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Fatwa CenterWhat to say at beginning and end of religious lesson
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I am planning to have a little gathering with my children every day in which we reflect upon Islam and read Quran and hadiths and talk about our religion for at least 10 minutes every day. This is because I want us to spend more time on our religion, connect with it, and increase our knowledge and faith. I do not know what this type of 'gathering' is called, but some people in my family call this 'Ta'leem'. I was wondering, before I start this gathering, is there something that I should say in the beginning before I start talking about Islam? And when I am finished, is there something that I have to say before finishing? I am asking because when I see Islamic lectures on the internet, the scholars say some supplication before starting and before finishing their lecture. I want to do this perfectly so that my children, Allaah willing, learn correctly.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Firstly, we would like to commend your keenness on studying religion with your children. This is a good gesture on your part; we implore Allaah to accept your righteous deed.
You should start your session with the Basmalah (i.e. saying Bismillaah Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem; which means: 'In the name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Ever Merciful') and recite Khutbat Al-Haajah: 'Alhamdulillah nahmaduhu wa nastaʻeenuhu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa naʻoothu billaahi min shuroori anfusina wa min sayyi'aati aʻmaalina, man yahdih-illaahu fala mudhilla lahu wa man yudhlil fala haadiya lahu, wa ashhadu alla ilaaha illa Allaah wahdahu la shareeka lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ʻabduhu wa rasooluh.' (Which means: Praise be to Allaah! We praise Him, We seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evils of our souls and our misdeeds. Whomever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomever Allaah leads astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allaah, alone without partners unto Him, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.) Then you should recite the following verses of the Quran:
Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means):
- {O you who have believed, fear Allaah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims (in submission to Him).} [Quran 3:102]
- {O mankind, fear your Lord, Who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allaah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed, Allaah is ever, over you, an Observer.} [Quran 4:1]
- {O you who have believed, fear Allaah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will (then) amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.} [Quran 33:70-71]
If you can say this in Arabic, it would be good; otherwise, you can simply recite the Basmalah, praise Allaah, and invoke peace and blessings upon the Prophet .
You can also commence the session with supplicating for forgiveness and mercy and imploring Allaah to bless you with success, like the supplication of Prophet Moosa (Moses) 
reported in the verse that reads (what means): {(Moses) said: My Lord, expand for me my breast (with assurance), and ease for me my task, and untie the knot from my tongue.} [Quran 20:25-28]
When you finish the session, you should conclude it with praising Allaah and reciting the supplication to be recited at the end of every assembly: "Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika, Ashhadu allaa ilaaha illaa anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk." (O Allaah, You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You. I testify that there is none truly worthy of worship except You; I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.)
Abu Barzah Al-Aslami 
said:
"When the Messenger of Allaah intended to get up from the assembly in the late days of his life, he used to say in its ends, 'Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika, Ashhadu allaa ilaaha illaa anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk.' The man asked, 'O Messenger of Allaah! You are saying words that you did not say in the past?' He replied, 'This is an atonement for what takes place in the assembly.'" In the narration of ʻAbdullaah ibn ʻAmr of the same hadith, the Prophet said, "...no one says them in an assembly held for a good cause or for remembrance of Allaah, but they are stamped on (the good he did in) his assembly just as a document is stamped with a signet-ring."
Lastly, we implore Allaah to help you provide a good upbringing for your children upon what He loves and what pleases Him and that He helps you sow the seeds of knowledge, righteousness, and piety within them.
Allaah knows best.
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