Islam is the roadmap to happiness in the world and the hereafter. It serves as a guide to good morals, encompassing every aspect of a Muslim’s life. When the religion of Islam is sincerely embraced and practiced, beautiful, moral, and exemplary behaviors emerge. These behaviors are followed with interest and admiration by other people, especially children and young people. Islam is embraced and accepted with affection. When a Muslim is sincere in their religion and strives to live by its principles, they become morally perfect, overflowing with love, compassion, and mercy towards family members, people around them, and other creatures. The cornerstone of society is the family home, where generations grow up, turning it into a garden of paradise. Muslims strive to raise their children there, aiming for a perfect future for both the family and the nation. However, to achieve this, they must first be equipped for the task. The statement of Hz. Ali Ra, “Raise your children according to the age in which they live, not according to the age you live in,” serves as an important warning and guidance for educators and parents in this regard. Unfortunately, the biggest mistake in Muslim families today lies in trying to provide education to their children using old-fashioned methods while ignoring their world, the influence of TV, social media, and the internet, as well as disregarding their interests. Attempting to restrain them in this way proves to be unsuccessful and painful. To make today’s children love religion, especially the beauties of Islam and the person of mercy and compassion, it is crucial to use methods such as encouraging Islam and providing religious awareness by narrating the exemplary behaviors of the Prophet. Labeling them as “ignorant of the world” or “people living in another world” causes them to believe that they have no relevance to today’s world and no solutions to offer for social problems. This perception distances them from the religion and pushes them towards the influences of phenomena, resulting in a generation that lacks emotions, gratitude, and values. When describing a Muslim, the Qur’an guides both their characteristics and the recommended format of prayer, as stated in: “O our Lord! Make our wives and children the light of our eyes and make us leaders of those who fear Allah” (Furkan, 25/74). The family home should be the most effective institution in raising children. To maintain its effectiveness, parents should take the family infrastructure seriously, striving to raise individuals who will protect future generations, nurturing their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, and ensuring they understand and appreciate the values of their culture and civilization. Educators, imams, parents, and everyone responsible for raising the generation must familiarize themselves with the world of children. No one can relax or neglect their child simply because they enter an unfamiliar territory. Guiding them requires understanding the blessings and dangers of that domain and then informing and protecting our children accordingly. Otherwise, future generations will be lost.
When it comes to religiousness, it should not be limited to an increase in the number of people who pray, fast, or cover their heads. These practices are essential, but true piety also includes keeping one’s word, refraining from lying, and paying debts on time, respecting the rights of others, avoiding haram (forbidden) actions, and establishing and maintaining happy families. Religion is inherently linked to morality. Our Prophet said, “I was sent to perfect good character.” The primary purpose of worship in Islam is to nurture moral individuals and create virtuous societies.
When evaluating a child’s success, it is important not to base it solely on academic achievements. There should be no contradiction between raising successful children and raising good children. While preparing them for the challenges of the world, we must not neglect their preparation for the test of the Hereafter. The future of children should not be sacrificed for worldly gains. According to our belief, benevolent children, the most precious possession of the world, and our continuous efforts for the Hereafter are sources of rewards that will not close the book of our deeds. The most important goal of Muslim parents should be raising generations with good morals and clear consciences. Children with integrity of mind and heart, equipped with sound knowledge and strong faith, are the means of salvation for our future. Thus, a religious and morally upright society will be formed. When it comes to religiousness, it should not be limited to an increase in the number of people who pray, fast, or cover their heads. These practices are essential, but true piety also includes keeping one’s word, refraining from lying, and paying debts on time, respecting the rights of others, avoiding haram (forbidden) actions, and establishing and maintaining happy families. Religion is inherently linked to morality. Our Prophet said, “I was sent to perfect good character.” The primary purpose of worship in Islam is to nurture moral individuals and create virtuous societies. In a society where religiosity increases, immorality decreases or even disappears. Therefore, it is important to remember that:
— Without moral integrity, one’s religious attire holds no significance.
– Prayer is a duty performed five times daily, but morality must be upheld every hour.
– A person’s true value is determined by the virtue of their character.
(The author is a freelancer. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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