Start with bismillah.

Ask: "Why is the funeral prayer special?"

Put on Muhammad Siddiq Al-Minshawi's At-Tawbah from SimpleQuran and follow along for a little while.

Now listen to the ayah together in the app, with the translation. Ask: "What was the Prophet told not to do?"

Each child keeps one wonder question, for example: "Why was this rule given?" Younger children can draw theirs.

Find it in the mushaf: Surah At-Tawbah is surah 9. Find ayah 84. The funeral prayer is a dua for a believer. These hypocrites had clearly rejected faith and died that way, so the Prophet was told not to pray for them. We pray for Muslims who pass away and leave judgment to Allah.

Fact: What salat al-janazah is and how it is prayed (standing, without ruku' or sujud).

Ages 5–8: Dua for the dead. Make dua for a Muslim relative who passed away.

Ages 9–12: Janazah. Write what happens in the funeral prayer.

Finish with: "The funeral prayer has no ruku' or ___."

Talk together:

• What was the Prophet told?
• Which name of Allah does this remind you of?
• What is the funeral prayer for?
• Who can you make dua for?

Make a small plan: "This week, I will make dua for Muslims who have passed away."

• Dua for the departed.
• Learn about janazah.
• Leave judgment to Allah.
• Next time: the next ayah (9:85) repeats not to be dazzled by their wealth. Explore it together!

Action: Make dua for Muslims who have passed away.