Opening the ayah…
يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُۥ وَمَا لَا يَنفَعُهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ
Yad'ʻū min dūni -llahi mā lā yaḍurruhu wamā lā yanfaʻuhu . dhālika huwa ḍḍalālu l-baʻīdu
They call on such deities, besides Allah, as can neither hurt nor profit them: that is straying far indeed (from the Way)!
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
They call on things besides Allah that can neither harm nor help them, and that is going far astray.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Would you ask an empty box for help?"
EPIC MASJID has Dr. Yasir Qadhi's overview of Surah Al-Hajj. Grown-ups can find the part on Al-Hajj and play a short piece.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What can these false gods do?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why is Allah the One to call on?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Hajj is surah 22. Find ayah 12. Only Allah can help or harm. Calling on anything else is like shouting into an empty well.
Fact: Find the ayah in Al-Fatihah where we say we ask only Allah for help.
Ages 5–8: Empty well. Call into an empty box and talk about who really hears.
Ages 9–12: Who helps. Write who you turn to and why Allah comes first.
Finish with: "I found it is ayah ___ of Al-Fatihah."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will ask Allah first when I need help."
Action: Ask Allah first when you need help.
