Raising children in an Islamic way in a non-Muslim society needs everyone’s effort with no exception, starting with the parents’ efforts, to the Mosque’s, to the community’s efforts. All of these roles are important. The stronger these roles are and the more mutually complementary to one another, the better the raising process will be.

The role of the Muslim community is important and is based on a number of factors, of which, the most important are:

1 – Supporting the Islamic center so that it keeps providing all the different services and programs and makes improvements.

Continuous financial supports to cover all the operating expenses and activities expenses. Every program has expenses, which are to be covered by the community. This community has to show support in an exemplary manner for the center; all its activities, the Islamic schools, the monthly utility bills and so on.

We give good news and glad tidings to everyone who donates to an Islamic center that their donations are considered on-going charity that has positive rewarding effects even after death as Prophet Muhammad  promised. Imaam Muslim  reported that the Prophet  said: "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things, (and the first of them): Sadaqah Jaareyah (ceaseless charity)…" Allah, Most High, Says (what means): "…And whatever you spend in good, it is for yourselves, when you spend not except seeking Allah's Countenance. And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged." [Quran 2:272]

2- Supporting the Islamic center requires also efforts and time invested in voluntary programs and projects that are frequently needed. This is met when you personally go there and take your children with you. This way, your children take part in the voluntary work. It is an important factor in increasing their tendency to work with a group than to work selfishly and individually. The Prophet  used to participate with all his companions in voluntary projects, which are beneficial to the Muslim community.

3- Supporting the Islamic center occurs also through suggesting a good idea to establish new important projects. It also occurs through constructive criticism for existing projects and programs so that they get better. Support does not occur from those who do not show action or from those who criticize only for criticism and always reject others. These people weaken some workers who may leave the projects and subsequently these projects will be weak.

4- Supporting the Islamic center is also done by effective participation in the existing programs and activities by taking your family with you. It is a must that you make this participation a part of your daily and weekly schedule. This participation will help you keep coming and so will be beneficial for you and your family. Also, do not forget that you children need social upbringing that will not be accomplished except through the Muslim community. You can not accomplish this alone. The Prophet  ordered us to stay with the Jamaa'ah (community) and warned us from staying away from it. He  said: "…Stay with the Jama'ah (community) and be cautious of divisions…" [Saheeh Al-Jaami']

5- Supporting the Islamic center is done also by making other Muslim members of the community aware of the activities and programs that the Islamic center has. Also, make sure that you take some of them with you. This way, you will be performing the Muslims’ due rights and so you will be rewarded without decreasing their rewards on the Day of Judgment.

What helps you participate in the center’s activities and programs is your home. If you live closer to the Masjid (mosque), you will be more easily able to participate in the daily prayers for example. It is important that you also establish good relationships on the basis of Islam with other Muslim families. And to make effort to live in a neighborhood with other Muslim families, so that you can share your experiences about raising your children with them.

We need to establish good relationships on the basis of Islam with other Muslim families. That relationship should be based only on Islam and nothing else. Also, be aware from falling into racism, nationalism that the Prophet  warned us against. The racism can be exploited by the satans (devils) among people and Jinn, which will lead to the destruction of the Muslim unity.

To keep away from the racism involves a number of things:

1- To develop good relationships with Muslim families that do not belong to the same nationality or ethnic background.

2- Be aware and avoid the activities that are aimed at only specific nationality or ethnic background or race, for example Arabs with Arabs only, or Indians with Indians only, or Pakistani with Pakistani only, or the Afro-Americans with the Afro-Americans only, even if these activities are intended to build a Masjid or a center or an organization. This will destroy the unity among Muslim community. Allah, Most High, Says (what means): "And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah (Quran or Islam), and be not divided among yourselves…" [Quran 3:103] Allah, Most High, also Says (what means): "The believers are nothing else than brothers…" [Quran 49:10]

Many people who fall in the traps of nationalism are not even aware of the seriousness of this practice which destroys the relationship among Muslim children and among Muslim families. Therefore, destroys the meaning of the Islamic universal message that we need to implant in their minds and exemplify it in their reality

Just as a child should be taught ritual acts of worship, he should also be taught good habits and etiquettes until they become second nature to him.

The Prophet  said: "The believers who have the most perfect faith are those who have the best manners." [Abu Daawood]

Good manners are an acquired trait that must be adopted from a young age. Of such manners are the following:

Being respectful and dutiful to parents:

The first person from whom a child learns good manners is the father. If a child is raised in a good Islamic home, then it would be natural for him to treat his parents respectfully.

Allah Says (what means): "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them reach old age in your life, never say 'uff’ (an expression of displeasure), nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And humble yourself to them out of mercy and say, 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.'" [Quran, 17:23,24]

Maintaining good relations with relatives:

Sound cultivation also stipulates teaching children to maintain good relations with their relatives.

Allah Says (what means): ''Worship Allah and associate none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the needy, the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful. " [Quran, 4:36]

The fulfillment of this Divine command can be accomplished only by sound cultivation which makes them grow attached to their relatives out of obedience to Allah.

Since relatives are an extension of the family, then strengthening ties with them strengthens the whole family and it is like strengthening the whole community and this reflects an Islamic community that enjoys a cohesive structure. The Prophet  said: "The example of the believers in their reciprocal love and mercy is like a human body, when one of its organs suffers, the rest of the body remains awake and suffers fever." [Muslim]

Inculcating brotherly love:

Brotherly love and believers' solidarity must be embedded in children's minds and that the believers are brothers-in-faith. For example to follow the pious predecessors, the Muhajireen and the Ansaar, may Allah be pleased with them, whose brotherly love and altruism Allah commands in His Book.

Giving a friendly gesture or a happy greeting to Muslim brothers generates friendliness in their hearts and, strengthens the love among the believers. This indeed is a fine trait, which is instructed by Allah, the Exalted. He describes the believers by saying (what means): "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves…" [Quran, 48:29]

Allah also addressed His Messenger  saying (what means): "Had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you…" [Quran, 3:159]

Guarding the tongue:

Giving a good word is a type of remembrance of Allah, telling the truth, guarding one's own tongue against slandering other Muslims are good deeds. The best Muslim, according to the Prophet  is the one from whose tongue the Muslims feel safe.

Parents should make their children aware of the gravity of abusing others with their tongue and of the fact that the tongue is a double-sided and dangerous weapon. Therefore, they should be warned in particular against abusing it.  

· Warning children against backbiting and slandering:

Children should be taught that backbiting is speaking slanderously about an absent person. The Prophet  said: "Do you know what back biting is?” They (companions) said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He  said: "It is to attribute to your brother what he dislikes." He  was asked: "What do you think if what I say about my brother is true?" He  said: "If what you attribute to him is true, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not true, then you have lied about him." [Muslim]

While talebearing is to circulate slanderous rumors between two persons to damage or sever the ties between them. The Prophet  said: "Talebearer will not be admitted to Paradise." [Muslim]

Deriding people in their presence by making negative facial expressions or by hand gestures while they are unaware is also forbidden in Islam.

· Warning children against lying:

Children must be taught to tell the truth and to keep away from lying, which is the most horrible habit. The Prophet  said: "There are four traits whoever possesses them is a sheer hypocrite, and he who possesses one of them, possesses a trait of hypocrisy unless he quits it. They are: when he speaks, he lies; and when he enters into an agreement, he acts unfaithfully; when he promises, he breaches his promise; and when he litigates, he behaves treacherously. While the liar receives the anger of Allah on the Day of Resurrection." [Al-Bukhari]

Parents should not take this evil habit lightly, or consider it funny when their children tell lies because later on, it becomes easy for them to lie without any compunction.

· Abusing others:

Among the worst of manners is reviling people and swearing at them. If this bad habit is not redressed while the child is growing up, it becomes hard for him to avoid it later on.

Islam enjoins guarding the tongues. The Prophet  said: "He who guarantees, what is in between his jaws (tongue), and what is in between his thighs (private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him." [Al-Bukhari]

This means guarding one's own tongue against uttering anything that displeases Allah, and guarding one's own private parts against committing illicit acts or fornication.