Malfoozaat pertaining to Children

The practice of employing unqualified teachers for the elementary education of children is erroneous. People labour under the impression that the elementary books are simple, hence there is no need for a highly qualified Aalim. I say that for elementary education there is a need for a highly qualified expert.

Most people make no proper arrangement for the training of children during their childhood. They say: 'They are still kids'. Habits are inculcated during early childhood days. Habits inculcated in childhood are enduring. Childhood is the time for developing moral character and for inculcating good moral habits and culture.

A person once made a statement of great wisdom. It deserves to be written in gold. He said that if a child requests something, either fulfil the request the same time or, if you have refused the request, then do not fulfil its stubbornness. Even if it then obstinately demands and cries for it, do not fulfil the request under such circumstances. If you submit to the child's obstinacy, it will develop this habit. Much wisdom is required when training children.

Nowadays people rear their children in the way cows are reared. They are well-fed and fattened. The ultimate end of the fattened cattle is the slaughter-house. Similarly, people feed their children well, adorn them with garments and jewels and rear them in luxury. The ultimate end of such children is Jahannum (hell). In the process the parents are also punished since by their provision of luxuries and abstention from training, the children grew up ignorant of Salaat, Saum, etc. Some unintelligent parents exceed all limits in that they keep their children entirely unaware of all things of Islam.

I am always advising that during school holidays, children who are attending schools should be left in the suhbat (companionship) of Ahlullah (saintly persons - the Shaikhs of Tasawwuf). Even if they do not perform Salaat there, at least their ideas and beliefs will be rectified.

Freedom has now exceeded all limits. Such unbridled freedom was not seen among those who acquired western education in earlier times. Pious persons reared and trained them, hence they did not fall prey to unbridled liberalism. Now, the training is under the instruction of westernized persons. The danger for the future is greater. This is a very delicate age, an age to be extremely careful.

How sad and lamentable is it! There is time for sports but there is no time for moral training. It is imperative that for your children you appoint a time daily for moral training. Just as you have fixed times in the daily programme for various activities, so too, have a time for your child to go daily to a Musjid or an Aalim where he can sit down and acquire Deeni guidance. If such a spiritual guide is not found in your town, then during the holiday season send him to a place where there is such a Bazrug.

During the holiday season the child has nothing to do. The unfortunate child during the holiday season wanders around day and night not even performing Salaat nor fasting. But the parents remain blissfully happy on account of themselves being regular with Salaat and Saum. However, they remain unaware that on the Day of Qiyaamah they will enter Jahannum along with their children since they were the actual cause of their off springs' deflection from Islam.

These are the children of Muslims ..... Children who have been reared in the laps of Muslim ladies, but will be assigned to Jahannum. You are happy that you have made your child a B.A., a M.A. But, you have left them on the brink of Jahannum. The eyes have become so blind that the Road leading to Jannat is not visible.