Opening the ayah…
وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَىٰ وَحُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍۢ
Wa 'inna lahu ʻindanā lazul'fā waḥus'na ma'ābin
And he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful Place of (Final) Return.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Truly, he holds a near place with Us and an excellent final home.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "What do you think is better: a big palace now or closeness to Allah forever?"
Watch the Raising 4Caliphs video The Story of Prophet Sulaiman.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What did Sulaiman have besides his kingdom?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "How did Sulaiman stay humble with so much power?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Sad is surah 38. Find ayah 40. The key word husna ma'ab means a fine place of return. Sulaiman had wealth, armies, wind and jinn, yet the greatest thing Allah mentions is his closeness to Allah and his final home. A kingdom on earth ends, but closeness to Allah lasts forever. He stayed thankful and humble.
Fact: Which prophet's story begins in the very next ayah of this surah?
Ages 5–8: Forever box. Draw two boxes: things that last a short time and things that last forever.
Ages 9–12: Rich and humble. Write how a person can be rich and still humble.
Finish with: "I found that the next story is about Prophet ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will thank Allah for one thing I have instead of showing it off."
Action: Thank Allah for one thing you have instead of showing it off.
