Raising tomorrow's leaders Today

Raising tomorrow's leaders Today by Mufti Ismail Menk.

Take Your Husband to Paradise

Take Your Husband to Paradise by Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf

Love of Children

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.



Love of Children is Natural to Parents

It is natural for parents to love their children, to look after them
and to be kind and compassionate to them. Without this motivation
human beings could have been wiped off the face of the earth. The
Noble Qur'an has categorised children as the adornment of the world
(Surah 18: 46). Children are a great blessing of Allah Ta'ala for which
we must thank Him (Surah 17:6). Further, if children are pious and
Allah-fearing, then they are the delight of the eyes (Surah 25:76).

 Poets have composed very high calibre poetry on the subject of love
for children; these are very moving and heart-warming and brim with
sentiment and feeling. The poetry of Umayyah bin Abis Sault, Abu Bakr
Tarsuu-see, and Ustaadh Umar Bahaa-ul-Amii-rii, are very touching and
highlight the love and compassion innate in parents. The result of the
love and compassion that Allah Ta'ala, has put into the hearts of the
parents ensures that children are properly trained and that their needs
are met.

Love of Children and being
affectionate to them is a divine gift

Love of children, affection and tender and kind feeling for them are unique
sentiments. They are a determining factor in their guidance and training,
care and nourishment. One who is bereft of mercy has the characteristics
of a surly, stone-hearted, cruel person. Such attributes have an adverse affect
on children; they tend to become lost in the deep maze of ignorance, villainy
and wretchedness. Therefore, Islam urges us to develop the sentiments of
love and mercy. It warns us against being deficient in these qualities.

A person was embracing his child. Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم ,asked him, ''Do
you feel compassion for the child?''

''Yes, I do'', was the polite reply.
Heصلى الله عليه وسلم said, ''Allah is merciful to you more than you are to the
child. He is the most Merciful (of those who show mercy).''

Our beloved Nabiصلى الله عليه وسلم , severely admonished those who were not
merciful to their children.

Once, when heصلى الله عليه وسلم kissed Hassan bin Aliرضى الله عنهما, someone
observed,''I have ten children and I have never shown love to any of them.''
Heصلى الله عليه وسلم looked at the speaker with astonishment and said, ''He
who is not merciful will not be shown any mercy.''
                                                                                      (Bukhari)

When a woman visited Aishaرضى الله عنها she gave the woman three dates.
The woman gave her two sons a date each and kept one for herself. Both
the boys ate their share and then looked towards their mother with expec-
tant eyes for more. She halved the date that she kept for herself and gave
them a piece each. When Aishaرضى الله عنها , related this to Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم
he said, ''Why does this amaze you? Her tenderness towards her children
has earned her the mercy of Allah Ta'ala.''     
                                                                                 (Bukhari)

Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم was very soft-hearted. His grandson was at the
point of death; he took him in his lap and tears rolled down his eyes. Sa'd
رضى الله عنه asked, O Rasul of Allah(صلى الله عليه وسلم)! What's the matter?''

He said: ''This is the mercy of Allah that he has put into the hearts pf men.''

In another version : ''Of His bondsmen. Allah Ta'ala, puts mercy into the
heart of whom He will. Allah Ta'ala, is merciful to those of His bondsmen
who are merciful to others.'' 
                                                              (Bukhari and Muslim)

Bringing up Children in Islam by
Moulana Habiibullaah Mukhtaar