Opening the ayah…
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ
Qālū (u)d'ʻu lanā rabbaka yubayyin llanā mā hiya 'inna l-baqara tashābaha ʻalay'nā wa'innā 'in shā'a -llahu lamuh'tadūna
They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what she is: To us are all heifers alike: We wish indeed for guidance, if Allah wills."
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
They asked once more what it was, saying all cows looked alike to them, and that if Allah willed they would be guided.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Why say in sha' Allah?"
A short clip on Hafiz Muhammad Asim Shahzad recites ayat 70–73 of Al-Baqarah. Play the whole clip.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What did they finally say?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why does 'if Allah wills' matter?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Baqarah is surah 2. Find ayah 70. Scholars note that because they said 'in sha' Allah' here, they were finally able to find the cow. Saying in sha' Allah reminds us that success is from Allah.
Fact: Scholars say that saying 'in sha' Allah' here helped them find the cow.
Ages 5–8: In sha' Allah. Say in sha' Allah about tomorrow's plans.
Ages 9–12: Allah's will. Write why we say in sha' Allah.
Finish with: "In sha' Allah means if Allah ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will say in sha' Allah before every plan."
Action: Say in sha' Allah before every plan.
