Opening the ayah…
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ زَحْفًۭا فَلَا تُوَلُّوهُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ
Yā'ayyuhā -lladhīna 'āmanū 'idhā laqītumu -lladhīna kafarū zaḥ'fan falā tuwallūhumu l-'ad'bāra
O ye who believe! when ye meet the Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Believers were told that when they faced the attacking army, they must not turn their backs and run away.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "What does it mean to stand your ground?"
A short clip on World of Islam YT recites ayat 11–20 of Al-Anfal. Play the whole clip.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What should believers not do?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why is courage important?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Anfal is surah 8. Find ayah 15. In that time of danger, running away would leave friends alone and unprotected. The lesson for us: don't abandon people who rely on you, and face hard things with courage.
Fact: Loyalty means staying with your friends when things are hard.
Ages 5–8: Stand by friends. Talk about how to stand by a friend who needs you.
Ages 9–12: Courage. Write about a time you stood your ground for something right.
Finish with: "Loyalty means staying with friends when things are ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will stand by a friend who needs me."
Action: Stand by a friend who needs you.
