Opening the ayah…
قَالَتْ إِنَّ ٱلْمُلُوكَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا۟ قَرْيَةً أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوٓا۟ أَعِزَّةَ أَهْلِهَآ أَذِلَّةًۭ ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ
Qālat' 'inna l-mulūka 'idhā dakhalū qar'yatan 'af'sadūhā wajaʻalū 'aʻizzata 'ah'lihā 'adhillatan . wakadhālika yaf'ʻalūna
She said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
The queen said that when kings march into a town they ruin it and bring down its most honoured people.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "What happens to a town when there is war?"
Ali J's upload is Al-Husary at a brisk murattal pace.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What did the queen say about kings?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why did the queen want to avoid war?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah An-Naml is surah 27. Find ayah 34. The key word afsaduha means they ruin it. The queen knew war brings destruction. She wanted to protect her people. Allah confirms her words with wa kadhalika yaf'alun, that is what they do. Peace protects people.
Fact: About how many years ago did the kingdom of Saba flourish?
Ages 5–8: Build and protect. Build a block town and think of ways to keep it safe.
Ages 9–12: Peace first. Write why avoiding fights protects people.
Finish with: "I found Saba flourished about ___ years ago."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will choose peace when an argument starts."
Action: Choose peace when an argument starts.
