Opening the ayah…
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ
Wa lā takūnū ka-lladhīna qālū samiʻ'nā wahum' lā yas'maʻūna
Nor be like those who say, "We hear," but listen not:
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Do not be like those who say, 'We hear,' when they are not really listening.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "Have you ever said 'okay' without really listening?"
Ummah Muslim posted a short recitation of ayah 21 of Al-Anfal. Listen to all of it together.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What do these people say?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "What's the difference between hearing and listening?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Anfal is surah 8. Find ayah 21. Some people said 'we hear' but ignored the message. Allah warns us not to be like them. Listening means letting words change what we do.
Fact: Al-Baqarah 2:93 is about people who said 'we hear and we disobey'.
Ages 5–8: Really listen. Repeat back what someone told you to show you listened.
Ages 9–12: Listening skills. Write three signs of a good listener.
Finish with: "Some said 'we hear' but did not ___."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will repeat back what my parents tell me."
Action: Repeat back what your parents tell you.
