Start with bismillah.

Ask: "How does your tongue tell sweet from sour?"

Watch the Nemours KidsHealth video How Your Tongue Works.

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What question does this ayah ask?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why does this question come straight after the gifts of food?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah Ar-Rahman is surah 55. Find ayah 13. The key word ala' means blessings or favours. This is the first time the surah asks this question, and it will come back again and again. Right after fruit, dates, grain and herbs, Allah asks: which of these could anyone deny? Even our sense of taste is a gift that turns food into joy.

Fact: How many taste buds does a person have?

Ages 5–8: Taste test. Taste something sweet, salty, sour and bitter, and say alhamdulillah for each.

Ages 9–12: Count the question. Find out how many times this question appears in Surah Ar-Rahman.

Finish with: "I found that we have about ___ taste buds."

Talk together:

• Why do you think this question is repeated so often?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• Which food blessing would you never want to lose?
• How can we show we haven't forgotten Allah's gifts?
• What would you like to ask about this ayah?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will name one food blessing at every meal."

• Name a food blessing at meals.
• Do a taste test.
• Share how often the question appears.
• Next time: the next ayah (55:14) says the human was made from clay like pottery. Explore it together!

Action: Name one food blessing at every meal.