[18] اَلرَّزَّاقُ (Ar-Razzaaq): The Provider, The Sustainer
Sing 99 Names (5min)
Play Google Slides Presentation of the first 33 names, 2-3 times. Sing together and do the actions so far plus:
Action for Ar-Razzaaq: Use one hand to mime a plant growing upwards.
Today’s focus is on the name Ar-Razzaaq which means The Provider and The Sustainer.
Story relating to today's name (10min)
Read examples from the seerah of Allah providing people with unexpected food/wealth, e.g. when Halima took Muhammad (SAW) to the desert and the effect on their livestock, milk, etc.; the story of Abu Hurayrah sharing a small saucer of milk between multiple people while with the Prophet (SAW); the story during the Battle of the Trench where the whole army ate from a small portion of bread and meat.
These can all be found in the book 365 Days with the Prophet Muhammad on p.14, p.212 and p.338 respectively.
These can all be found in the book 365 Days with the Prophet Muhammad on p.14, p.212 and p.338 respectively.
Discuss meaning, apply to children's lives (10min)
Ar-Razzaaq means The Provider.
The word "provide" means to give someone or something what they need.
Ar-Razzaaq also means The Sustainer.
One meaning for "sustain" is to keep something going, like to keep something alive (we need food to sustain us - another word for "food" is "sustenance").
So what do you think this name means, if Allah is the provider and the sustainer? Allah gives us everything we need to live. What kind of things do you think these are? Food, water, money, a place to live... Similar to the things we talked about for Al-Wahhaab? The things Allah provides us with to survive are also gifts from Him!
Think about the stories we just read again. In the stories, Allah provided the people with what they needed - and more! What were the people in the stories doing? Were they just sitting around waiting, or did they do something and as a result they were given something? Let's look at them in turn...
1) What did Halima and her husband do for Allah to increase her milk and give them healthier livestock? They took in baby Muhammad (SAW) with the good intention of looking after him when no-one else would.
2) Why was Abu Hurayrah so hungry? What had he done with his food? He used to share it with the cats, even if he was hungry himself.
3) What intention did Jabir have when he invited the Prophet (SAW) to eat? He knew he had a little bit of food so wanted to do what he could to help. He originally thought only of the Prophet (SAW), but he didn't say no when the Prophet (SAW) said to invite the other people too!
So yes, Allah is Ar-Razzaaq The Provider, but does this mean we can just sit back and do nothing because Allah will provide us with everything we need? No! We still need to put some effort in. We need to work and get a job or help others with a good intention... We need to do something! But in the end we need to remember and trust that Allah will always provide for us.
Ar-Razzaaq also means The Sustainer.
One meaning for "sustain" is to keep something going, like to keep something alive (we need food to sustain us - another word for "food" is "sustenance").
So what do you think this name means, if Allah is the provider and the sustainer? Allah gives us everything we need to live. What kind of things do you think these are? Food, water, money, a place to live... Similar to the things we talked about for Al-Wahhaab? The things Allah provides us with to survive are also gifts from Him!
Think about the stories we just read again. In the stories, Allah provided the people with what they needed - and more! What were the people in the stories doing? Were they just sitting around waiting, or did they do something and as a result they were given something? Let's look at them in turn...
1) What did Halima and her husband do for Allah to increase her milk and give them healthier livestock? They took in baby Muhammad (SAW) with the good intention of looking after him when no-one else would.
2) Why was Abu Hurayrah so hungry? What had he done with his food? He used to share it with the cats, even if he was hungry himself.
3) What intention did Jabir have when he invited the Prophet (SAW) to eat? He knew he had a little bit of food so wanted to do what he could to help. He originally thought only of the Prophet (SAW), but he didn't say no when the Prophet (SAW) said to invite the other people too!
So yes, Allah is Ar-Razzaaq The Provider, but does this mean we can just sit back and do nothing because Allah will provide us with everything we need? No! We still need to put some effort in. We need to work and get a job or help others with a good intention... We need to do something! But in the end we need to remember and trust that Allah will always provide for us.
Craft activity (20min)
Complete the page for the book.
Draw a picture of a plant in some soil. Draw a sun in the sky and rain falling down. Colour in (with felt-tips etc. or as a collage etc.).
Discuss how the plant grows into food for us to eat or food for animals which we can then eat - the children may want to draw some fruit on their plant and a cow/sheep behind it.
Allah provides the plant with everything it needs to grow: nutrients in the soil, water, sunlight and air. Allah provides us with what we need to survive, too.
When to use this name (10min)
Read the story of Salaba e.g. p.278 from the book 365 Days with the Prophet Muhammad.
Talk about what it teaches us. Is it OK to make duaa to Allah as Ar-Razzaaq asking Him to provide us with things we want or need in this life? Of course! If there is something we want Allah to provide us with then we should make duaa using the name Ar-Razzaaq! Allah will answer our duaas either with what we want or with something which is better for us.
So what is the lesson from this story? That the things in this life can be a test. Everything is from Allah and the test is how we use them - will we use the things we're given selfishly? Or will we use them for the sake of Allah and to help us become closer to Him and better Muslims?
If the thing we want takes us away from Islam then it would be better if we didn't have it! And if we're provided with lots of things - money or food or a big family, etc. - then we should always remember where it all came from. Ar-Razzaaq is the one who provides us with everything.
Talk about what it teaches us. Is it OK to make duaa to Allah as Ar-Razzaaq asking Him to provide us with things we want or need in this life? Of course! If there is something we want Allah to provide us with then we should make duaa using the name Ar-Razzaaq! Allah will answer our duaas either with what we want or with something which is better for us.
So what is the lesson from this story? That the things in this life can be a test. Everything is from Allah and the test is how we use them - will we use the things we're given selfishly? Or will we use them for the sake of Allah and to help us become closer to Him and better Muslims?
If the thing we want takes us away from Islam then it would be better if we didn't have it! And if we're provided with lots of things - money or food or a big family, etc. - then we should always remember where it all came from. Ar-Razzaaq is the one who provides us with everything.
On the back of their page, help the children write a few thoughts about the name Ar-Razzaaq 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:
- Grow your own fruit/vegetables from seeds! Talk about how our food is all provided by Allah.
- Look at some simple food chains or food webs. See how they all start with a plant which needs the sun to grow. Who made the sun? Allah! Even if we raise our own animals or grow our own plants for food, we still need Allah's provision for them to actually grow. Think about the name Al-Khaaliq and how Allah made everything.
- Talk about how Ar-Razzaaq provides for us not only in a physical sense (with food, money, etc.) but also in a spiritual way too. He provides us with Islam so we know what things we can do to make our book of good deeds bigger and what things to avoid to keep our book of bad deeds as small as possible. Use this to recap some things liked/disliked in Islam.
- Look at the concept of rizq in Islam. This may be more appropriate for older children. Research hadith and discuss how certain actions can increase our rizq. Talk about how rizq is predestined and nothing you do can decrease what was meant for you. (A nice analogy of rizq being predestined but able to be increased is that of a plate of food - if you don't make the effort to pick up the food, you won't get to eat it; it was provided for you on the plate but you still need to make the effort to eat it - this could be turned into a simple craft activity as a reminder). Look at the word root and how "rizq" is similar to "Razzaaq".
- Look at some simple food chains or food webs. See how they all start with a plant which needs the sun to grow. Who made the sun? Allah! Even if we raise our own animals or grow our own plants for food, we still need Allah's provision for them to actually grow. Think about the name Al-Khaaliq and how Allah made everything.
- Talk about how Ar-Razzaaq provides for us not only in a physical sense (with food, money, etc.) but also in a spiritual way too. He provides us with Islam so we know what things we can do to make our book of good deeds bigger and what things to avoid to keep our book of bad deeds as small as possible. Use this to recap some things liked/disliked in Islam.
- Look at the concept of rizq in Islam. This may be more appropriate for older children. Research hadith and discuss how certain actions can increase our rizq. Talk about how rizq is predestined and nothing you do can decrease what was meant for you. (A nice analogy of rizq being predestined but able to be increased is that of a plate of food - if you don't make the effort to pick up the food, you won't get to eat it; it was provided for you on the plate but you still need to make the effort to eat it - this could be turned into a simple craft activity as a reminder). Look at the word root and how "rizq" is similar to "Razzaaq".
Please leave a comment if you know any other related activities for this name!
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