Start with bismillah.

Ask: "How do animal mothers show love to their babies?"

Watch The Dodo video How Animal Moms Carry Their Babies.

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "Which name of Allah opens this surah?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "How big is Allah's mercy?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah Ar-Rahman is surah 55, and it has seventy-eight ayat. The surah is named after its very first word, Ar-Rahman, the Most Merciful (ayah 1). A mother kangaroo carrying her joey or a mother bird shielding her chicks shows a tiny part of the mercy Allah placed in creation. His own mercy is far greater than all of that together.

Fact: Which animal mother carries her baby for the longest time?

Ages 5–8: Mercy spotting. Draw three ways animals or people care for their little ones.

Ages 9–12: Mercy list. Write ten mercies of Allah you can see from where you are sitting.

Finish with: "I found that the ___ carries its baby for the longest time."

Talk together:

• Why do you think the surah begins with the name Ar-Rahman?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• When have you felt Allah's mercy?
• How can we be merciful to others?
• What would you like to ask about this ayah?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will show mercy to a younger child or an animal."

• Show mercy to someone small.
• Draw mercy spotting.
• Share your mercy list.
• Next time: the next ayah (55:2) says He taught the Quran. Explore it together!

Action: Show mercy to a younger child or an animal.