Opening the ayah…
رُدُّوهَا عَلَىَّ ۖ فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًۢا بِٱلسُّوقِ وَٱلْأَعْنَاقِ
Ruddūhā ʻalayya . faṭafiqa mas'ḥan[m] bi ssūqi wal-'aʻ'nāqi
"Bring them back to me." then began he to pass his hand over (their) legs and their necks.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
He asked for them to be returned to him, then started stroking their legs and their necks.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "How do you show an animal that you care for it?"
Watch the MuzMango video Kindness to Animals in Islam.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What did Sulaiman do when the horses came back?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "How do animals feel when we are gentle with them?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Sad is surah 38. Find ayah 33. The key word mashan means passing the hand over, touching. Sulaiman asked for the horses to be brought back and began touching their legs and necks. Scholars explain this in different ways. What we can take from it is that animals are a trust from Allah, and a believer treats them with care and attention.
Fact: What is a baby horse called?
Ages 5–8: Gentle hands. Practise stroking a soft toy gently, then talk about how to treat real animals.
Ages 9–12: Animal rights. Write four ways people can care for animals that live with them.
Finish with: "I found that a baby horse is called a ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will put out water for birds or care for a pet."
Action: Put out water for birds or care for a pet.
