Opening the ayah…
وَٱقْصِدْ فِى مَشْيِكَ وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلْأَصْوَٰتِ لَصَوْتُ ٱلْحَمِيرِ
Wa -q'ṣid' fī mash'yika wa-gh'ḍuḍ' min ṣaw'tika . 'inna 'ankara l-'aṣ'wāti laṣaw'tu l-ḥamīri
"And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass."
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
Luqman advised his son to walk at a calm pace and speak softly, for loud harsh voices are unpleasant.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Which voice do people listen to more, a shouting one or a calm one?"
Watch the Deen for Kids video 5 Islamic Manners Every Muslim Child Must Learn.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "Which two manners are taught?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why does a soft voice work better?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Luqman is surah 31. Find ayah 19. The key words wa-ghdud min sawtik mean lower your voice. Walking with a balanced pace shows calm confidence, neither rushing nor showing off. A gentle voice is more pleasant and more convincing. Luqman compares shouting to a donkey's loud bray, a sound nobody enjoys.
Fact: About how far away can a donkey's bray be heard?
Ages 5–8: Voice volume. Make a volume dial from paper and practise inside, outside and library voices.
Ages 9–12: Calm talk test. Have the same short conversation once loudly and once softly, and discuss which worked better.
Finish with: "I found that a donkey's bray carries about ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will speak softly even when I am excited or upset."
Action: Speak softly even when you are excited or upset.
