بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious,the Most Merciful.
As far as the sphere of Shari'ah's influence is concerned, it is all
encompassing. It has laid bare all the beneficial and the detrimental
things of this world and the hereafter. There is not a single facet of
life which the Qur'an and Sunnah has not explained in detail or at least
in principal. whether it is cardinal beliefs or devotions, inter-related
dealings, social life or moral character, Islam fully embraces these
five branches. The pages of the Qur'an and Hadith are replete with
their teachings.
However, it is not possible to instruct young children or beginners
in the details of these teachings. In fact, it is not even appropriate
to teach them all the details at the beginning of their Qur'anic lessons.
Therefore, my humble opinion is that instead of going into lengthy
discussions, every mother should focus her attention mainly on
three things during the early stages of the child's life. Together with
their Quran'ic lessons, emphasise these three points and cultivate
them within the children. Pinning our expectations on the mercy of
Allah Ta'ala, we hope that even if you are particular about these three
basic fundamentals only, their lives will undergo a remarkable imani
influence. This in turn will simplify practicing on the other branches
of din, InshaAllah.
The three fundamentals are :
# Devotion to fard salaah
# Total abstention from lies
# The habit of serving others
(1) Devotion to the Fard Salah
Who does not know that salaah is the basic fundamental of Islam and
that it is the most important obligation from amongst all the other
obligations? The Noble Qur'an is explicit in its declaration : ''Verily
salaah prevents shamelessness and vileness.''
Therefore, when the child, boy or girl, reaches the age of seven, be very
vigilant and ensure that they are performing their obligatory salaah. Girls
are required to perform their salaah at home whilst boys and men are
commanded to perform their salaah with the congregation. So every child
should be practically instructed about the performance of salaah. They
should be taught the surahs and other du'as of salaah. Keep a watchful eye
on them and make sure they are performing their fard salaah. Do not be
lenient in any aspect of salaah. If a child is not punctual with salaah with
jam'at (congregation), then somehow or the other get him to perform his
salaah consistently with the jam'at.
The best and most tried and tested remedy to achieve this goal is to engage
in t'alim (i.e. daily recital before all family members) of the book compiled
by Sheikhul-Hadith Hadrat Maulana Zakariyya Sahib entitled 'Fadail-e-Salaah'.
From the age of seven, ask the children to write and then memorize these
Ahadith. You may also make them compete with one another in their leisure
time. For example, you may challenge them to write out ten Ahadith and then
twenty and then thirty and so forth. Also, there are forty Ahadith on page 20.
Make your children memorize them and periodically all of you should sit
together and listen to one of them reciting these Ahadith from memory.
Reward the child who memorizes all forty Ahadith.
(2) Total abstention from lies
The second important factor is to cultivate the habit of speaking the truth at
all times and at all costs do not ever tolerate any form of falsehood.
Lying is not only a major sin but it is also a root of other evils. It is a cause
for a number of other sins. So cultivate abhorrence for lies within the children.
Develop the habit of speaking the truth at all times and ensure that they refrain
from falsehood. This will ensure that they automatically abstain from a number
of other sins as well. This is why Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم declared: ''Refrain
from lies as lies leads to immorality and immorality paves the way to Hell.''
It is also for this reason that Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم declared lies to be
diametrically opposed to Imaan (belief).
Imam Malikرحمة الله عليه mentions a Hadith: ''Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم was
once asked : ''Can a believer be cowardly?'' He replied: ''Yes, he can be
cowardly.'' He was again asked: ''Can a believer be miserly?'' He replied:
''Yes, he can be miserly.'' Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم was asked once again:
''Can a believer be a liar?'' He replied: ''No, a believer cannot be a liar!''
Hence, in order to make them perfect Muslims, children should be stead-
fastly restrained from all forms of falsehood. On no account should you
yield to any form of their lies. After being found guilty of any misdemeanour,
if the child speaks the truth, whilst considering the circumstances, be a bit
lenient with him when admonishing him or forgive him altogether. However,
if he compounds his misdemeanour with lies, do not be lenient in disciplining
him. In this aspect, the parents as well as the teachers should be fully aware of
their responsibilities.
continued in another post inshaAllah
Ideal Mother
by Moulana Muhammad Hanif 'Abdul Majid
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious,the Most Merciful.
As far as the sphere of Shari'ah's influence is concerned, it is all
encompassing. It has laid bare all the beneficial and the detrimental
things of this world and the hereafter. There is not a single facet of
life which the Qur'an and Sunnah has not explained in detail or at least
in principal. whether it is cardinal beliefs or devotions, inter-related
dealings, social life or moral character, Islam fully embraces these
five branches. The pages of the Qur'an and Hadith are replete with
their teachings.
However, it is not possible to instruct young children or beginners
in the details of these teachings. In fact, it is not even appropriate
to teach them all the details at the beginning of their Qur'anic lessons.
Therefore, my humble opinion is that instead of going into lengthy
discussions, every mother should focus her attention mainly on
three things during the early stages of the child's life. Together with
their Quran'ic lessons, emphasise these three points and cultivate
them within the children. Pinning our expectations on the mercy of
Allah Ta'ala, we hope that even if you are particular about these three
basic fundamentals only, their lives will undergo a remarkable imani
influence. This in turn will simplify practicing on the other branches
of din, InshaAllah.
The three fundamentals are :
# Devotion to fard salaah
# Total abstention from lies
# The habit of serving others
(1) Devotion to the Fard Salah
Who does not know that salaah is the basic fundamental of Islam and
that it is the most important obligation from amongst all the other
obligations? The Noble Qur'an is explicit in its declaration : ''Verily
salaah prevents shamelessness and vileness.''
Therefore, when the child, boy or girl, reaches the age of seven, be very
vigilant and ensure that they are performing their obligatory salaah. Girls
are required to perform their salaah at home whilst boys and men are
commanded to perform their salaah with the congregation. So every child
should be practically instructed about the performance of salaah. They
should be taught the surahs and other du'as of salaah. Keep a watchful eye
on them and make sure they are performing their fard salaah. Do not be
lenient in any aspect of salaah. If a child is not punctual with salaah with
jam'at (congregation), then somehow or the other get him to perform his
salaah consistently with the jam'at.
The best and most tried and tested remedy to achieve this goal is to engage
in t'alim (i.e. daily recital before all family members) of the book compiled
by Sheikhul-Hadith Hadrat Maulana Zakariyya Sahib entitled 'Fadail-e-Salaah'.
From the age of seven, ask the children to write and then memorize these
Ahadith. You may also make them compete with one another in their leisure
time. For example, you may challenge them to write out ten Ahadith and then
twenty and then thirty and so forth. Also, there are forty Ahadith on page 20.
Make your children memorize them and periodically all of you should sit
together and listen to one of them reciting these Ahadith from memory.
Reward the child who memorizes all forty Ahadith.
(2) Total abstention from lies
The second important factor is to cultivate the habit of speaking the truth at
all times and at all costs do not ever tolerate any form of falsehood.
Lying is not only a major sin but it is also a root of other evils. It is a cause
for a number of other sins. So cultivate abhorrence for lies within the children.
Develop the habit of speaking the truth at all times and ensure that they refrain
from falsehood. This will ensure that they automatically abstain from a number
of other sins as well. This is why Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم declared: ''Refrain
from lies as lies leads to immorality and immorality paves the way to Hell.''
It is also for this reason that Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم declared lies to be
diametrically opposed to Imaan (belief).
Imam Malikرحمة الله عليه mentions a Hadith: ''Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم was
once asked : ''Can a believer be cowardly?'' He replied: ''Yes, he can be
cowardly.'' He was again asked: ''Can a believer be miserly?'' He replied:
''Yes, he can be miserly.'' Rasulullahصلى الله عليه وسلم was asked once again:
''Can a believer be a liar?'' He replied: ''No, a believer cannot be a liar!''
Hence, in order to make them perfect Muslims, children should be stead-
fastly restrained from all forms of falsehood. On no account should you
yield to any form of their lies. After being found guilty of any misdemeanour,
if the child speaks the truth, whilst considering the circumstances, be a bit
lenient with him when admonishing him or forgive him altogether. However,
if he compounds his misdemeanour with lies, do not be lenient in disciplining
him. In this aspect, the parents as well as the teachers should be fully aware of
their responsibilities.
continued in another post inshaAllah
Ideal Mother
by Moulana Muhammad Hanif 'Abdul Majid
