Start with bismillah.

Ask: "What do you say before you go to sleep?"

Watch the CoCoMoo video Dua Before Sleep. (It has music.)

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What does Allah do while we sleep?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why is waking up each morning a gift?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah Az-Zumar is surah 39. Find ayah 42. The key word yatawaffa means He takes. Sleep is a little like a small rest of the soul. Every night Allah takes care of our souls while we sleep, and every morning He returns them to us so we can live another day. Waking up is a fresh gift from Allah each morning.

Fact: About what fraction of our life do we spend asleep?

Ages 5–8: Bedtime routine. Make a bedtime chart: wudu, du'a and thinking of one blessing.

Ages 9–12: Morning gift. Each morning this week, write one thing you will do with Allah's new gift of a day.

Finish with: "I found that we spend about ___ of our lives asleep."

Talk together:

• Why is waking up each day a gift?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• What can we say before sleeping and after waking?
• What would you like to do with tomorrow?
• What would you like to ask about this ayah?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will say a du'a before sleeping and thank Allah when I wake up."

• Say du'a at bedtime and waking.
• Make a bedtime chart.
• Share your morning gift.
• Next time: the next ayah (39:43) asks about so-called intercessors. Explore it together!

Action: Say a du'a before sleeping and thank Allah when you wake up.