قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًۭا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ
How to read it
Qālū naʻ'budu 'aṣ'nāman fanaẓallu lahā ʻākifīna
They said: "We worship idols, and we remain constantly in attendance on them."
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Opening the ayah…
قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًۭا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ
Qālū naʻ'budu 'aṣ'nāman fanaẓallu lahā ʻākifīna
They said: "We worship idols, and we remain constantly in attendance on them."
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 said they worshipped idols and stayed devoted to them all day.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Why do people stay loyal to things that cannot help them?"
Timeless Muslim Stories tells how Ibrahim broke the idols; play the first few minutes.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What did they say they worshipped?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why were they proud of it?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Ash-Shu'ara is surah 26. Find ayah 71. The key word 'akifin means staying devoted. They spent their days beside statues. They were proud of their devotion, but to the wrong thing. Devotion is only as good as what it is given to.
Fact: Which ayah of Al-Anbiya has Ibrahim ask about the statues they cling to?
Ages 5–8: Right devotion. Draw how you spend time with Allah each day.
Ages 9–12: Devoted to what? Write why devotion must go to the right place.
Finish with: "I found it is ayah ___ of Al-Anbiya."

Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will give some time each day to remembering Allah."
Action: Give some time each day to remembering Allah.
