Opening the ayah…
قَالَتْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَفْتُونِى فِىٓ أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ
Qālat' yā'ayyuhā l-mala'u 'af'tūnī fī 'am'rī mā kuntu qāṭiʻatan 'am'ran ḥattā tash'hadūni
She said: "Ye chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence."
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
The queen asked her leaders to advise her, saying she never decided anything without them present.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Who do you ask for advice before a big decision?"
Shaykh Yasir Qadhi tells the story of Sulaiman and the Queen of Sheba at EPIC Masjid. Play the first few minutes.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What did the queen ask her chiefs?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why did the queen consult others?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah An-Naml is surah 27. Find ayah 32. The key word aftuni means advise me. The queen was powerful, but she asked for opinions. Consulting others is a sign of wisdom, not weakness. Islam praises shura, deciding things together.
Fact: Which surah is named after consultation?
Ages 5–8: Family vote. Let your family vote on what to have for dinner.
Ages 9–12: Good advice. Write when it is wise to ask others before deciding.
Finish with: "I found it is Surah ___, number ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will ask someone's advice before a decision."
Action: Ask someone's advice before a decision.
