Opening the ayah…
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًۭٔا
'Idh' qāla li'abīhi yā'abati lima taʻ'budu mā lā yas'maʻu walā yub'ṣiru walā yugh'nī ʻanka shay''an
Behold, he said to his father: "O my father! why worship that which heareth not and seeth not, and can profit thee nothing?
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Ibrahim gently asked his father why he worshipped things that could not hear, see or help him at all.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "How would you speak to a parent about something important?"
الشيخ سعد الغامدي has the whole of Maryam by Saad Al-Ghamdi. Play just the first stretch.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "How did Ibrahim begin speaking to his father?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why did Ibrahim say 'O my father' so lovingly?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Maryam is surah 19. Find ayah 42. Ibrahim's father worshipped idols. Ibrahim spoke with respect, saying 'O my father'. He asked a thoughtful question: why worship what can't hear or see?
Fact: Count how many times Ibrahim says 'O my father' in 19:42–45.
Ages 5–8: Polite words. Practise saying something important to a parent politely.
Ages 9–12: Respect. Write how Ibrahim showed respect while disagreeing.
Finish with: "I counted ___ times."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will speak respectfully to my parents even when I disagree."
Action: Speak respectfully to your parents even when you disagree.
