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30
The Development of Faith
in Children
For children, religion begins with the principle of Allah’s existence. Other
principles (e.g. creation, the Hereafter, Angels, and Jinn) form later. Religion
develops in children through four characteristics:
Tangibility: at first, children attach tangible elements to religious
concepts. As they approach teenage and comprehend reality, they
separate the two
Imitation: children imitate adults in worshipping and supplications
without understanding their meaning or spiritual essence. Parents
should take advantage of the children’s fondness at this stage to familiarize
them with the pillars and effects of Islam and Eman.
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Reward: children observe parent’s satisfaction when performing acts
of worship. Thus, they perform worshipping to gain parent’s love and
admiration, to gain` some benefits, or to escape punishment.
Loyalty: Children are spiritually attached to religion due to their need
for connection
Parents should realize the stages of the development of faith and work
through them accordingly. First, they should work on nurturing their children’s
inborn nature by focusing on the concept of monotheism. After that,
parents should work on establishing faith by teaching their children the
six pillars of faith that are built upon loving Allah and His messenger (may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and upon teaching Quran.
Therefore, the presence of the religious instinct and its growth in children
helps parents raise them. This instinct points towards religious devotion
that does not fade and can be guided and developed. Religious instinct
can be manipulated in various ways; Islam, however, directs it towards the
aim it has been created for.
Parents should utilize the growth of faith in children by teaching them the
six pillars of faith, especially the belief in Allah. To believe in Allah and to
love him leads to the rest of the five pillars. Loving Allah is one the main
indications of believing in Him and submitting to Him. Loving Allah is a
prerequisite for obeying Him and denouncing His enemies. This devotion
must be higher than any love to anyone else. Allah the Almighty says:
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your
wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce
wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased
are more beloved to you than Allah and His messenger and jihad in
His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah
does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.” Allah indicates that
the first trait of the worshippers He is pleased with is that they love Him:
“O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his
religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love
and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, power-
THE CHILDREN’S QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH
32
ful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do
not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows
it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and all-Knowing.”
Allah also indicates that pure monotheism can never exist without
the ultimate love of Allah: “And [yet], among the people are those who
take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they
[should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for
Allah.” Devotion to Allah is the highest level of love. Furthermore, it is
the manifestation of the core element of Islamic faith: Monotheism, that
stresses on complete devotion and love to Allah. In fact, Monotheism is
not accomplished until the servant’s devotion and love to Allah outweighs
the love of anything else.
Faith based upon love is one of the greatest methods of straightening
children’s behavior and aligning it with Islamic principles that submit to
Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
Furthermore, A heart filled with love for Allah and His messenger (may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is dedicated to Allah in faith,
worship, and ethics. No matter how many minor sins or forgetfulness one
commits, the love of Allah will always guide him or her back to the straight
path - may Allah permit. After all, love is an internal affection, not a mere
external display of emotion.
The vision of existence that the Islamic creed provides is in harmony with
the inborn human instinct and mental well-being. This vision has characteristics
that are not found in any other religion: it is comprehensive in its
intellectual, credal, and legislative structure: it provides a thoughtful explanation
for the beginning of the universe, its end, and the truths inside it
and beyond it. It also clarifies an explanation for the beginning and end of
human life. It points out the purpose of creating the universe and humankind.
Therefore, it answers existential questions that satisfies people’s
cognitive abilities. People can never be satisfied in this life without finding
satisfactory and healing answers; otherwise, they will live in continuous
anxiety and confusion in their search for the meaning of life.
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THE CHILDREN’S QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH
34
The Benefits
of Nurturing Faith
Children gain many benefits when their faith is nurtured; including
the following:
they will engage in doing good deeds and seek activities that gets
them closer to Allah and His mercy.
they will be better at refraining from bad deeds.
They will abstain from indulging in luxuries because life is not the
center of their interest and their hearts are not attached to it.
They will gain divine support; Allah takes care of those who believe
in Him. They will achieve happiness in this life and in the Hereafter.
They will gravitate towards Allah. As faith flourishes, the servants’
trust and affection for Allah and detachment from His creatures increase.
They will let go of negativity and hostility. As faith grows in the heart,
the effect of personal inclinations becomes limited. Moreover, determination
strengthens and drives them towards noble behavior.
They will have positive outlook to the world; the strong believer
seeks to improve himself and those around him.
They will achieve peace and tranquility. Trust based on faith is ingrained
in the heart. Fears that haunt others diminish.
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The Cornerstones
of Faith Nurturing
Teaching faith includes the following:
1. Teaching children the six pillars of faith that
contain the belief in Islamic laws and their
alignment with human nature. This should be
accompanied by refraining from direct orders
that lack the spirit of faith. Instead, parents
should utilize practical ways that awaken the
heart, inspires the mind, and nurture attitude
towards life.
2. Raising children to love the prophet (may Allah’s
peace and blessings be upon him), his
family, wives, and companions without exaggeration
or negligence.
3. Raising children to revere religious practices
and manifestations and to refrain from degrading
them or showing apathy towards them.
4. Teaching children that faith is not complete
without benevolence. Faith increases with
good deeds and decreases with sins. Therefore,
nurturing true faith benefits ethics, attitude
towards life, and devotion.
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36
5. Teaching children about the Day of Judgment and that our actions
will determine our fate in that day. People who do good deeds will be
rewarded and those who do bad deeds will be punished.
6. Teaching children that Allah oversees everything. He the Almighty
sees them, hear them, and no one can hide from Him.
7. Teaching children to stick to truth and proudly and strongly hold on to it.
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Education Techniques
for Teaching Faith
Techniques to strengthen faith can be divided into two categories: Early
childhood techniques and Middle and Late childhood techniques.:
In early childhood, parents should focus on the following:
1. Explaining names that indicate devotion (e.g. Abdullah, Abdulrahman,
Abdulkarim) in brief. Also, ensuring that children listen to the
call of prayers, teaching them daily supplications and reciting them in
their presence, reminding them of Allah’s gifts upon them - especially
during meals - and teaching them to mention Allah’s name prior to
eating, and thanking Him afterwards.
2. Helping Children memorize and understand``1 chapters from the
Quran , the word of Allah, starting with ‘Al-Fatiha, Al-Ikhlas, Alfalaq,
and Al-Nass( i.e. surah 1,112,113, and 114). Parents should also
teach children songs that teach faith. Nurturing respect for the sacredness
and commands of the Noble Quran in an attractive way
teaches a child that mastering recitation elevates a person to the
level of the righteous angels. A child should be taught the ethics of
reading and listening to the Quran (i.e. seeking Allah’s protection,
mentioning Allah’s name and listening with respect). Listening to the
Quran improves children’s Arabic and drives them towards further
reading the Quran. In addition, parents should repeatedly narrate the
stories of the Noble Quran in a simple and comprehensive manner
using various methods.
3. Mentioning Allah in happy and good times. Allah should not be linked
to cruelty and torture in childhood. Parents should avoid focusing on
Allah’s anger, punishment, and Hellfire.
4. Bringing the beauty of creation and its coherence to children’s attention
so that they feel the greatness of the Creator and love Him for
providing this creation to us.
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38
5. Training children to have positive attitude, mercy, cooperation, manners
of talking and listening and linking it to the love of Allah and
His commands. This should be done through leading by example
which allows children to live in an atmosphere full of benevolence
and awareness of Allah’s presence.
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In Middle and Late Childhood, parent should further expand on
these techniques. For example:
1. They should continue teaching their children the extent of the
universe’s greatness and intricate creation so that children can
comprehend glorifying Allah. Allah says: “It is the work of Allah, who
perfected all things.”
2. They should remind children about the wisdom in Allah’s actions and
creations (e.g. the wisdom of creating night and day, sun and moon,
and the senses) so that children love Allah and thank Him - Allah
says: “Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allah has not
created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except
in truth.”
3. They should also take advantage of available moments to wisely
guide children through current issues and advise them on making
right decisions and avoiding evil. For example, if a child gets sick, we
should attach his or her heart to Allah by teaching him or her supplications,
by encouraging him or her to trust in Allah, and by reading
the Quran. If we give our child a treat, we should remind him or her
to thank Allah. Parents should avoid discussing faith with children
during hard times because a child does not have the cognitive ability
to understand the concept at the time.
4. They should continue leading by example and practicing Islam so
that children attach religion to everyday life. Leading by example
allows children to observe sincerity which is an essential element in
faith and avoid hypocrisy
5. Parent should also continue teaching children through stories and
songs that highlight Islamic concepts and values. Parents should
also introduce the prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon
him) to children by narrating his biography (may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him), particularly his childhood, his kind encounters
with children, his appearance, and his noble character. Parents
should also narrate the stories of his companions, wives (mothers of
the believers), and family (may Allah be pleased with them all).
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40
6. Having mentioned these techniques, one should stress that parents
should be careful not to overwhelm children. After all, children need
fun and entertainment in their life. Therefore, we should not exhaust
them and hinder their natural and psychological development by
overlooking their main needs.
7. Children should be allowed to behave normally without adults’
interference and parents should provide activities that allow children
to explore their abilities and surroundings. This develops and
strengthens their love for exploration.
8. In addition, parents should be positive with their children by
supporting them and encouraging them to do their best. Improving
children’s attitudes with love and reward is a better way to achieve a
balanced attitude towards life.
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9. Nurturing respect for the sacredness and commands of the Noble
Qur’an in an attractive way teaches a child that mastering recitation
elevates a person to the level of the righteous angels. A child should
be taught the ethics of reading and listening to the Qur’an (i.e. seeking
Allah’s protection, mentioning Allah’s name and listening with respect).
Listening to the Quran improves children’s Arabic and drives
them towards further reading the Quran. Children should be taught
the meaning of some of the Qur’anic verses they memorized that
contain faith concepts… like ‘The Opening’, ‘The Purity’, ‘The Daybreak’
and ‘Mankind’. In addition, parents should repeatedly narrate
the stories of the Noble Qur’an in a simple and comprehensive manner
using various methods of demonstration.
10. We can apply a Q and A method when teaching faith, and ensure
that questions contain the information needed to be delivered and
that answers are brief and suitable the age and level of awareness.
This method provides children with values, noble morals, and positive
attitude.
11. Fun activities: Children can also learn by coloring pictures that contain
various faith concepts. Children can also learn through contests. The
more dynamic and interactive a contest, the better.
12. Storytelling: Children can learn about faith through simple and
attractive stories that suit their mental and cognitive capabilities.
Children can also learn through repeating phrases that ingrain faith
such as: “Allah has decreed and whatever He wills, He does,” “rely
upon Allah” and “Allah has the power over everything.” With the help
of parents, children can decorate their bedroom with faith phrases
and expressions like: “I am a Muslim,” “I love Allah” and “The pillars
of faith”. The repetition of these educational methods ingrains faith in
children’s minds.
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42
13. At later childhood stages, parents should begin teaching children
that everyone experiences hardship. Allah tests everyone in this life
with hardship. We should teach children that there is wisdom behind
Allah’s decisions and ingrain in their mind that Allah is the One who
brings goodness and prevents evil and that His mercy surpasses
His anger. We should explain to children that relief always comes
after distress and strengthen their trust in Allah because this is part
of devotion. So, we believe that Allah’s decisions are better than our
choices and that people can do nothing but be patient and perform
their duties in difficult times. They should also be content as they
wait for Allah’s reward. Finally, we must teach children supplications
(Duaa) that benefit them.
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Important
Educational Tools
to Ingrain Faith in Children
Among the most important education tools to ingrain faith in children
are the following:
1. Role Models: role models are one of the most important tools that
influence children. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be
upon him) highlighted the importance of role models for children: Abdullah
ibn Amer narrates: “My mother called me one day when the
Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon
him) was sitting in our house. She said: Come here and I shall
give you something. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace
and blessings be upon him) asked her: What did you intend to
give him? She replied: I intended to give him some dates. The
Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon
him) said: If you were
not to give him anything,
a lie would be recorded
against you”. In another
narration, the prophet
(may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him)
says: “Whoever calls
his child (come here,
take this) then doesn’t
give him, then it’s a lie.”
Therefore, being a role
model is an effective method
in raising children; the
two narrations highlight
the importance of honesty
in raising children.
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44
2. Sincere Advice: preaching is either direct or indirect (e.g. allegories,
dialogues). We should choose the right time and words so that
the child does not get bored.
3. Reward and Punishment: This way is one of the most powerful and
emotional ways of educating children because it relates to human
nature. It must be done without exaggerating the reward or punishment.
Sensitive Children should be encouraged rather than intimidated;
Children at young age need encouragement rather than
intimidation.
4. Training, practice and building habits: children should be trained
to please, fear, and depend on Allah. They should also understand
that everything is in His Hands. All that brings strength and firmness,
that help them withstand every distress, and satisfaction that relieve
their hearts.
5. Repetition: modern science and experience confirm the effectiveness
of repetition in teaching and ingraining knowledge.
6. Conversation: conversations with widens their perceptions; however,
a parent must respect the child’s opinions, listens carefully,
and calmly steer discussions so that conversation becomes fruitful.
In discussion, we can apply a question and answer method while
teaching faith; we should ensure that questions contain the information
needed to be delivered and that answers are brief and suitable
to the age and level of awareness of the child. This method provides
children with values, morals, and positive attitude; it will be
adequately discussed further down.
7. Books: it is important to have a suitable library that contains scientific,
cultural, and religious material in all forms including audiovisual
and digital material. It is important that these books contain stories
because, as mentioned, stories are an important educational tool.
There are a lot of eloquent stories about the biography of the prophet
(may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions.
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8. Modern educational tools and technology: These tools should be
utilized in an appealing and colorful way that attracts the child and
makes him or her psychologically healthy.
9. Natural Instincts: Children have natural motives that parents can
utilize when raising them. These include playing, cooperation, imitation,
etc. Through playing, children discover their surroundings and
express their ideas and extent of awareness. We can take advantage
of these instincts to clarify the true meanings of life and universe and
establish values. This can be done through observation and taking
advantage of situations. Noting and guiding children leave everlasting
marks.
10. Supplication: last but not least, supplications prove that people
need Allah and have hope in Him. Allah encourages people to ask
Him and He promised to answer their call: “And your Lord says, “Call
upon Me; I will respond to you.” A parent can utilize supplications to
raise children. It is the way used by the greatest mentors ever - Allah’s
prophets (peace be upon them) - to affirm monotheism: “And
[mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this
city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping
idols.” Therefore, praying for children illustrates benevolence.
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46
11. Acting: Children love imitation. They should have a chance to
perform the role of Imams by praying, reciting Quran, and giving
sermons or lectures. This helps them appreciate the worthiness of
these job positions.
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Important traits
parents should embrace as they
teach their children about faith
1. Kindness: raising children is not fruitful unless done with kindness.
Al-Aqraa ibn Habis watched the prophet (may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him) kissing Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and said:
“I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them,”
Allah’s messenger (peace be upon him) looked at him and said,
“Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully.”
The prophet also said: “The Compassionate has mercy on
those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on
the earth, He who is in the heaven will show mercy to you.”
2. Tolerance and Forgiveness: our prophet (may Allah’s peace and
blessings be upon him) is the most tolerant and forgiving man. Anas
ibn Malik says: “I was walking with Allah’s messenger (may Allah’s
peace and blessings be upon him) and he was wearing a garment
from Najran with a thick cape. A Bedouin followed him and violently
pulled his garment; I noticed the side of the shoulder of Allah’s messenger
(may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) hurt because
of that violent pull. The Bedouin said, ‘O Muhammad! Give me some
of Allah’s wealth which is with you.’ Allah’s messenger (may Allah’s
peace and blessings be upon him) turned and looked at him, smiled
and ordered that he be given something.’”
Forgiveness is also related to tolerance. Allah says: “Take what is given
freely, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant.” To become
tolerant, the messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
warned against anger. In a narration, a man said to the prophet (may Allah’s
peace and blessings be upon him) and asked for advice. The prophet
peace be upon him said, “Do not become angry” The man asked (the
same) again and again, and the prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings
be upon him) said in each case, “Do not become angry.”
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48
3. Patience: parents must be patient when raising or educating children.
They should not rush the results to avoid disappointment. A
parent without patience is like a traveler not equipped for travel.
4. Justice: parent must treat their children on equal basis. Treating
children differently without valid reason hurts positive communication
and harmony between children. Injustice is always a disgrace.
5. Honesty: parents must be truthful and honest when dealing with
children. Honesty is a trait of Allah’s messengers and it is a basic
requirement for mastering any task and achieving goals.
6. Piety: Allah supports those who obey him in unexpected ways. Piety
is the companion of success in life and in the Hereafter.
7. Sincerity: actions that are not for Allah’s sake are not accepted and
not rewarded. Insincere people gain nothing but lost effort.
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8. Knowledge: Unlike the ignorant, a knowledgeable person is more
aware of the importance of present and the future. He or she is also
more prone to making the right decisions.
9. Wisdom: A parent who makes good judgments reaps the benefits of
his judgment. Therefore, a parent endeavors to understand personalities
and utilize his or her knowledge in guiding and raising children
10. Confidence: Raising children is a psychological and spiritual effort.
Only those who trust their capabilities will succeed.
11. Constant improvement: parents take care of improving their abilities
to be competent.
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51
Understanding
and Teaching
the Pillars of Faith
THE CHILDREN’S QUESTIONS ABOUT FAITH
52
TTheh Firset Pillar:
Belief in Allah
The Second Pillar:
Belief in Angels
The Third Pillar:
Belief in Scripture
The Fourth Pillar:
Belief in the Messengers
The Fifth Pillar:
The Belief in the Hereafter
The Sixth Pillar:
Belief in Destiny
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The First Pillar:
Belief in Allah
Human instinct, cognitive abilities, and religions confirm Allah’s existence.
Every creature has an innate tendency to believe in his or her Creator.
The thought process infers the presence of a Creator. All revealed
religions confirm Allah’s existence. Belief in Allah consists of four basics:
the belief in His existence, the belief in His Lordship (i.e. that He is Allah,
the Bestower, the Creator, and the Sustainer of everything), the belief in
His oneness and worthiness of worship with no associates, and the belief
in His perfect and beautiful Names and Traits. We must teach children
these four basics so that they grow knowing Allah, glorifying Him, and
loving Him. This pillar is the base for the rest of the pillars.
Why Do We Teach Children to Love Allah the Almighty?
1. Because Allah created us in a perfect form, favored us over other
creatures, and granted us Islam, the greatest blessing ever. Allah
then provided us with favors without us deserving them and promised
us Paradise: the reward that manifests His generosity.
2. Because love openly and privately leads to respect and reverence.
Our children need to respect Allah instead of solely fearing His punishment
or Hellfire. Love leads to devotion and delight in obeying
Allah and avoiding sins.
3. Because Allah Almighty is the Ever-Living, the Self-Existent, the Eternal
and the Ever-Lasting who never dies, sleeps, or doses off. Allah
is with children (through His knowledge) everywhere we go, and He
protects and takes care of them more than their parents. Thus, loving
Him is essential. Children must know that Allah is their strongest supporter.
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54
4. Because loving Allah leads to loving the Quran and prayers. Once
children realize that Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty, they will do
everything that is beautiful. Once they realize that Allah loves the
patient, the purified, the benevolent, the generous, the confident, and
the pious, they will do their best to please Him and win His support
and protection. Once they realize that He does not like traitors,
non-believers, offenders, arrogant, unjust and corrupt people, they
will do their best to stay away from all these traits for His sake and
satisfaction
5. Because loving Allah means feeling His presence which brings content,
calm, and confident feelings and prevents anxiety and sadness.
In addition, feeling the presence of Allah protects the soul and body
from psychological and spiritual diseases, and – most of all - sins
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How to Teach Our Children to Love Allah the Almighty?
1. We should encourage children to observe nature because it is the only
way to ingrain faith concepts in children. We must rely on children’s
senses to bring out their faith in their Creator and draw their attention
to natural objects and phenomena (e.g. the sun, the rain, and the
wind). Through observing nature, we should teach children that there
is a Creator who controls this universe; we should urge children to ask
and we should do our best in explaining belief to them by pointing out
evidence of Allah’s existence through analyzing nature and science.
This includes the divine guidance to human creation. Allah says: “So
let man observe from what he was created.” and “And in yourselves.
Then will you not see?”. Also, we should encourage children to observe
how Allah made food available and how He allowed plants grow.
Allah says: “Then let mankind look at his food.” In addition, we should
highlight Allah’s aptitude by observing his magnificent creatures. Allah
says: “Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?
And at the sky - how it is raised? And at the mountains - how
they are erected? And at the earth - how it is spread out?” We can
teach children these big concepts and their wonderful meanings that
indicate the Creator’s greatness - in different ages - using a variety of
modern demonstrative and technological tools.
2. We should teach children Allah’s beautiful names and traits that indicate
His perfection and beauty. Allah Almighty is the Merciful; His
mercy engulfs everything. He is the Pardoner who forgives sins. He
is the Forgiver who conceals sins. He is the Generous who gives
without asking. He is the Guider who guides His creatures to all that
is beneficial. He is the Loving who loves and is beloved. Without
doubt, knowing these traits help children love Allah.
3. We must refrain from warning children that Allah punishes children
who disobey their parents. Disobeying parents is different from disobeying
Allah. Linking the two prevents children from deeply thinking
about Allah’s ability and greatness. We should not depend on threats
in raising children. Instead, we must teach children more about loving
Allah and glorifying Him.
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56
4. When children watch their parents perform prayer and other obligations
or refrain from prohibitions, they usually ask for explanations.
Parents should answer by highlighting the love of Allah and by obeying
Him. That is how we raise children to love Allah by example. A child
follows his parents. Mentioning heaven and Allah’s reward of eternal
bliss for His pious servants’ ingrain love in the hearts of children.
5. When children begin to understand the meaning of obligations, they
must be taught that love is an obligation because Allah the Almighty
is the One who created, sustained, and favored us over His creations.
He gifted us with Islam. We must teach children that all the
blessings around us are from Allah. In addition, we should teach children
to thank Allah for His blessings and ask Him for more.
6. Thus, as we can see, teaching children ways that help them love
Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon
him) is inclusive of all forms of worship.
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The Second Pillar:
Belief in Angels
Belief in angels consists of belief in the following: their existence, their
names, narrations about them, and loving them.
1. That they are created from light. Aisha says: “The messenger (may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: (The Angels were
born out of light and the Jinns were born out of the spark of fire and
Adam was born as he has been defined (in the Quran) for you.)” It is
sufficient to generally describe angels without details.
2. They have names and duties. For example, Jibreel is the chief of
angels and the one who descended with the Quran. Mikael is responsible
for directing rain. Israfeel is responsible for blowing the Horn.
There are also the carriers of the Throne, the writers, the protectors,
etc.
3. Their population is huge and that no one knows how many they are
except Allah the Almighty and that they are creatures that obey Allah’s
commands.
4. They are impeccable and that they constantly worship Allah and neither
get tired, bored, nor arrogant. They love the believers, support
them, pray for them, and protect them. They also look for and attend
gatherings that invoking Allah.
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58
5. We should teach children to love the angels because they are noble
creatures that care for the believers. Loving angels strengthens loyalty
and affection towards noble creatures that glorify Allah, ask for His
forgiveness, and pray for the believers. Angels also bring good news
to the believers who take the path of faith and good deeds before
entering Paradise. Angels pray for the believers and support them.
Allah sends them to protect the believers. Allah says: “For each one
are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by
the decree of Allah.”
6. We should also teach children that faith requires respecting the angels
because they are honorable creatures. They never disobey Allah
and they do everything Allah asks.
7. We should also teach children about the things that bring the angels
close to us (e.g. reading Quran, learning about Islam, etc.) and by
refraining from things that distance them from us (e.g. lack of personal
hygiene). Jaber ibn Abdillah narrates that the prophet (may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who eats of this
(offensive) plant, garlic, (and one time he said: He who eats onion
and garlic and leek) should not approach our masjid for the angels
are harmed by what harms humans“.
8. Teaching children to believe in the existence of angels has many
benefits: it helps them realize the extent of Allah’s knowledge, greatness,
capability and wisdom. It also helps them feel safe because
they know that the angels protect and support them as Allah ordered
them to do.
9. Teaching children that our relationship with angels (weather through
our understanding of them, or their watching over us) illustrates the
importance of human beings. We are not irrelevant or worthless. This
means that we should be up to the ultimate task we are created for.
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The Third Pillar:
Belief in Scripture
What does Teaching Children about Scriptures include?
1. We should teach them that they are revealed by Allah, that they are
mercy for people, and that they provide legislations and rules that suit
various nations. Parents should clarify to children that the scriptures
are a blessing that teach us about Allah, the Hereafter, and good and
evil.
2. We should teach them to belief in their names as mentioned in the
Quran such as the Scriptures of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the
Torah of Moses (peace be upon him), the Psalms of David (peace be
upon him), the Gospels of Jesus (peace be upon him), and the Quran
of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
3. We should teach them to believe that they support and not contradict
one another. Allah says: “Confirming that which preceded it of the
Scripture.”
