Opening the ayah…
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ
ʻalimat' naf'sun mmā qaddamat' wa'akhkharat'
(Then) shall each soul know what it hath sent forward and (what it hath) kept back.
Translation: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
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Opening the guide…
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4-I guide
Then every soul will know what it sent ahead and what it left behind.
Start with bismillah.
Ask: "If you planted an acorn today, who would sit in the shade of the oak tree?"
Watch New Scientist's time-lapse of an acorn growing into an oak.
Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What will every soul know?"
Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "What have I sent ahead so far?" Younger children can draw theirs.
Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Infitar is surah 82. Find ayah 5. The key words qaddamat wa akhkharat mean what it sent ahead and what it left behind. Our deeds go ahead of us, and good we leave behind (like a planted tree or something we taught) keeps helping.
Fact: How long can an oak tree live?
Ages 5–8: Plant an acorn. Plant an acorn (or any seed) in a pot. Label it with your name and today's date.
Ages 9–12: Lasting good. Write three good things you could do that would keep helping after you've finished (plant, teach, share).
Finish with: "I found that an oak tree can live for ___ years."
Talk together:
Make a small plan: "This week, I will do one good thing that keeps helping after I'm done."
Action: Do one good thing that keeps helping after you're done.
