Teachers Book Surah An-Naas

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās SURAH 114: AL-NĀS ‫سورة الناس‬ People Learning Outcomes At the end of this Surah, the students will learn: 1. The harms that we have around us especially human. 2. How to protect themselves from that harm. 3. To rely fully on Allah, knowing that He is our Lord and Protector. SURAH OVERVIEW Surah Al-Naas is a Meccan surah. “Al-Naas” means mankind. This surah emphasises Allah’s status as Lord of Mankind, the only God worthy of worship. It also warns us about the dangers of our own heart that can be tempted away from the right path. Whether human or jinn, Allah’s creatures can sometimes lead others astray in subtle ways. TAFSIR CORNER 1. Allah teaches us how to seek refuge against mankind: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,” Allah begins by pronouncing Himself as the Lord of mankind and commanding us to seek protection with His power. He is the Nurturer (Rabb) of humans and all other creation. He is the only One capable of protecting us from any harm and we must rely on His protection alone. 2. Allah pronouncing His authority on mankind: “the King of mankind,” He is the sole Administrator of matters of mankind, the One who determines our fortunes and misfortunes, our cycle of life, our rizq, and our fate. His power overwhelms the power of mankind. 3. Allah pronouncing His power over mankind: “the God of mankind,” Allah Creates and Sustains all life and He is the only God worthy of worship.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās 4. Allah guarantees His protection: “from the mischief of the sneaking whisperer,” People can sometime put doubts into our hearts in ways that we might not even notice. Such whispers could erode our certainty even on important and fundamental matters, so we must ask Allah to protect us from this. 5. The means of mischief by the tricksters: “who whispers in the hearts of mankind,” These tricksters sow doubts into the mind and hearts of people by whispering negative thoughts. These whispers can sometimes make us doubt ourselves and even other people. This can result into destructive fights between friends, families, tribes, and even nations until reaching the scale of a war. 6. The entities responsible for causing such feats: “from among jinn and mankind.” Who are these whisperers? They are from among mankind and the jinn alike. When we stray from the path of Allah we can end up creating trouble and destruction for ourselves and others. Allah is the Lord of mankind, who sustains and administers the affairs of all creation. He alone is worthy of worship, but He warns us in this surah that we can sometimes be led astray from worshipping Him the correct way. This is because humans themselves can cause harm with sly whispers. Allah reminds us to seek His protection from these whispers. We can also ask Him to protect us from causing harm to others. Indeed, the Lord of mankind is the Strongest Protector.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 1: FAITHFUL WHISPERER Introduction: This week focuses on memorizing the surah properly as a preparation to understand its messages. This activity provides an initiative for the development of proper memorization. Set Induction: in this lesson, we are about to learn about surah al-Nās. Let us strengthen our memory of the surah by doing this activity. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to memorize surah al-Nās properly. Materials: 1. Students Procedure: 1. Students are divided into two groups. 2. A teacher will whisper the gist of surah al-Nās to the first students in the lines for both groups. 3. The first student for each group has to relay the message to the second, until to the last person. 4. The last person will present that message in front of the class. 5. The winner is assessed based on accuracy between the first and last person. Lessons: 1. This activity helps students reinforce memorization through play. Lesson Assessment: 1. Instruct the students to perform this activity.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 2: FINGER HUMANS Introduction: This activity introduces the central concept, insān, around which all other themes revolve. Set Induction: In the previous activity, we have memorized the surah properly. But what is this surah is all about? Let us do this activity to find out. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify the core concept of the surah. Materials: 1. Cardboard 2. Colour pencils 3. A pair of scissors Procedure: 1. First, draw a person’s upper body on a piece of cardboard. 2. Next, draw two circles at the bottom part of the body. 3. Then, decorate the people as you wish. 4. Cut out the human drawing carefully and the two circles to make holes for fingers. 5. Finally, insert two fingers into the holes as legs. 6. Now, let’s play! Lessons: 1. The core concept in this surah is insān, which means a human. The plural of insān is nās. 2. All humans are Allah’s servants. And this is a fact that we must acknowledge. Lesson Assessment: 1. What is the core concept of the surah? 2. What is the relationship between human and God?

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 3: VIDEO AL-NĀS Introduction: This activity introduces the themes that revolve around the central concept of the surah. Set Induction: In the previous lesson, we have discovered that the surah is mainly about humans. But what about humans? What does this surah talk about humans? Let us find out! Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to relate the core concept of the surah with its themes. Materials: 1. Projector/LCD 2. Video from online portal Procedure: 1. Ask the students to sit properly and then play the video. 2. Ask the students their thoughts and opinions about the video. 3. The teacher leads a discussion on the lessons of the surah. Lessons: 1. “al-Nās” means mankind. This surah is about mankind. 2. The theme that revolves around that concept is the fact of Allah as the Lord of mankind. 3. It is also cautious on the ways that humans can be tempted away from the right path. 4. Therefore, it reminds mankind to seek Allah’s protection. Lesson Assessment: 1. What are the themes of this surah? Ans: Allah as the Lord of mankind; caution against the ways mankind can be deceived from the right path; a reminder to seek Allah’s protection. 2. How are the themes related to the core concept of the surah? Ans: the themes are pertaining to the fate of mankind.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 4: TAWḤĪD PUZZLE Introduction: This week the focus of the activities is to emphasize the concept of tawḥīd rubūbiyyah, which is to affirm Allah as the only Lord. This lesson introduces to the students the key terms that are related to the concept of tawḥīd. Set Induction: Previously, we have learned that the first them of the surah is to introduce the relationship between mankind and Allah. But to know the relationship, we must first know who Allah is. Let us explore the concept of tawḥīd. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to: 1. Identify the terms that explain the aspects of God’s oneness. 2. Explain the meanings of the terms and the aspects of God’s oneness. Materials: 1. Cardboard 2. Plain paper 3. Marker pen Procedure: 1. Write surah al-Nās on a paper and then cut it up into several parts. 2. Ask the students to rearrange them in the correct order. 3. Then, they can paste it on the cardboard and decorate it as they wish. 4. Finally, the students have to identify the words that describe the oneness of Allah. Lessons: 1. The terms that describe the oneness of Allah in this surah are: a. Rabb – God is the creator of mankind. b. Malik – because He is the creator, therefore, He is also the owner. c. Ilāh – because He is the owner, therefore, only to Him that protection should be sought. Lesson Assessment: 1. What are the terms that describe the oneness of Allah? 2. What are the aspects of oneness of Allah that are explained in this surah?

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 5: POSITIVE FLOWERS Introduction: This lesson emphasizes the importance of positive words, because all positive words are a prayer, and is, therefore, an istiʿādhah. Set Induction: We have learned about the oneness of Allah. And we have also learned that because He is our creator, therefore, He is our owner. And because He is the only owner, therefore, only He is worthy of worship. One of the ways we can worship Allah is by asking for protection only from Him. How do we do that? Let us find out! Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to: 1. Identify istiʿādhah as a form of worship. 2. Recognizing “positive words” as a form of istiʿādhah. Materials: 1. Image of flowers 2. Hard paper box 3. Glue 4. Scissors 5. Colour pencil Procedure: 1. Firstly, print out the image of flowers from the portal. 2. Cut the flowers and paste them on the hard paper box. 3. Then cut the hard paper box by following the shape of flowers. 4. Write the positive words on the flowers. 5. Finally, colour on the flowers to make them colourful. Lessons: 1. The Prophet said that duʿā is a form of worship. 2. And istiʿādhah is a form of duʿā. 3. And saying good words is a form of istiʿādhah. 4. Because when we say only good words, we are praying for goodness for ourselves. 5. And, indirectly, we are preventing bad things to happen to us. Lesson Assessment: 1. Why do we pray? Ans: because prayers are also a form of ʿibādah. 2. How can prayers help us to protect ourselves from bad things? Ans: when we pray for good things, indirectly we are distancing ourselves from bad things.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 6: POWERFUL DRAWING Introduction: This lesson introduces the power of Allah in protecting us from dangers. Set Induction: Previously, we have learned that doing prayer is one of the manifestations of acknowledging the oneness of Allah. But is the one from whom we are asking for protection can really protect us? Is He powerful enough? Let us find out. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to the power of God to protect mankind from bad things. Materials: 1. A4 Paper 2. Crayon Pencils Procedure: 1. Ask the students to choose a person or object that they feel is very powerful. 2. They then have to draw this person or object and explain why they chose them. 3. The teacher leads a discussion on some of the weaknesses of the people or objects the students have drawn and how Allah is the Most Powerful over all His creations. Lessons: 1. As strong as anything can be in this world, Allah is still more powerful than anything else, because He is the Creator of everything. Lesson Assessment: 1. Why do we ask for protection from Allah? Ans: because only He is powerful enough to protect us from anything bad and evil.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 7: JUMP IN, JUMP OUT Introduction: The next 3 activities explore the forms of danger that can come from mankind and the forms of protection that Allah gives when His servants ask for His protection. Essentially, the form of danger that can come from mankind is divisive doubt (waswas). Therefore, Allah protects us by surrounding us with good people and giving us a unity that is based on tawḥīd. Set Induction: Last week, we have learned about God’s role in protecting us from the danger of mankind. How does Allah protect us? Let us find out. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify the way in which Allah protects us. Materials: 1. Students Procedure: 1. Ask the students to form a circle, holding hands, facing in the centre. 2. Announce that you want them to: “Say What I Say, And Do What I Say.” 3. Then give them any of the following “Jump” commands: “Jump In,” “Jump Out,” “Jump Left” or “Jump Right”. 4. Continue calling out a series of “Jump” commands for about 20 seconds. 5. Re-form the circle and announce that you now want the group to: “Say the Opposite of What I Say, And Do What I Say.” 6. Continue with more “Jump” commands, one after another for 20 seconds, or until the circle breaks up too much. Lessons: 1. If the students maintain holding each other’s hands and jump together, the circle will remain unbroken. 2. This illustrates the importance of trusting one another and working together. 3. But trusting a person requires us to trust a good person. Therefore, we must surround ourselves only with good people. Lesson Assessment: 1. How does Allah protect us? Ans: by guiding us to identify good people and surrounding us with the good people.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 8: WHISPERING PIPES Introduction: Essentially, the form of danger that can come from mankind is divisive doubt (waswas). Therefore, Allah protects us by surrounding us with good people and giving us a unity that is based on tawḥīd. Set Induction: Previously, we have learned about the way in which Allah protects us from the danger of mankind. But what is the danger that needs protecting from? Let us find out.’ Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify the form of danger that mankind threatens upon each other. Materials: 1. 2 PVC pipes or tissue rolls 2. A metal bowl Procedure: 1. First, prepare two long PVC pipes or towel rolls. 2. Then, form a “V” shape using the pipes inside the bowl. 3. Whisper into one of the tubes and ask a friend to listen at the other end. 4. You can play with your friends creatively. Lessons: 1. Sound travels through objects. The longer the distance, the weaker the sound. 2. Humans instil doubts in each other by whispering bad thoughts. 3. Bad thoughts are dangerous. Because it could make people hate each other and break society apart. 4. Based on this experiment, we can understand that the further the distance we place ourselves from bad people, the safer we are because their whispers become weaker and weaker. Lesson Assessment: 1. What is the danger that humans threaten upon each other? Ans: doubts that can make people disunite.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 9: THE HUMAN KNOT Introduction: Same as Lesson 7. Set Induction: Last week, we have learned about God’s role in protecting us from the danger of mankind. How does Allah protect us? Let us find out. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify the way in which Allah protects us. Materials: 1. Students Procedure: 1. Have all the students stand in a circle, facing inward. 2. Tell everyone to reach their right arm towards the center and grab someone else's hand. Make sure no one grabs the hand of the person right next to them. 3. Next, have everyone reach their left arm in and grab someone else's hand. Again, make sure it's not the person right next to them. 4. Now, the fun begins! The students need to work together to untangle the human knot without letting go of any hands. 5. The goal is to end up in a perfect circle again. They can go over or under each other's arms, or through legs if needed! 6. Encourage them to do whatever they want, as long as they don't break the chain in the process. 7. For some extra fun, turn on a timer and see how long it takes them to get untangled! How quickly can they do it? Lessons: 1. If the students maintain holding each other’s hands and jump together, the circle will remain unbroken. 2. This illustrates the importance of trusting one another and working together. 3. But trusting a person requires us to trust a good person. Therefore, we must surround ourselves only with good people. Lesson Assessment: 1. How does Allah protect us? Ans: by guiding us to identify good people and surrounding us with the good people.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 10: FOX AND HENS Introduction: The next 2 activities emphasize the importance of heeding the previous lessons. Sometimes, we know about the things that we learned, but most of the time, we are not aware of the things that we know. This lesson explores the implication of being heedless in seeking the protection of Allah. Set Induction: Previously, we have learned about the way in which Allah protects us. But what if we become heedless? What will be the implications? Let us find out. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to explain the implications of being heedless from seeking the protection of Allah. Materials: 1. Students Procedure: 1. Divide the students into teams of five or six. Each team will choose a student to be the fox. 2. The remaining members then form a line and stand with their arms on the shoulders of the teammate in front of them. 3. The student at the head of the line is the “hen” and the student at the end of the line is the “chick”. 4. The “fox” has to try and catch the “chick” at the end of the line. 5. The “hens” have to hold their hands wide apart and try to stop the “fox” from reaching the “chick” at the back of the line. 6. When the “fox” manages to catch the “chick”, he will take the place of the “chick” at the back and the “hen” becomes the new “fox”. Lessons: 1. We must have strong faith and hope that Allah will help us regardless of what happens to us in all conditions. 2. Allah is the actual guider and the Most Powerful; nothing can be compared to Him. 3. If we are negligent, we will be defeated by harmful forces. Lesson Assessment: 1. What are the implications of being negligent from seeking the protection of Allah? Ans: lesson 3.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 11: CROWN Introduction: This lesson re-emphasizes the importance of tawakkal by believing in the kingship of Allah. Set Induction: Previously, we have learned about the consequences of being negligent from seeking the protection of Allah. How can we ensure that the protection of Allah is guaranteed for us? Let us explore. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to explain the importance of tawakkal. Materials: 1. Manila cards 2. Watercolours 3. Stapler Procedure: 1. First, draw a crown on the card. Cut it out with scissors. 2. Next, colour your crown using the watercolours. Let it dry. 3. Bring the ends of the crown together and staple them. 4. Lastly, wear the crown on your head. Lessons: 1. Real lordship belongs to Allah alone. 2. He is the All-Powerful. He is the only one Who is able to protect us from any form of danger. Lesson Assessment: 1. How can we guarantee the protection of Allah for us? Ans: by having tawakkal.

ILQ | Teachers’ Book al-Nās LESSON 12: JOURNAL OF SURAH AL-NĀS Set Induction: Let us write a journal to record everything that we have learned. Lesson Outcome: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to recall all the lesson of this surah. Materials: 1. Papers 2. Colour pencils 3. Paper decorations Procedure: 1. Give the students a few pieces of paper printed with pictures of tribes, winter, summer, foods, trading and let them paste the pictures on plain paper. 2. They also can draw extra pictures by themselves of what they have been learning throughout the month about surah al-Nās. 3. They may decorate their papers as they wish! The teacher will check their journal once a month. Lessons: Repetition and self-direct learning are part of effective learning. The students can revise what they have learnt throughout the months by writing down the lesson.