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Making Our Children Familiar with Mosques at an Early Age |
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Written by omer yavuz
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 15:19 |
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In the time of happiness, children were free to go to the mosque at any time they wanted, no matter what age they were. It is a pity that nowadays we think that we will violate the sanctity of a mosque by taking children along. Likewise, it is such a pity that in many mosques we see elderly people shooing children away, frightening them. Unfortunately, these narrow-minded people think that they are preserving the dignity of the mosque by frowning on the children's actions. In fact, what they are doing merely contradicts the tradition of Allah's Messenger (pbuh). He counseled Muslims that while standing in prayer in a mosque that the men should stand in front, then small boys, and then women and girls. If this order of placement is followed, children will witness the pleasure and zeal of the adults at prayer; consequently, they will become more eager to practice their religion. Thus, rather than frigh¬tening them away, we should be trying to encourage them with small gifts, if possible, so that they warm towards prayer. We should make them love the mosques and the gardens of the mosques, yet always strive to keep the sanctity of the mosque alive in their attitudes. When Allah's Messenger (pbuh) prayed in the mosque, he would take his granddaughter, Umamah, on his back, leaving her on the ground when he prostrated, and he would then take her on his back again before he stood up. This act is very important, as it is an example presented by Allah's Messenger (pbuh), the ultimate guide. The glorious Prophet (pbuh) never used an expression or held an attitude that could be considered harsh concerning the matter of children being taken to mosques. Therefore, a beautiful corner of our neighborhood should be spared for a mosque and our homes should be places of prayer; children will see aspects of life that will remind them of Allah in everything that they see around them; they will look at life in pious wisdom, they will choose their path and walk that way by their free will and conscience. Let us consider the prescribed prayers. When a child is old enough to pray, the father should hold his child's hand, take his child up to the prayer rug of the mother, inspiring spiritual depth and hearty devotion to Islam. Obtaining the expected result will be a great achievement, for prayers are of essential importance in terms of turning to Allah. |
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Speaking about the Resurrection |
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Written by omer yavuz
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 15:17 |
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Our next step should be to talk about the resurrection. The child should believe in their hearts that as soon as this life ends a new life, an everlasting afterlife, will begin. Science, wisdom and reality point out that Allah created this universe and that He maintains it. He is the One Who demonstrates and fixes 'time'. The Qur'an alludes to this fact by the following verse: "Say: Travel in the land and see how Allah originated the creation; then Allah produces the other generation. Allah truly has power over everything." (29/20) Therefore, we should investigate the laws of the universe, examine everything step by step; we should see and reflect on how life began on earth, how this universe came into existence out of nothing, how human beings appeared, how various forms of life were created as different species and how perfection was completed with human beings. Allah Who created the universe from nothing, will certainly resurrect us. Is the One Who has established this order not able to establish another? Is the One Who created this earth so splendidly not able to create another? Can He not call this world as 'worldly life', and the other one as 'the Hereafter'? Can the One Who brought us to this world not take us to an eternal abode? Such explanations are at a suitable level for the comprehension of our children. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 June 2009 17:23 |
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Written by omer yavuz
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 15:16 |
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Making younger generations love the Qur'an is of great importance when trying to raise their religious consciousness. Merely saying "the Qur'an is sacred" is too superficial a statement to describe the Qur'an, and to introduce it to a child. Such an attitude might seem to be appropriate at times, but it is sure to fall short in the long run; it is even harmful in that it leads to a future prejudice against religious teaching. From this point of view, we should tell and convince the child that the Qur'an is the latest and indisputable revelation from Allah, with decisive judgments pointing to the farthest limits of science and technology. In fact, the Qur'an is a wonderful book which confirms all the latest scientific findings concerning the universe, creation and existence. It even gives concise data about such subjects. We can say that it explains everything from the micro to the macro scale in terms of servanthood. The following verse confirms this point: "With Him are the keys of the unseen; only He knows them, and He knows what is on land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it; and there is no grain in the dark bowels of the earth, nor anything green or dry, but is (recorded) in a Clear Book." (6/59) |
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Speaking about the Time of Happiness and Allah's Messenger (pbuh) |
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Written by omer yavuz
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 15:14 |
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We must be very sensitive about introducing Allah's Messenger (pbuh). The fact that some people dislike Allah's Messenger (pbuh) nowadays can be attributed to the fact that they were not informed about him during their childhood. The ones who knew him well admire and adore him. Throughout the centuries, masses of people, fascinated by his charm, have followed him, and no man in the world history has been thus respected. However, we can not expect our children to love Allah's Messenger (pbuh) without telling them about him. At a certain time period, there was a fortunate group of people who had the honor of seeing and being with him. Another fortunate group saw the ones who saw him and tried to see him through the eyes of the preceding generation. This is summed up in the hadith (Messenger words) "The best among you (are) the people (who belong to) my age. Then those next to them …" Allah's Messenger (pbuh) came at a very dark time; at that time there were heartless people who buried their daughters alive, almost everyone drank alcohol and there was a very weak moral code. Such a blessed person, one who accomplished an incredible social reform, all of his achievements and his community are absolutely peerless throughout all of history. Some revolutions took place in Ancient Greece, Rome and in other countries also. However, none of these offered much in terms of human values. These revolutions brought new problems and in some places there was a return to the past. We can even say that in certain periods, what was left behind by revolutions was nothing but blood and tears. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 07:58 |
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Written by omer yavuz
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Wednesday, 27 May 2009 15:11 |
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Reciting the Qur'an to your children and teaching them how to read it is of great importance, but there is something that is even more important. That is giving your children the sense that what is being recited is "the word of Allah." Nowadays, one of the common problems we meet is that -unfortunately- the Qur'anic verses recited by some people just do not go beyond mere sound. If you can set a good example by reciting the Qur'an and do so as if you were reciting it before the Almighty Lord or beside the blessed soul of Allah's Messenger (pbuh), then you will have conquered the hearts of those around you once again. If you let your tears stream down your cheeks while you recite the Qur'an, your child will learn much. Reciting the Qur'an flatly may lead us to becoming insensitive. A hadith declares the following: "The person who recites the Qur'an most beautifully is the one who recites it in a solemn sadness." Another hadith states: "The Qur'an was revealed in a sad fashion." Given that the Qur'an deals with human beings, who have various worries (they surely do), we must reflect due sadness when we recite it. One of the most important points in attaining this level is to understand what the Qur'an is telling us. We must respect the Qur'an, even if we do not understand what it says, for it is the word of Allah. However, if we make some efforts to understand its meaning, then this is an indication of further respect for it. Moreover, your child will feel the teachings of the Qur'an more deeply in his heart and mind, and in this way, he will satisfy his spiritual thirst to the extent that his level of understanding allows. Those who are content with understanding only the literal meaning can be considered as having a poor sense or understanding of religion. As for those who do not have even that slight connection with the Qur'an, they are at a total loss. Learning the deeper meanings of Qur'anic verses and teaching what we have learned to our children bear the utmost significance in terms of attaining the rewards promised by the Qur'an. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 07:58 |
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Education of Child
