Children – A Great Trust

Children – A Great Trust (Amaanat)

«O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allāh in what He commands them but do what they are commanded» (Al-Qur’ān 66/6)

Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said, “Every child is born on Fitrah (a natural disposition to accept the Dīn of Islām). His parents then convert him into a Jew, Christian, or fire worshipper. [Bukhārī 1385]

Children are an ‘Amānah’ (trust) from Allāh Ta’ālā. Protecting their Īmān and Dīn should be our foremost priority.

The environment in most schools is detrimental to the Īmān and Dīn of a child. The intense un-Islāmic indoctrination in the name of “schooling” is well known.

The duty of every parent should be to prioritise the protection of the Īmān of his children.

Innocent and sinless children should not be put into situations that compromise the essence of their Īmān and chastity.

It should not be that on the day of Qiyāmah, children become plaintiffs against their parents.

Allāh Ta’ālā has taken the responsibility of providing sustenance. No soul can die without receiving his allotted share. Fear of poverty is a tool that Shaytān uses to involve us in sin and destroy our Īmān.

«Shaytaan threatens you with poverty and orders you to (do acts of) immodesty.»
(Al-Qur’ān 2/268)

Thus, every effort should be made to save our children from being exposed to the wrong environment. As far as possible, parents are encouraged to home-school their children. This is not something impossible. Allāh Ta’ālā will make it easy for those who have hope in His help.

Together with protecting our children from the wrong environment, every effort should be made to teach them correct beliefs, essentials of Dīn and Islāmic etiquette.

While sending the child to the local Maktab, the parent should take a keen interest in his child’s progress.

The Maktab is the backbone of the child’s Islāmic education. Care should be taken that the child is taught by reliable and pious teachers, otherwise the ‘Ilm (knowledge) gained will remain as information, devoid of effect.

Flimsy excuses should not be entertained in allowing the child to miss Maktab or to leave totally. Our children are made to understand the importance of learning the mundane skills of life. The reality is that it is more important for us to instill in them the importance of learning Dīn which is the means of eternal success in both the worlds.

Ironically, the same parent who will never allow his child to give up material studies willingly gives in to the child when he wants to leave the Maktab.

Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam said: “Each one of you is a Shepherd, and each one of you will be questioned regarding his flock”. [Bukhari 893]

May Allāh Ta’ālā grant us the ability to safeguard the Trusts that He has entrusted to us and protect our Īmān and Dīn and that of our progenies till the Day of Qiyāmah. Āmīn

Source: Wifaaqul Ulama SA