Be Good Example for Kids

*We should not enter a stage without `finishing the previous one successfully. The main purpose is to break the ice in our relationship and turn them back to religion.

This graded treatment is like antibiotics that should be taken in doses until the end.

If parents hasten for the end, and use their authority to order their kids to follow their instructions during those three weeks, they should restart the treatment again.

At this time, parents should be convinced not to talk about prayer. If they succeed in all these steps, if Allah so wills, they can bring up a good person. Again, they will a good example for their kids, Therefore, thanks to Allah, one day their kids will be good worshippers. Moreover, they may complain that they postponed their appointment because of their long prayers!

*Parents should not comment on their kids' mistakes in prayer but in a limited manner. We can ignore some mistakes in prayer such as devoutness (khushu'). We should limit our comment to mistakes that cannot be ignored such as prayer without ablution. 

*Always, ask for Allah's support. Do not be sad and supplicate for and never against your son/daughter. Remember that treatment takes long time, but it will end safely- if Allah so wills.  Kids at this age will forget and develop quickly especially if we understand nature of the phase they undergo. Thus, we should treat our kids quietly and friendly.

The following hints may help:

*On Fridays, parents can try to sit together after washing to perform Sunnah of that day-such as reciting Surat Alkahf, asking for Allah's pardon, and peace for his prophet (Peace be upon him) to bring up their kids in a healthy environment of which they can be part in the future.

*Parents should accompany their kids to Feasts prayers (Greater and Lesser Bairam prayers) to implant love of prayer in their hearts. They should also reiterate before their kids that they performed consultation prayer, and thanks genuflection, etc.    

Our kids at masjids:

How could we imagine that a plant can grow without a root?

The same applies to mental and physical growth that needs movement and activity to be accomplished.

Kids cannot recognize life secrets and the world surrounding them except through wondering in its corners and scrutinizing every material and immaterial object around them. Allah has created in humans a desire for exploring, analyzing, and structuring things as a means of recognizing our surroundings. This desire is more obvious in kids. Therefore, we should not prevent them from going to Masjids in case that they might disturb worshippers. However, kids are allowed to be in Masjids on condition that they knew decencies of mosques as sacred places entirely different from other places. In this way, kids became convinced that they should not make noise for respect of Masjids not for fear. It is preferable to have wide area around Masjids to let them play while parents are praying.(9)Parents may give them some sweets or simple gifts in Masjids to leave a good impression in their hearts.

Islam is a religion of moderation. Moreover, no Hadith stops kids from going to Masjids! Conversely, there are many Hadiths indicating that kids are allowed into Masjids. Al Bukhari narrates that Abu Kotada said" the prophet (Peace be upon him) entered the Masjid carrying Omama Bent Alass on his shoulders, when he kneeled he put her on the ground, and when he raised he carried her" .He also narrated that the prophet (Peace be upon him) said "I start my prayer with an intention of making it long, when I hear a boy crying I shortened my prayer not to burden his mother". He also narrates that Ibn Abass said, "I came to a Masjid in Mena, when I was a boy, riding a female donkey and the prophet was close to me, I left the donkey to pray with the prophet (Peace be upon him) and no one condemned my deed".

Thus, those Hadiths call us to let our kids be in Masjids.

Those sayings are enough to make us submit to this call. There are also intellectual proofs that strike our minds supporting this call. For instance, when our kids go to Masjids, they achieve many religious, educational, and social goals. This implants in their souls a religious ritual of observing congregational prayer. It also implants love of prayer, and worship that are important spiritual goals for every Muslim.

After performing this treatment according to every age in appropriate manner,  the best thing left for us is to invocate to Allah, grace be to Him, saying:

"My Lord! Make me to establish proper worship, and some of my posterity (also), our Lord! And accept the prayer" (Surat Ibrahim: 40)

"O My lord! The Alive, the Eternal I ask Your help to make my kids righteous and don’t leave them to their whims for a twinkle of an eye, or less than this period."

"O Allah, guide us to the right actions, inclinations ,and morals, no one but You can help us, and  avert from us ill actions, inclinations ,and morals, no one but You can avert them."

"O Allah, I ask for guidance, piety, chasteness, and satisfaction."

"O Allah, I crave Your protection for my kids from inability, and laziness."

"O Allah purify my girls and All Muslim girls as You purified Merriam, and make my kids infallible as You made Yusuf."

"O Allah, make prayer preferable for my kids than cold water for a thirsty .You are able to do all things, and achieves all invocations, You are a transcendent Patron, and a transcendent Helper!"