Opening the ayah…
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Wa yaqūlūna matā hādhā l-waʻ'du 'in kuntum' ṣādiqīna
They say: "When will this promise (come to pass) if ye are telling the truth?"
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
The deniers kept asking, as a challenge, when the promised Day would come.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Does knowing the exact date of something change how ready you are?"
Watch the Zain Bhikha video Allah Knows, featuring Dawud Wharnsby. (It has music.)
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What were they asking?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why did they ask when instead of preparing?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Saba is surah 34. Find ayah 29. The key word al-wa'd means the promise. The deniers asked when, hoping to prove the Prophet wrong. But a promise from Allah is certain even if its time is hidden. A wise person does not wait for the date; they prepare now.
Fact: Which surah begins with the word that means the Hour has drawn near?
Ages 5–8: Ready now. Pack a pretend bag of good deeds you could do today.
Ages 9–12: Promise list. List three promises in the Quran and how believers prepare for each.
Finish with: "I found that the surah is ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will do one good deed every day as if it were my last chance."
Action: Do a daily good deed.
