I think this topic is going to be interesting and will cut across religious affiliations. We will look at the ayat of the Quran concerning parenting in the Quran.

We live in very different times, what wisdoms on parenting does the Quran have to offer?

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Assalamu Aleikum

We live in very different times and the way, we have to raise our children today differs from how we were raised. Society has changed so much. Even historically Muslim societies face unprecedented challenges unlike what we have seen in Islamic history from the time of the messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).

Many of us were raised on 'auto-pilot' to some extent, but more so the generation before. There was a decency in society that facilitated the growth of values, parents had less work to do to ensure that their children lived as muslims. Islam was inside the house and outside it, respect for elders was a normal thing, there was a bit of segregation in society, people were decently dressed.

You see, what is seen as normal by society is often times what your children would consider normal. For instance, there are girls used to putting on the hijab when they go to the mosques but the second they leave they take it off... It is like ' i can be normal again'.

There is a dominant culture that impacts all of us, therefore the things that were normal to us when we were growing up would not be normal to our kids. We will have to do something extra, we cannot afford to raise our children on 'auto pilot'.

This thread delves into the Quran to see what kind of guidance we can derive from it.

In sha Allah, I will try to make it simple enough so that even non-muslims can derive some benefit.

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TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN

In Islam, the parents are given a great deal of honour and respect. There is no other religious deed that requires your best (Ihsan) at all times in Islam other than respect for parents. In fact, anything less than being the best to your parents is a sin. Ihsan is not required in any other act. You do not have to achieve ihsan in your salat (prayer) or hajj (pilgrimage) for it to be acceptable.

Allah Says in the Quran:

Say, ‘Come! I will tell you what your Master has really forbidden you. Do not ascribe anything as a partner to Him; be the best you can possibly be to your parents; do not kill your children in fear of poverty’– We will provide for you and for them–‘ stay well away from committing obscenities, whether openly or in secret; do not take the life God has made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do: perhaps you will use your reason. (Surah 6:151)

In the midst of actions that are forbidden, Allah emphasizes the respect of parents showing that giving less than your best to your parents in Islam is prohibited.

The regard for parents in Islam is incredible however with this honour comes responsibility. Parents are answerable in some cases for the failures of their children. They have a job to do. As a matter of fact, whenever there is some honour and regard for someone in the Quran, It neccessarily means that that person has a lot of responsibilities. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was given a lot of honour in the Quran but at the same time, he carried the most responsibility in delivering this deen.

Therefore, we can't just talk about the honour of parents and leave out the responsibility.

Point 1. Parenting is an honourable thing but with it comes HUGE responsibilities

An Honour from Allah

Allah says in the Quran:

We have honoured the children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; We have provided good sustenance for them and favoured them specially above many of those We have created. (Surah Isra:70)

Allah did not say ' He honoured men'... He said He honoured the 'children of Adam'. By calling it children of Adam, humanity has been described by relation of parenthood. In that statement, there are two entities that have been honoured, the father (Adam(peace be upon him)) and the children.

What this ayah means for parents is that every child that is born into a family has brought Allah's honour into that family. Allah has honoured every child so the birth of a child into your household is the Allah's honour coming into your household. It is a gift.

Allah also says:

People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. In God’s eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware. (Surah 49:13)

This is a famous ayah(often translated as verse). Note that Allah says the 'most honoured' not just honoured. Implying that all humans are honoured. However, the most honoured are those that are most mindful of Allah. The honour of our children in the sight of Allah, is dependent on their God-consciousness .

Point 2: Allah's honour has entered your home by the birth of a child. It is a gift from Allah. Every child brings honour into the household. The most honoured of our children are the ones with the most taqwa (God consciousness)

This introduction is important so that we can understand that it is a gift to be parents. Allah has honoured you by making you parents and has given you an opportunity to raise one whom Allah himself has honoured.

May Allah make us the best of parents...

More to come tomorrow, In sha Allah.

Next: Appreciating the diversity of your children & parental psychology

@tbaba1234 Nice post ...... Informative write up.

@mods it would also be nice to see threads of other religious view points make it to FP from time to time. Thank you.

Must everything come to the frontpage?

All, I quite appreciate and thank Allah for our Lifes and also tbaba1234 for your life and also the nice contribution you have given concerning the parenting in Islam. However, good parenting goes with the Quran and that is why I will want to share this presentation with all to read, review and ponder on it.
May Allah guide us all aright and make our children good source of joy for us.

Amin

Christian way, islamic way, budha way, indu way. Whatever, please when you train up children in whatever religion, please don't make these children feel other kids or people from other religion as being delusional or infidels or sinners or going to hell. Teach them love and equality, teach them respect. Teach them making other people cry is gravely wrong. No matter what religion, race, background or ethnicity.

The man that gave birth to his son in Sokoto and bundled him to Kano when he barely could pronounce "PAPA" to be under the tutulage of a Mallam does he also follow the quranic advice by passing his responsibility to a man he barely know(could even be a pedophile)?

@ Op pls respond to my questions cos am curious!

solidbroda: Christian way, islamic way, budha way, indu way. Whatever, please when you train up children in whatever religion, please don't make these children feel other kids or people from other religion as being delusional or infidels or sinners or going to hell. Teach them love and equality, teach them respect. Teach them making other people cry is gravely wrong. No matter what religion, race, background or ethnicity.

GBAM!!!!! May you live long and thrive..!

That's is the Koko of the matter....any thing else na side bar. As long as one does not see their standard of belief or morality as superior to others, that's when a child is raised well.

BRB

solidbroda: Christian way, islamic way, budha way, indu way. Whatever, please when you train up children in whatever religion, please don't make these children feel other kids or people from other religion as being delusional or infidels or sinners or going to hell. Teach them love and equality, teach them respect. Teach them making other people cry is gravely wrong. No matter what religion, race, background or ethnicity.

[[[[GBOSA]]]] koko talk

guonno: They've killed a lot of my loved ones!

Who?

Some pple can be so myopic of course. When a Xtian thread is open, u hardly see a Muslim visiting let alone posting any negative comment(s) but when a muslim thread is open u see them vomiting all sort of nonsensical utterances displaying their shallow mindedness. There‘s no compulsion in realigion. Can‘t u pls, mind ur own business for once?

@ topic: It‘s a duty upon parents to educate their children in the matters of both Dunia & Akhira. Prophet (S.A.W) sent Jaabeer to lern Hebrew (the Jewish language), d early mathematicians, scientists, literary icons are Muslims.

@op: nice effort, Jazakallah bi khair.

@Brothers & Sisters: Barka da Jumu‘a (Jumu‘at Kareemah)

50calibre: Useful pictures to use in the parenting. Allahu Akbar!

Bin Laden encouraged his children to go to Europe and America to get an education, live a better life and don't do what he did.

As beautiful as this topic is, i'm afraid some people will want to spoil the thread.

@op may Allah grant you more wisdom,more please!

This thread is still in its infancy, there is a lot more to come. In sha Allah.

Just subscribe. It would be worth it.

solidbroda: Christian way, islamic way, budha way, indu way. Whatever, please when you train up children in whatever religion, please don't make these children feel other kids or people from other religion as being delusional or infidels or sinners or going to hell. Teach them love and equality, teach them respect. Teach them making other people cry is gravely wrong. No matter what religion, race, background or ethnicity.

bravo! Hope you'll take d lead by first showing ur children d way by EXAMPLE...

tbaba1234: This thread is still in its infancy, there is a lot more to come. In sha Allah.

Just subscribe. It would be worth it.

In sha Allah

Nice and educative thread.

Thanks for the write up Tbaba. It is great! Alhamdulillah

Ishsoph: The man that gave birth to his son in Sokoto and bundled him to Kano when he barely could pronounce "PAPA" to be under the tutulage of a Mallam does he also follow the quranic advice by passing his responsibility to a man he barely know(could even be a pedophile)?

@ Op pls respond to my questions cos am curious!

What's your mission? to illicit some senseless religious and/or ethnic NL e-war as usual OR to discredit the quranic verse.
It amazes me how people refuses to use the intellect God gave them for free. If you are a muslim, follow it or not. If you are a non-muslim, it doesn't apply to you, there is no compulsion in religion.

Nice write up.. May Allah make it be of benefit to many muslims and non-muslims alike...

Quarantine ni, quranine nko!

Nice write up, Barka Jumah to all Muslim brothers and sisters..

I never see a topic like ''PARENTING FROM A TRADITIONAL AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE'' on the front page. I never see people on nairaland discussing their own rich philosophical African cultural heritage. But these bunch of mentally diseased, colonised minds will congregate to discuss jewish and arab philosophies stolen from North African Nubian civilisations and repackaged as 'islam' and 'christianity'. The arabs and europeans understand their stolen belief systems as non literal instruments of power and mind control. They don't spend as much time discussing their fake beliefs as we do! Core Islamic Arab states and european christendom are busy developing themselves and stocking up on nuclear weapons while the dumb Africans in the middle, instead of looking out for their own interests will be busy killing each other and proselytising in the name of their own enemies. Why won't Africa always be carrying last?! Continent with 40% of all the world's natural resources but is poverty stricken. Continent with the world's oldest and most diverse languages and culture but is exterminating its own languages in favour of English and blowing up its historical monuments for being 'idols'. Continent with 1 billion people and the most university degrees per capita on earth but which suffers from widespread ignorance and economic depression due to lack of internal market whereas Europe which is half the size has no problem using its internal market. Continent with the most genetic diversity and natural beauty with people who prefer to burn their skin yellow, burn their hair straight or cover it with imported wigs and people who genuinely think they are ugly compared to others.

The curse of Africa is not bad leadership or corruption or neo colonialism - it is simply large scale STUPIDITY on the part of Africans. We are always carrying last because we choose to.

Akiika:

What's your mission? to illicit some senseless religious and/or ethnic NL e-war as usual OR to discredit the quranic verse.
It amazes me how people refuses to use the intellect God gave them for free. If you are a muslim, follow it or not. If you are a non-muslim, it doesn't apply to you, there is no compulsion in religion.

Ignored! @ Op pls respond to my honest question. Does it mean that some who profess Islam in Northern Nig. does not knw this and what is being done to make them realize that they shouldnt sear more children than they could cater for?

@op, jazakallahu khair, u'v done lots of justice to topic at hand, @ xtians in d house, i knw u hv lots of issues to b clarified bt pls let not digress frm d main topic, i knw u re confused at ds beautiful preaching here and d reality u see at play, isnt it?...i pray there wld b more enlightening preaching like ds, insha Allah every1 will eventually feel fulfilled & convinced at the end of d day

@daz_york. You have shown how shallow your reasoning is. I don't think you have read the history of the different african beliefs which is shrouded with babarism and uncivilized way of life. It's better u surrender yourself to God almighty that created and gives you and your dieties provision before it will be too late.