Columns

Friday, June 1, 2001

Children: Our Blessings from Allah

by Siddiqua Haswarey

We all are human and it is only human to err and forget. Thus the saying, "Verily a believer benefits from a reminder." We all are in need of whatever constant reminders we can get. When it comes to our children and the way we deal with them, the issue gets to be even more delicate and complex, because our tomorrow is highly dependent upon what we do today as parents and teachers, and directly related to our future alongside our children's lives. Our duties toward our children are not something we can take for granted or ever compromise.

Aisha (radhi Allahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "The most pleasant things you enjoy come from what you earn, and your children come from what you earn." (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - Hadith 2770)

Our children are creations of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), our amanah (trust) from Allah, our gifts, that we can never fully comprehend or show our gratitude for, just like the other blessings that Allah (Tabaarak wa Ta'ala) has so mercifully granted us. A blessing is defined as "a favor" or "a gift of Allah". A blessing is something that we have to be really grateful and thankful for, because a blessing is like a luxury, something that you can have or not have and is completely dependent on what Allah wills. If you abuse a blessing it can be taken away… if you cherish it and are grateful for it, you will have more, InshaAllahu Ta'ala!

In our lives, we have been bestowed with innumerable blessings, from the very lives in our souls to the water we drink to each and every breathe that we take…. there is so much more. It is impossible for us to count each and every blessing that we have been granted by the Mercy and Love of Allah. If we were asked to be grateful for every single blessing granted to us, SubhanAllah…. we would never be able to count them. Allah is indeed Most Merciful, Most Loving and Most Compassionate. He (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is constantly forgiving of our ingratitude and our forgetfulness. One of the beauties of Islam and from the Immense Wisdom of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and His Immense Mercy also is that He has even shown us the way we can be grateful unto Him, and He has promised us forgiveness if we truly repent unto Him…. making the path all the more easy for us.

Our children are precious resources; we cannot afford to waste them. We love them…. we train them…. we bring them up as the best of Muslims, and InshaAllah, we will get much more in return; our efforts will never have gone to waste. Allah will never let our efforts be in vain. Not only will Allah reward us, but also our children will cherish all that we have done for them, they will treat us as we treated them, they will be kind to us if we have been kind to them. The love, affection and obedience of a child towards its parent are directly correlated to the parent's love, affection and mercy towards him/her. Finally, we are in turn subject to Allah's Mercy towards us, the guardians… the parents.

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in the heavens will show mercy to you." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood - Hadith 4923)

When we choose to have a family, we also choose to be leaders, shepherds who will care and be responsible for our families. Examples to whom our little ones look up. We cannot overlook or ignore that responsibility. We cannot set it aside for our careers or jobs or social status. Once we take it up we have to finish it, in the best way that is most pleasing to Allah. We must complete this obligation in the best way that will be of benefit to us more than anyone else.

It was narrated by Abdullah bin Umar (radhi Allahu anhu): "I heard Allah's Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saying, 'Everyone of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it.'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith - Hadith 3.592)

In the end, we will bear the fruit of what we have sown, in this dunya and the Aakhirah. That is the nature of life.... that is the way we will be dealt with by Allah, Al-Haqq - The Just. InshaAllah, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) only grants us what is best for us, and we should never forget that we have to put in a good amount of effort to be worthy of a special position in Jannah. After all nothing in life is for free.

May Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) bless us in our families and our children and make them of those who will be foremost in this deen. May Allah grant us the love, respect and obedience of our children. Aameen.

InshaAllah, all good is from Allah (Tabaarak wa Ta'ala) and all evil is from within my own nafs.

Subhanaka `Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa `ash-hadu `an laa `illaaha `illaa `anta, `astaghfiruka wa `atoobu `ilayka. (Glorified are You O' Allah and I am in Your praise, I testify that there is no deity except You, I ask Your forgiveness and repent unto You).

Siddiqua Hassan Haswarey

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