Start with bismillah.

Ask: "Can excuses hide the truth from Allah?"

Maher Al-Muaiqly recites An-Nahl on The Alchemist. A few minutes is plenty.

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What do these people claim?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why won't excuses work with Allah?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah An-Nahl is surah 16. Find ayah 28. Some people will try excuses at the end: 'we did nothing wrong'. But Allah knows everything. Being honest now is better than excuses later.

Fact: Al-Qiyamah 75:14–15 says each person knows the truth about themselves, whatever excuses they give. Read it.

Ages 5–8: No excuses. Tell your family about a mistake and how you will fix it.

Ages 9–12: Excuses. Write why honesty is better than excuses.

Finish with: "Al-Qiyamah 75:14 says ___."

Talk together:

• What do they claim?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• Why don't excuses work?
• When will you own up?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will own up without making excuses."

• Be honest.
• Practise owning up.
• Show your family your excuses page.
• Next time: the next ayah (16:29) describes the home of the proud. Explore it together!

Action: Own up without making excuses.