Children are Our Future
Children are Our Future
One of the pressing problems of our time (and not the only one) is raising children.
Unfortunately, many parents nowadays say that they do not have time to take care of their children, for their upbringing. Nowadays parents give phones and TV to their children to prevent them from distracting mothers and fathers, i.e. they give their children complete freedom to indulge in such pastimes.
Such a negligent attitude is equivalent to giving our children to be raised by those we do not know at all. One should not allow the thought that, if parents do not worry about their children, someone else will worry about them. Our religion assigns a very important and even one of the main roles to raising children. It is necessary to devote time to this matter, otherwise irresponsibility in this regard can lead to disastrous consequences.
The Messenger of God ﷺ said, “The best thing that parents can give to their children is a good upbringing.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi).
Another hadith says, “For a father, raising a child is more significant and valuable than the daily payment of alms.” (Narrated by Ahmad).
Imam al-Ghazali said, “Know that raising children is among others the most important and principal thing. Children are entrusted (amanat) to their parents by the Almighty and they will surely be accountable for them before Him.” If we raise them in the spirit of benevolence and goodness, they and we ourselves will be happy in both worlds; otherwise their misfortune will affect not only them but also us.
Addressing Ali ibn Abu Talib, the Messenger of God ﷺ said, “It is better for you that Almighty Allah guides at least one person through you than red camels (the most valuable thing that the Arabs had at that time).”
From Abu Hurairah it was reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When a person dies, all his deeds cease, with the exception of three: continuous charity; knowledge that other people can use; a righteous child who will turn to Almighty Allah with prayers for him.” (Narrated by Muslim).
Woe to those who, after their death, will receive only punishment for the deeds of their children: parents are to blame for this because of omissions in raising their offspring.
May the Almighty give us strength and patience to raise our children and protect them from everything which is bad. Amen.
Muhammad-Faruk Azimov
Theologian
