Start with bismillah.

Ask: "Does the sun always rise in exactly the same spot?"

Watch the TED-Ed video The Sun's surprising movement across the sky.

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What two pairs are mentioned?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why does the sunrise move along the horizon?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah Ar-Rahman is surah 55. Find ayah 17. The key words al-mashriqayn and al-maghribayn mean the two easts and the two wests. Many scholars explain these as the furthest points where the sun rises and sets in summer and winter. Through the year, the sunrise slides between them along the horizon, always on time.

Fact: When are the longest and shortest days of the year where you live?

Ages 5–8: Sunrise spot. From the same window, mark where the sun rises once a month.

Ages 9–12: Solstice chart. Find the sunrise direction in summer and winter where you live and draw it.

Finish with: "I found that the longest day here is ___."

Talk together:

• Why is the sun's careful path a blessing?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• How does the changing sunrise affect our prayer times?
• What do you notice about the sky in summer and winter?
• What would you like to ask about this ayah?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will watch one sunrise or sunset and say subhanAllah."

• Watch a sunrise or sunset.
• Mark the sunrise spot.
• Share your solstice chart.
• Next time: the next ayah (55:18) asks again about Allah's favours. Explore it together!

Action: Watch one sunrise or sunset and say subhanAllah.