening the guide…
No reflections for this ayah yet. Be the first, by reflecting with the 4-I journey below!
4-I guide
They carved houses out of the mountains, feeling completely safe.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Would a home carved in rock feel safe?"
Settle down and play the start of Mishary Alafasy's Al-Hijr (Jay ED Quran Tilawat).
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "Where did they carve homes?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why did they feel safe?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Hijr is surah 15. Find ayah 82. A sign to ponder: Thamud carved huge buildings into sandstone. Skill and strength made them feel safe, but true safety comes only from Allah.
Fact: What kind of rock is easy to carve? Find out about sandstone.
Ages 5–8: Carve it. Carve a shape into a bar of soap with an adult.
Ages 9–12: True safety. Write where true safety comes from.
Finish with: "I found sandstone is ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will say the morning protection du'a."
Action: Say the morning protection du'a.
Use a blunt tool and an adult for carving.
