“Oh you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones.”
[Qur’aan Ch.66 Vs.6]
 
Islam is a perfect religion. It is a complete way of life which covers all aspects of a person’s life. It is such a religion that if an individual abides by its rules and its regulations and they understand its beliefs, then their Islam will be sound.
 
However, this is some thing that should be instilled in an individual at a young age from their parents. When a child is born, he or she is innocent. That child does not know anything. As they grow, their understanding develops. The manner in which they process certain things also develop.
 
It is said that the most crucial time of a person’s life is from the time they are born until they reach the age of seven years. These years are important since these are the years in which their characters and personalities begin to develop.

During these informative years, their brains are like sponges and they retain everything that is taught to them and they remember well. So it is the parents’ duty at this young and impressionable age to mold them and direct them to the truth and towards what is right in the teachings of Islam.
 
However, many parents tend to be naïve regarding these important years of a child’s life and they are neglectful of teaching their children the basic fundamentals of Islam.

It is reported that Rasoolulah (SAW) said in a hadith:
 “Instruct your child to pray when they are seven and hit them when they don’t do so when they are ten.”
[Ahmad, Abu Dawud.]
 
It is necessary for parents to instill the zeal and love for Islam into their children’s heart, so that when they do begin to grow older, they will have a natural love and inclination to Islam. They will be proud to be Muslims. Abiding by its laws will not be a hardship nor a burden on them but will become second nature to them.
 
There are many cases in which children, when they reach adulthood, they stay away from Islam or they do not practice upon it properly. In most cases, this is because they never really had that deep understanding and proper upbringing of their religion. It was never something which was explained and taught to them. The fundamentals of Islam which includes praying, fasting, dressing according to Shariah was only done because either they saw their parents doing such or their parents instructed them to do such. However, it was never some thing that they truly felt that desire and want in their hearts for because it was never explained to them. It was just done.
 
The end result is that they grow up to be Muslims but only because their parents were Muslims. It is said that when your child learns to speak, teach them,
“La ilaha illallah, and then don’t worry until death overtakes them and when they shed their milk teeth, bid them after prayer.”

So it is crucial upon parents to establish firmly from a young age, Islamic principles and help them to develop noble characters.
 
A child’s training ground is their home and their first teachers are their parents. Parents are the most important teachers in a child’s life and in his development. So it is upon the parents to inculcate the best qualities and morals into their children’s life.

It is said that the proper upbringing of children plays a crucial role in society, since they are the leaders of tomorrow. And what is considered more of a better and proper upbringing than the upbringing of your child in an Islamic environment where Islam is being taught and practiced?

When this is done, their moral conduct and characteristics naturally fall into place, because Islam goes hand in hand with good character and morals. As such, they become a benefit, not only to their family, but to the Muslim Ummah and to the society at large.

When that firmly established upbringing is neglected, it can be detrimental to a person’s character as well as to society. When we look around us we see the effects of an unIslamic and immoral upbringing in the vast amounts of crime and corruption prevalent today.
 
The upbringing of children is a great responsibility upon the parents. It is said that the parents are the first school of children. So as parents, we must inculcate within them, values along with Islamic education. This is why it is essential for the parents to practice Islam whole-heartedly.
 
The Messenger (SAW) has said:
“Verily everyone of you is a shepherd and everyone of you will be questioned about his flock.” ( Bukhari )
 
Whatever foundation a parent establishes for his child during his formative years, most of the times, this will be his foundation when this child become an adult.
 
Although it is possible that when a child reaches a certain age, he can choose to go out and seek knowledge and make every effort in learning and practicing Islam. However, the yearning for it starts at home with the parents.
 
So, for all those believers who have children, or will soon have children, Allah willing, especially the mothers, since there is a special closeness which mothers have with their children, raise your children well. Inculcate in them at young ages, love and consciousness of Allah and instill in them good morals founded on Islam, and by the mercy of Allah, they will be a source of benefit to you in this world and the next.
 
May Allah bless us with righteous and pious children who are pleasing to our hearts and are a cooling to our eyes.
 
Ameen.