Opening the ayah…
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
'Innahum' kānū 'idhā qīla lahum' lā 'ilāha 'illā -llahu yas'tak'birūna
For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride,
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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4-I guide
Whenever it was said to them that there is no god except Allah, they became haughty.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Why might someone refuse to listen even to a true message?"
Watch the FreeQuranEducation video Do I Have Pride and Arrogance in Me? with Mufti Menk.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "How did they react to the words of tawhid?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "How do I check my own heart for pride?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah As-Saffat is surah 37. Find ayah 35. The key word yastakbirun means they acted proudly. The shahadah, there is no god but Allah, is simple and true. But accepting it means giving up idols, status and old habits, and pride got in the way. Pride is often what stops people from accepting truth.
Fact: What is the first pillar of Islam?
Ages 5–8: Heart check. Put your hand on your heart and say one thing you are thankful to Allah for, instead of boasting.
Ages 9–12: Pride signs. Write three signs that pride may be growing in someone's heart.
Finish with: "I found that the first pillar is ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will thank Allah whenever I feel like boasting."
Action: Thank Allah whenever you feel like boasting.
