Opening the ayah…
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَٰكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ فَٱتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Thumma jaʻalnāka ʻalā sharīʻatin mmina l-'am'ri fa-ttabiʻ'hā walā tattabiʻ' 'ah'wā'a -lladhīna lā yaʻ'lamūna
Then We put thee on the (right) Way of Religion: so follow thou that (Way), and follow not the desires of those who know not.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Then We set you on a clear way of faith, so follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Why do games have rules?"
Watch the Little Bee Library video I Can Follow the Rules.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What should we follow and what should we avoid?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why are Allah's rules good for me?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Jathiyah is surah 45. Find ayah 18. The key word shari'ah means a clear way, originally a path leading to water. Just as a path to water keeps travellers alive, Allah's way keeps our hearts alive. Rules from Allah protect us; following people's passing wishes can lead us astray.
Fact: What did the word shari'ah first mean in Arabic?
Ages 5–8: Rule game. Play a game with no rules, then with rules, and talk about the difference.
Ages 9–12: Path to water. Draw a desert path to an oasis and label it with Allah's guidance.
Finish with: "I found that shari'ah first meant ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will follow one family rule without being reminded."
Action: Follow one family rule without being reminded.
