[08] اَلْمُهَيْمِنْ (Al-Muhaymin): The Guardian
Play PowerPoint of the first 33 names, 2-3 times. Sing together and do the actions so far plus:
Action for Al-Muhaymin: Cup your hands together in front of you and bring them in closed towards your chest.
Today’s focus is on the name Al-Muhaymin which means The Guardian.
Story relating to today's name (7min)
Read a short story to the children: story of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Abu Bakr (AS) hiding in the cave before hijrah to Madinah (e.g. from a book such as Goodnight Stories From The Life Of The Prophet Muhammad).
Talk about why they were hiding in the cave and how Abu Bakr (AS) felt when they heard the footsteps outside. What did the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) say to him? Why wasn't the prophet (SAW) worried? Why didn't the Quraysh look inside the cave? Because Allah (SWT) protected Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Abu Bakr (AS) and kept them safe from harm.
(Since the versions involving a spider [and bird's nest] aren't 100% confirmed as authentic, we've chosen not to mention them at this stage)
Talk about why they were hiding in the cave and how Abu Bakr (AS) felt when they heard the footsteps outside. What did the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) say to him? Why wasn't the prophet (SAW) worried? Why didn't the Quraysh look inside the cave? Because Allah (SWT) protected Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Abu Bakr (AS) and kept them safe from harm.
(Since the versions involving a spider [and bird's nest] aren't 100% confirmed as authentic, we've chosen not to mention them at this stage)
Discuss meaning, apply to children's lives (15min)
Al-Muhaymin means The Guardian.
What is a guardian? Someone who protects you. Your parents are your guardians; they look after you and only want what's best for you. Guardians keep things safe - can you hear how it has the word "guard" in it?
Allah is Al-Muhaymin: he protects us and guides us towards what's good for us. We can trust Him to want what's best for us and that He has the power to keep us safe from anything!
A goalkeeper is a bit like a guardian: they make sure the goal is protected from the other team scoring. Play a quick game of indoor football e.g. using a soft ball and the width of the sofa as a goal.
But this name of Allah doesn't just mean guardian as in He protects us from bad things coming towards us - like the goalkeeper blocks the ball from going in the goal - Al-Muhaymin is more like Allah is overseeing everything; He's even watching for something which could harm us from faraway. Before we even know we might be in trouble, Allah has kept us safe from it. So before the ball is anywhere near the goal, it's already been moved away so it doesn't even get the chance to try and go in! Allah guards us in such a way sometimes we don't even realise we're being protected. SubhanAllah.
Allah is Al-Muhaymin: he protects us and guides us towards what's good for us. We can trust Him to want what's best for us and that He has the power to keep us safe from anything!
A goalkeeper is a bit like a guardian: they make sure the goal is protected from the other team scoring. Play a quick game of indoor football e.g. using a soft ball and the width of the sofa as a goal.
But this name of Allah doesn't just mean guardian as in He protects us from bad things coming towards us - like the goalkeeper blocks the ball from going in the goal - Al-Muhaymin is more like Allah is overseeing everything; He's even watching for something which could harm us from faraway. Before we even know we might be in trouble, Allah has kept us safe from it. So before the ball is anywhere near the goal, it's already been moved away so it doesn't even get the chance to try and go in! Allah guards us in such a way sometimes we don't even realise we're being protected. SubhanAllah.
Craft activity (20min)
Complete the page for the book.
Allah is Al-Muhaymin, The Guardian, and protects us from harm like a mother bird her chicks - shelters them from e.g. the rain and also looks ahead to keep them away from danger in the first place.
Let the children colour and decorate their picture as they wish - use feathers for the birds or scrunched strips of paper for the nest, etc.
Allah is Al-Muhaymin, The Guardian, and protects us from harm like a mother bird her chicks - shelters them from e.g. the rain and also looks ahead to keep them away from danger in the first place.
Let the children colour and decorate their picture as they wish - use feathers for the birds or scrunched strips of paper for the nest, etc.
When to use this name (8min)
We can also be guardians of our own hearts, keeping them safe from evil. How can we keep our hearts safe from evil? By staying away from bad deeds or things which might lead to bad deeds, e.g. by only saying kind words (staying away from bad deeds, i.e. bad language) and by not listening to others when they use bad language (staying away from things which can lead to bad deeds, i.e. making us copy them). Can you think of any other examples?
Thinking of Allah as Al-Muhaymin can help us to stay on the right path by bettering our characters, remembering He always wants what's best for us as Muslims.
Thinking of Allah as Al-Muhaymin can help us to stay on the right path by bettering our characters, remembering He always wants what's best for us as Muslims.
On the back of their page, help the children write a few thoughts about the name Al-Muhaymin and their feelings.
Sticker chart (5min)
Ask individually: Which of Allah’s names did we learn today? What does it mean? Give children a sticker each for their chart.
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Other activities:
- Explain that people sometimes use shields to protect themselves from harm, e.g. knights in medieval times, Roman soldiers, police during riots, etc. A shield is something you can hold in front of you to stop things from hitting you - if the idea is new to the children, play a quick game with cushions as shields and soft balls: gently throw the soft balls at the children for them to block with the cushion shield; compare what it's like with and without the shield!
- Make a play shield out of a large piece of cardboard and paints.
- Do something nature inspired to help look after wildlife, e.g. build a shelter for bugs/birds, put out food/water, etc. - link to being a guardian for Allah's creations.
- Where do you find guards? E.g. around something precious, such as jewellery. Allah is our guardian because we've been given the gift of Islam. Our faith is something we must protect. Draw/make a simple piece of jewellery e.g. a necklace or bracelet and write a message of affirmation on it e.g. "I am a Muslim". Talk about guarding it and keeping it safe.
P.S. To keep our 3 year old occupied whilst the twins worked on their pages, I did this simple bird picture with her:
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