Start with bismillah.

A gentle note for parents: this surah moves quickly from a warning to beautiful good news. Read both parts together.

Ask: "Have you ever heard news that was so big it filled your whole mind?"

Watch the National Geographic video Solar Eclipse 101.

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

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "What does 'overwhelming' mean?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah Al-Ghashiyah is surah 88, and it has twenty-six ayat. Find ayah 1. The surah is named after the key word al-ghashiyah: something that covers and overwhelms everything, one of the names of the Day of Judgement.

Fact: What happens to the light, the air and the animals during a total solar eclipse?

Ages 5–8: Eclipse model. Shine a torch at a ball (the Earth) and move a small ball (the Moon) in between. Watch the shadow.

Ages 9–12: Eclipse facts. Find out when and where the next total solar eclipse will happen. Why does it only cover a narrow strip of Earth?

Finish with: "I found that during an eclipse ___."

Talk together:

• Why does Allah begin with a question?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• How can we prepare calmly for a Day we can't imagine?
• Why do you think the surah describes both sad faces and happy faces?
• What would you like to ask an ustaz or ustazah about this surah?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will do one good deed for the Hereafter: ___."

• Show someone your eclipse model.
• Read ayat 8 to 16 together for the good news.
• Next time: the next ayah (88:2) describes faces on that Day. Explore it together!

Action: Do your good deed for the Hereafter.