Post by Islamic Revival on Oct 31, 2004 3:14:18 GMT -5
It is a fact that only those who are above the age of puberty and sane are addressed by Shariah. It is important, however, for the parents to take care of their children from an early age, raise them to be able to live Islamically, to love the rules of Islam, and to be consistent in performing them. The Messenger (saaw) said, [“order your children to pray when they are seven years of age, beat them for it when they are at ten years of age, and separate them in their beds.” (Abu Daud).
The Messenger of Allah (saaw) and his companions use to do that. And Prophet Mohammed (saaw) saw a child eating improperly, with him, he told the boy, “Boy! Say in the name of Allah (Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from that which is in front of you.” The effect of this lesson on this little child lasted all his life. Bukhari narrated that the child said, “I have been eating as he ordered me sine.” Also Bukhari narrates that Ar-Rabiia, the daughter of Muawath (raa) said, “We use to make our children fast and make them toys out of wool. If nay of them cried because of hunger, we would give him the toy till the time to break fast.”
O, Muslims your children are a trust which you will be questioned for. Teach them Islam, let them know about Allah and His Messenger. Teach them to pray and fast and get them used to doing it properly. Teach them Qur’an to read it and understand it. Make sure that they are always in relationship with Allah. That is not only good for them, but it is better and good for you in this life and the hereafter. “O Believers, protect yourselves and your families from a fire which has humans and stones as its fuel.”<br>
A man once came to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Khaleefah of Islam, complaining of his son’s disobedience to him. ‘Umar summoned the boy and spoke of his disobedience to his father and his neglect of his rights. The boy replied, “O Amir al Muminin! Hasn't a child rights over his father?” “Certainly,” replied ‘Umar. “What are they, Amir al-Mu’mineen?” “That he should choose his mother well, giving him a good name, and teach him the Book (Qur’an).” “O Amir al-Mu’mineen! My father did nothing of this. My mother was a Magian (fire worshipper). He gave me the name Ju‘alaan (meaning dung beetle) and he did not teach me a single letter of the Qur’an.” Turning to the father, ‘Umar said, “You have come to me complaining about the disobedience of your son. You have failed in your duty to him before he failed in his duty to you, you have wronged him before he has wronged you.”
The Islamic laws related to the family obviously originate in the Qur’an and Sunnah. What is also outlined in the revealed text is a series of attitudes and values. We as Muslims should adopt these attitudes. The state should also create a climate in which these general attitudes may flourish. Abu Hurayrah narrated that a man named al-Aqra ibn Habis visited the Prophet and was surprised to see him kiss his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn. “Do you kiss your children?” he asked, adding that he had ten children and had never kissed one of them. “(That shows) you have no mercy and tenderness at all. Those who do not show mercy to others will not have Allah’s mercy shown on them,” commented the Prophet (saw). (Bukhari)
It is bemusing today to imagine a powerful head of state kissing his grandchildren in the middle of state affairs. This was the case then, as is seen from the response of the visitor. However this incident really describes the unique character of Islam. It is intriguing that this same head of state (saw) gave comment, advice and judgement on plain ordinary family relationships. A man once came to Rasool Allah (saw) and said that he had carried his mother on his own shoulders single handed through out all the rites and rituals of Hajj. He went on to ask if by doing this, he had repaid his mother for the kindness she had shown him as a child. Rasool Allah (saw) replied by saying that all he had done had not paid back for one single contraction of the womb during labour when his mother bore him.
Even to foreign heads of state the same issues were conveyed. This was as a matter of describing the family values of the Islamic State. Abu Sufyan relates that in the course of his meeting with Hiraclius, the latter asked him, “What does this Prophet teach you?”. Abu Sufyan replied, “He tells us to worship Allah, the one, and not to associate anything with Him, to discard what our ancestors said, and to perform the Salat, tell the truth, keep chaste and exercise benevolence towards children.”
Republished from Khilafah.com