Responsible Parenthood

1. What is parenthood?

2. What are the characteristics of a responsible parent?

3. Give verses from the Qur’an and from the Ahadeeth regarding parenthood in Islam.

Parenthood is an historic journey that brings in challenge and reward in one’s life. At the start of a journey every parent is expected to know two essential things. Where is his destination and how is he going to reach there? Confusion or lack of planning in this process will end up with tragic consequences.

The importance of nurturing children, i.e., positive parenting, cannot be over emphasized. The plants in the nursery and the children at the home and school ‘nursery’ have striking similarities. The culmination of a plant is a healthy tree with flowers and fruits.

Parental care here does not simply mean providing children with good food, dress and shelter. It includes proper education and the inculcation of good behaviour and attitude toward human beings and other creation.

Islam wants all human beings to grow up as emissaries of Allah on earth.

Islam is a divine responsibility. Parental duty is at the heart of Muslim life.

In fact, every one in a Muslim family is jointly responsible according to his role in the house.

Here comes the enormous responsibility of the Muslim parents in the western society. They have the twin tasks or mission, which they need to take on board. Or else, they will face the severe consequences in future.

On the one hand, they have to quickly improve their adaptability in the new environment of the West without compromising the basic Islamic principles, and on the other, they have to undertake great burdens of raising their children in the prophetic model.

The goal of Islam is to create a world where man is liberated from the clutches of Jahiliyah. That includes the liberation of mind before anything. Islam challenges human mind and intellect to come clean with objectivity so that it can think fresh.

Islam’s assertive character encourages Muslims to take a pro-active role in the intellectual and social enterprise. It urges Muslims to participate, interact, engage and influence in society’s common good. It has an ultimate target of leading humanity toward full submission of Allah.

“O You who believe! Guard yourselves and your households against a Fire….[66:6]

If Allah guides anybody to Islam through your effort, it will be better for you more than red camels (i.e. better than any amount of wealth). Bukhari and Muslim

Teach your children prayers at 7 and beat them at 10 and keep them apart in their beds. (Ahmad)

“And those who pray our Lord grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes and give us the grace to lead the righteous.” (25:74) 

When one dies his good deeds come to an end but three things will go on benefiting him. They are: an on-going charity, useful knowledge and pious son. (Muslim)

"Seek God in caring for her, for if you do: you are given the rewards of hajj, umra and jihad. " (Anas)

On a similar occasion, a man consulted the prophet on going to jihad.The prophet, knowing that the man's old mother was alive said: "Then stick to her, for heaven is at her feet."  (Nissa 'i)

SHUKRAN