Opening the ayah…
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
'Illā -lladhīna tābū min qab'li 'an taq'dirū ʻalay'him' . fa-ʻ'lamū 'anna -llaha ghafūrun rraḥīmun
Except for those who repent before they fall into your power: in that case, know that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Those who repent before they are caught are excepted, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Is it ever too late to change?"
A short clip on Holy Quran Education recites ayat 33–34 of Al-Ma'idah. Play the whole clip.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "Who is excepted?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why does Allah keep the door open?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Ma'idah is surah 5. Find ayah 34. Even after serious wrongs, Allah opens the door of tawbah. Changing early shows sincerity. Allah's mercy is huge.
Fact: Az-Zumar 39:53 says do not despair of Allah's mercy.
Ages 5–8: Fresh start. Talk about how sorry and change bring a fresh start.
Ages 9–12: Tawbah. Write the steps of sincere repentance.
Finish with: "Allah is Forgiving and ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will fix a mistake quickly."
Action: Fix a mistake quickly.
