Opening the ayah…
وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَٰلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًۢا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ
Wa qālū 'a'ālihatunā khay'run 'am' huwa . mā ḍarabūhu laka 'illā jadalan[m] . bal' hum' qaw'mun khaṣimūna
And they say, "Are our gods best, or he?" This they set forth to thee, only by way of disputation: yea, they are a contentious people.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
They asked whether their idols or 'Isa were better, only to argue, because they were a quarrelsome people.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Have you ever argued just to win, even when you knew you were wrong?"
Watch The Story Harbor read-aloud I Really Want to Win.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "Why did they raise this question?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "What is the difference between a good discussion and a quarrel?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Az-Zukhruf is surah 43. Find ayah 58. The key word jadalan means just to argue. These people were not looking for the truth; they wanted to win the argument. A good discussion looks for what is right. A quarrel just wants to beat the other person.
Fact: What are two rules for a good discussion?
Ages 5–8: Kind debate. Discuss your favourite fruit and practise saying "That's a good point."
Ages 9–12: Truth seeker. Write how you can tell if someone wants the truth or just wants to win.
Finish with: "I found that two rules for a good discussion are ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will say 'You might be right' at least once in a disagreement."
Action: Say 'You might be right' at least once in a disagreement.
