Guiding Muslim Children

Many Muslim parents wake up one day and find they have a rebellious teenager who they can't reason with and who is intent on ignoring everyone. Many leave home angry and ignore there parents completely and do whatever they feel like. This is now a sad fact. What can YOU do to avoid this?

It is important to take responsibility of the child's education from day one. This does not mean teach them to read the Qur'an parrot fashion and our work is over. Many hope that somehow, later on down the line, the process will be taken care of and the child will be somehow become a good Muslim. What many parents fail to realise what there children face.

  • Children are educated throughout there most impressionable and formative years. In school they will often receive a very biased historical story of Islam. They will almost certainly pick up strong negative Islamic stereotypes from there peer group and poorly informed teachers.
  • How much time do you spend shopping, preparing dinner, watching TV or helping with home work? Feeding and clothing take care of physical needs, what about belief or Iman, how much time have you spent explaining belief in a manner your child understands?
Many think there older brother or they themselves coped, and so will the other child. But this is in fact gambling. I came from a large family. We all had our problems. My parents were lulled in a false sense of security by my youngest brother. My brother eventually disappeared (aged 19 years) and decided to make what he termed a "Clean Break". This has been the source of great pain for my parents and family. What will happen to future generations of Muslims in this country who are to endure this influence?

Parents in most western countries do not get help from any institution. Many Islamic Centres are run by committee's, who don't "lead" Muslims in their country they are seem preoccupied by:

  • Running the Mosque
  • Basking in there position in the community
  • Short term issues
  • Avoid being seen as "threats" by local government (councillors)
Surely they should be leading the community with a vision of the future many years and generations ahead. They should warn and give guidance. They should ensure our young in our society receive some protection.

We are in dire need for Islamic mosques and organisations to set up infrastructures to support Muslims and their families, so that we may give Muslims the skills and tools to be able to raise their children successfully. Insha'Allah.

There are no easy, one-word solutions. Do ------ (fill in the blank) and everything will be all right. We need to change our own lives first, and work on a vision for the future.
 
Our children are our best investment for the future of Islam - we need as Muslims to start taking this Amanah (trust) seriously and take responsibility through action. Insha'Allah.

All of you are shepherds, and each one is responsible for his flock. A leader of people is a shepherd and responsible for them. A man is like a shepherd over his family, and he is responsible for his flock. A woman is like a shepherd over her husband’s house and children, and she is responsible for them. And a slave is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. So all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges.”
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

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