Implanting Love for Reliance and Fear of Allah (1/2)

Each child has his own strength, weaknesses and problems, whether   psychological, social,   economic, or educational. These problems   vary regarding   their difficulty   or ease, and children   may disclose   these problems   consciously    or    unconsciously.    

Now   the question   is: how can a child solve his problems?

This, in fact, can be achieved through implanting love for, reliance on, and fear of Allah in the mind of a child.   

In   addition     to   this,    belief    in   Divine Predestination    should   be ingrained   in his mind. 

In this way,  the child  will be able  to face  his life  in the stages  of  childhood   as  well  as  in  the  future  stages with  fortitude   and  wisdom. 

Below are some proofs of this point.

Ibn' Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said to me,

'Do not raise a stick over your family and make them fear Allah, the Most High.' "  [Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Awsat]

At-Tirmidhi    reported   on the   authority   of  Ibn 'Abbas   (may  Allah  be pleased  with  him)  who  said, "One  day  I was  (riding)  behind  the  Prophet  (peace be upon him) and he said,

"Young boy, I shall teach you some words (of advice):  Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you.  If   you  ask,  ask  of Allah;  if you  seek  help,  seek  help  of  Allah (Alone). Know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you, they would benefit you only with. something that Allah had already prescribed  for   you,  and  that  if they  gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm   you   only   with  something   Allah   had already  prescribed  for   you.  The pens   have been lifted and the pages have dried.”  [Reported by at-Tirmidhi]

In a version   other than that of at-Tirmidhi,   it reads, "Be mindful of Allah, you will find   Him before you.  Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by, was not going to befall you and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by.  And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship. "

When  the child  learns  the above hadith  by heart and  understands   it,  nothing  will hinder  him  from going  in the right  way  through  the different  phases of   his   life.   Is   there   any   other   methodology    of education that could bring up children on the like of these morals!

This hadith has a wonderful power in solving the problems of a child due to   its   influence   and spirituality.  The child continues to develop and grow by virtue of the fear of Allah that has been implanted in his heart, as well as his belief in Divine Predestination.  

Children  of  the Companions of  the Prophet  (Peace be upon him) were  raised  on this Prophetic  guidance  and consequently   learnt  to rely  upon  Allah,  Most  High, while  facing life's  troubles. 

They sought the help of Allah in times of adversity, and believed that there is no might nor power except with Allah. 

They knew that relief comes with sorrow, and that difficulty will be followed by ease.

In  his  book  Jami'  al-' Ulum wa al-Hikam,   Ibn Rajab   al-Hanbali    reported   that   Malik    al-Ashja'i came  to the Prophet  (Peace be upon him)  and  said, "My son, ‘Awf,  was taken as a prisoner of war." He replied,  "Send him someone to tell him that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) orders him to say frequently,  'There is  no  might  nor  power  except  with  Allah.'" Having received the Prophet's command,   'Awf engaged   in saying, ‘There is no might nor power except with Allah'.  Although he was heavily chained, the chains became released from him. He went out to the place where he faced a camel belonging to the enemies and he mounted it. On his way, he saw the enemies' camels, and as he cried out, all the camels followed him.  His parents were greatly surprised when they heard him calling for them. His father said, "By the Lord of the Ka'bah He is ‘Awf."  His mother said, "Woe! ‘Awf has undergone great pain because of the heavy chains."   Both his father   and   their   servant hastened to him, where they saw that ‘Awf had filled the courtyard of the house with camels.

‘Awf told his father the story and the latter went to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) in order to inform him of the matter.  Having  heard  the  news  of  'Awf,  the Messenger   of  Allah  (Peace be upon him)  said,  "You are permitted  to do what you wish regarding  the camels,"

Then,  the  following  Qur'anic  verses  were  revealed, “And  for   this   who  fears   Allah,   He   (ever) prepares a way out, and He provides  for  him from   (sources)  he never  could  imagine.  And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, Sufficient is (Allah) for him.” (Surah At-Talaq: 2-3)

Sahl   ibn  Sad narrated  that an Ansari  boy was extremely   influenced   by the  fear  of  the  Hell-fire,   to the   extent   that   he  used   to  burst   into   tears   when anyone  mentioned   it. He also used to confine himself in his house.  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was informed of the boy's affair and so he paid him a visit. On seeing the Prophet (Peace be upon him), the boy embraced   him and died soon after that.  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) commanded   his Companions   to prepare the dead boy for the funeral. [Reported by Al-Hakim, Mustadrak. vol. 3, p. 494]

Following is an  example   of  the  early   righteous Muslims'  care concerning  the issue of implanting unswerving belief in Allah  in their  children's   minds, by means  of belief  in  Divine  Predestination    whether it seems  to be good  or bad:

Al-Walid ibn ‘Ubadah said, "I went to my father, 'Ubadah, while he was overcome with illness to the extent that I believed he would die on the spot.  I asked him, ‘Admonish me, father!  And try to do your best in this regard.' He said, 'Help me to sit.' On sitting, he said, 'Son! You will not taste the joys of belief or attain true knowledge of Allah except when you believe in Divine Predestination, whether it is good or bad.' I asked, 'Father! How can I discriminate between good and bad predestination?' He said, 'Get yourself well-acquainted with the fact that what has passed you by was not going to befall you and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. Son!  I have  heard  the  Messenger  of Allah  (Peace  be  upon  him)  saying,  'The first   thing Allah  created  was the  Pen.  He then said to it, 'Write.' Then, the Pen wrote what will take place until the Day of Judgment.’  Son! If you die without believing in this, you will enter the Hell-fire. "

(Continued)