Child Education in Islam

greatness of Allah .$ under all the circumstancrs, whether this

calling be from the mind, heart, self, verbal expression, aT deed,

and whether it be while standing, silting, or in a reclining position,

in working, conttmplating Qur'anic verses, listenmg to admonition,

consulting Allah's Jurisprudence, or perfonning a deed by

which ht seeks Alliih's rewards, The meaning or celebrating Allah's

praises was mentioned by Allah on many occasions:

- About the intellectual and psychological meaning, the Noble

Qur'an says,

~ ,~l;;; t; ~;.~ it'Jf,[JJ iJ!

..: ~,""':!l.;~1J ....:;..,jiii

"",ltn whom neither trade nor slIle (hulilless) diverts them from

the Rnn~mbrance of Alltih ( "';,h h~lIr' fllld tongu~), 1I0r from

performing AI-Salal (Iqmut-ill-Salat) , 1I0r from g;"illg the Zilka!.

They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overlUrned (out of the

hl}1'o' of rhe torment of the Day of Resu"tction ... " (An-Nur, 31)

. As far as the heart is concerned, the Noble Qur'an says,

"£t. ..',.,..I.~.;. ( ~•- G ~_ i J ? "'. ll~_i .Jt'' ~J.. --"tI.tl"~ &;-(:,O-J n'J" : ~ej i Tlr.

"Those who belie ~ed (ill tke Onenus of "fllik - Islamic Monothe-

(1) Af.lladilh AI-Qllds/ i. what Allah haJ told to Hi. Prophet 4: by in.pi.alion o.

by a dream, Or in sJeep and the Prophet 4: in hi, own phrMMlogy_ (editor)

ism). Imd H'hose hearll find u SI in Ihe r~memhrance of Allah: Verily,

in Ihe rememhrlmce 0/ AIl;;h do hearU find resl, " (Ar-Ra'd, 28)

- About the verb,,! meaning, Alliih's Messenger, as 'luoted by Ibn

Majah and Ibn Hibban, says, "Allah la says, I will be with My

bondman if he remembers Me, and verbalius My remembrance,"

At-Tirmidhi quoted ' Abdullah Ibn Basran as saying that a man

said, "0 Mcs.<:enger or Allah, the rulings of Islam arc too abundant

for me, so lell me about something to cling to," He said, "Always

keep your tongr/e sweel/med by mentioning AI/dk"

- About deeds, the Noble Qur'5n says,

rU (.7 -':'1 ["'1I-.i1 [ 'e:. _ [~Zr ,;,'M . i ' -<·t i)-:'Il . -. ~ (,~ l. ~ !& V''-' _ ....- ~ :.>"-'. ,-,,~

~ &;.#

" Tlren H'hen Ihe (Juntu'ah) Sa/al (prayer) is ended, you may

dispene IhrouXhoul lire lund, and seek the Bounty of Alltih (by

working, elc.), und remember Alltih much: that ),OU may be

successful." (AI·Jumu'ab, to)

. About the overall meaning, the Noble Qur'an says,

.s:Jl 0" ,~i~i .J~~ ",41 ;lfJ~.0r j'!:'t ~~t;~ .;..5'-~ ll j:.- ~.i.!'

G:; : ;1< (; c~

~ -P ';'I~ ~ ;(,~ ., ~

"Verily! In Ihe crealion oflhe hca l'cns Imd Ihe earth, und in the

ulternatiO/t of niglrl and day, Ihere are jndeed signs for mI'll of

underslunding. Those who remember A/hih (ulway,<, und in pruyerJ)

sfIlnding, silling, and lying down on th~j~ sides, und Ihink duply ubout

the ereul;on oflhe heal'ens und Iht tllrth, (suying): "Our Lord! You

ha~t nOI creuled (ull) this "'ilhoul purpose, glory to You! (Exlilltd

ure You aho~e ult Ihul they a.\Jociale H'ilh You as partners). Gi¥e u.'

sul,"lh)ll from the torment of Ih~ Fire." (AI 'tml"in, 19(1, 191)

The ract that the Remembrance or Allah includes the recitation

or the Noble Qur·ftn, is cstablished by Allah's saying,

"V«ily We, it is We WAo ha"e sent aown the Dhikr (i.e. the

Qur'an) and surely, We will guard ir (from corruption). " (AI -l:Iijr. 9)

It includes asking questions about the religion and consulting

scholars, is established by AlIah's ft saying,

~ :::::..; '" '1 :'t .:oj ~i j;.\ ~:.j ,

"So ask the people of thit Reminder (Scriptures - the Taurat

(Tarah), the InjeeJ (GO$pe/)) if you do not know." (At .Anbiy •. 7)

That the Remembrance is inlended for worshipping Allah, is

eSl3blished by Allah's saying,

~ ~( Ii .ill ij;..:~ ; ~. ' it .u. "" j~. 6,) !ill;:r: &.~( ~b; ,

"0 you who be/iae (Afuslims)! When the calf is proclaimedfor

rhe Salat (prayer) on flu! day of Friday (Juma'ah prayer), come to

the remembrance of AlNih (Jamu'ah religioas talk ( Khutbah) and

Salat (prayer)) ... " (A j·Jumu·ah, 9)

Have you realiud, my fellow educator, what is meant by the

Remembrance of Allah? Have you learnt that it is not limited to

one case only, and that its meanings are not peculiar to certain

rites? If you have real ized this, then exert your utmost to raise your

child on these meanings by contemplating the greatness of Allah,

fearing Him in private and public, while In one's residence and

while travelling during peace and war, at home and at the market,

when sleeping or awake, and so on, so thai he may be among those

whom Allah meant by His saying,

j;~ (~I r:-;G .t::.I: .. /.k : '~( (~~) :\r) 'oil Al'~1 :%JI ';:::";";i1 0 . ,

~ z,;t;.; -=i~

"Tk bdieoers are only thou "'ho, when Alliih is mtntioned,/ul a

f ear in their hearrs (lnd ",h~n Hu verse! (thi~ Qur'an) are ucited

unttJ them, they (i,t, the rersu) iMu(ls~ tMir Foith; and tllty pllt

tlreir trust in their Lord (A/one), .. " (AI-Anflll. 2)

c. Voluntary worship: this is established by Allah's saying,

~ (,;::1 cit" 4; ;t:-~ oJ ~ J ~G .~ ; -;..~; ~( ~.:; t

"And in 10ml< parl$ of ,hI< nigh, (also) offl

",ith it ( i.e. recile lhi! Qur 'an in 'he pro.J"'r), as o.n o.ddi,ional prayer

( Taho.jjad op,ional prayer - Na"'fil) for you (0 MahllmmaJ $) It

may be Ihat your Lord ",ill raiu you 10 Maqaman MahmaJlln (II

Jlalion of praise o.nd glary, i, e. 'he honor ofinurcession on 'he J)ay

of ResurreClion.Y (Al. h ri. 19)

. It is also established by the saying of the Prophet g; as reported

by AI.Bu~i1 a ri and Muslim, "And if he (j.e. My bondman) gel.l·

closer /0 Me a foOl, , will gel doser 10 him a yard, and if Ire gels

closer 10 me a yard, I will get closer 10 Irim a milch longer dis/wKe.

And if he comes to Me walking, I will go 10 him at speed."

Voluntary worship refers to worship other than the supererogatory.

1t is perfonned on many occasions. It may be in order to

remind you of its most important kinds in tenns of pray and

fasting, so that you may JlCTfonn them yourself and teach to your

fa mily:

a. 11Ie supererogatory prayer: it mcludes,

I. The forenoon prayer: this is established by what Muslim quoted

Allilh's Messenger ti;. as saying, "Anyone of you may woke up

with a dl!ed of charily on el'ery small bone in his body; ;1 suffices

for Ihis 10 pray IWO rak'om in the forenoon." Muslim quoted

'Aishah as saying, " Allah's Messenger $ used to pray fo ur

ruk 'ahs in the forenoon, and sometimes increased the number as

he wished." The time for the fo rell00n prayer starts half an hour

after su nrise until about an hour before noon.

2. The prayer of the ever-resorting: it is composed of six units of

prayer after the sunset prayer, according to what Ibn Majah

quoted the Prophet 3: as saying, "Whosoever prays six ,ok'aiIs

afrer rhe .

anything had, Ihey will be reckoned for Irim a,v Ihe worship of

twelve years." Two rak'alrs would suffice.

3. The two rak 'ahs of greeting the mosque: Mushm related that

Allah's Messenger oj: said, "If any of you enters (J mosque, Ire

should nOI sit down before be performs IWO rak'ahs. "

4. The two rak'ahs of the Simnah after ablution: Al-Buk hiiri related

that Al1ilh's Messenger 3: said to Bil;ll 4 "Tell me about tbe

bes/ deed you did ever since you became a Muslim: I heard the

sound of your foo/seps close 10 me in Poradise." He said, " I did

not do any deed betler than that I never cleansed myself by day

or night without praying while in this state of purity whatever

Allilh willed me to pray,"

5. The night prayer: At-Tinnidhi reported that AlIiih's Messenger

.tf; said, "The second besl prayer is Ihe nighl prayer. " The

minimum for a night prayer is two ruk'ohs, but there is no sct

maximum.

6. At·Tarawi~ prllyer: optional night prayer in Ramadan. This is

twenty rak'ahs with ten tcnninations (i.e. two rak 'ah,' at a time)

every night of Ramadan, it can be prayed in congregation after

the evening prayer. (I)

7. The prayer of invoking Alliih for guidance: it is two ruk'olrs after

which a person should make the supplication related by Jiibir as

seen in s..a~f1!: AI-Bu~~iiri : "0 Allah, Ilnwke Your Guidance wilh

Your knowledge and Your Omnipolence. I wk You of Your greal

Grace. You are Omnlpclenl, bUl l am helpless; You knowbul l do

not: and You are Ihe Kno"'ef of Ihe Unseen. 0 Aillih, if you know

Ihal lhis mailer is good for me in my religion, life, and in ils

consequences. 50 tU!sllne il for meJocililale irfor me, tlren ble5S II

II) il can atw ~ 8 rak'ah •. (editor)

302 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ r\onTh~

fo, me. If you know 11m/ Inis mailer is nil for me in my religion,

life. (md in ils cQIIseqaerces, so lei it I'err away from me, and lei me

~ee, tlfvoy from ii, £1"'/ de.'line goodness for me whert!l'er il may he,

Ihen make me satisfied wilh il ." A person then namc~ the maHer

in question in thc place of the words " this matter" in the

invOC

b. Optional rastin~: it is established by what Muslim related

quoting All:ih's Messenger * as saying, "If a bondmimflul .• 11 tilly

for Ihe sake 0/ Allah. lie will make /l! iJ dtl)' separate hetween him

(llId Ihe Fi,e Jar sncmy /011.1 . .. There afC '!everal kinds of fas ting:

I. Fasting on the day of 'Arafah: Muslim related that AII;lh's

Messenger 3 said, "Fmling Iilc Day of 'A fllj(l/i is reckoned by

A/Iii" 10 expime lire year before illllld Ilrl' )'I'''r after il."

2. Fasting Tasl,'a and 'Ashl,ra: these arc the ninth and tenth days of

M uharram, according to what Muslim related quoting Qatiidah

that thc l'ropMet $ said, " Fl/sting 'Ashrir

10 f'xpime Ihe year bt1orl' il alld Ihl' )'I'lif after i i ,"

3. Fasting si~ days in Shawwlil: Muslim related that Allah's

Messenger ~ said, " Wlwsoe~er fasu Raml/~Jillihellfollow,f Ihis

by fo,

4, Fasting thc three 'while days':(/) At-Tirmidhi reported that

Alliih's Messenger ~ said, "If ),01' ftlSl IhTU day.! ill a mOlllh,

IiiI'll fasl all Ihe liriNeell/1r ./OImrelllh, alld fiftel'ntir days. "

5. Fasting Mondays and Thursdays: At-Tirmidhi reported that Ihe

Prophet $ used to fast them. When Ihc I'ro phel $was asked

about it, he said, "Deed.~ aTe reviewed all Mooday and Thursday,

ami I like liral my .:ked! be reviewed while I am fastillg ."

6. Fasting every olher day: Ihis is the way D~lwlrd )1Slil used to fast,

(I) They at< <0 cal~ btc.use lht sky;s Iii by rnonligh! (In Il1c nighrs of those

day"

according to wh;t[ AI-Bukhiiri said quoting AII.'ih's Mcs'\Cngcr

3: as S:lying, "Nw a day lind break your /,UI II day; Ihis is Ihe

/aslinK 0/ Dtiwrid ,'tj;i!., wilich is lire besl "kind 0/ fIM'/ing ."

These are the most important optional forms of worship whi~h

have been proven to be ];twful ;tccording to the Prophetic SlI/1/ra/r.

So, he keen, my fe llow educ;ttor, on setting a good example for

your family by pcriorming optional prayer and fasting in order that

they may learn from you and follow your example. Then let this

good example be followed hy kind words and good admoniti011 in

calling for the virtue of optional and voluntary deeds.

F. Fearing Alliih G'! ' this is established by Allah's saying,

1" ~;> ,

"Who sees }'O/I (0 Muhammad :i:) when )'ou -flaRd up (allme al

night for Tahajjad prayrts) . ~ (Ash-Shu'"" .. 2\9)

It is also established by His saying,

• ;:r , '" ;:;.: h •

"And lie i. with )'all (hy Ilis Knowledge) ,,'hrr~"or!'l'r you lIIay

he. And Alliih is the A/I-&er o/wha/ plU do." (A I.I:bdid. 4) and

1" ,r~"" !i .j 1~ ,j; J.i.i: -i ;,ir ~l ,

"Truly, no/hing is hidden from AIMh. in the earth Or in the

hearen •. " (AI 'lmran, 5)

In this respect, the Prophet ~ says, "Doing good means /{}

worship A /ltilr liS if )1011 see 1/ im: if you do 1101 .we him, lie sees yOI/. "

The I'rophet also says. as related by At-Tirrnid hi. "Fear Alltilr

wherever you are, allll make a good deed/oil"", II had deed so l/rlll il

may eliminate ii, and deal ",illi people wit/r good manners."

We learn from the sum-total of these QlIr'iinie verses and

Prophet ic traditions that Islam cares much about the upbringing of

the M u~lim ind Ividual on the basis of fearing Allah. both in public

and in private, reckoning oneself. and being pious at atl times.

When you, my fellow educator, behave like this with your child,

and implant in the bottom of his heart the seeds of fearing Alliih,

reckoning himself, being pious, and raise him on fea ring Allah

when he works and on reckoning himself when he thinks, and

experiencing pious feelings, he will be sincere to Allah, the Lord of

the worlds in all his states and deeds and in all his behavior. Hy so

doing he will not do any deed except for the sake of winning

Alliih's satisfaction.

These are the most important articles in the Islamic way of

linking a Muslim spiritually, and fonning him in belief and morals.

It is certain that if a child is linked, from his early years, to the

worship of Allah in word and deed, and with reciting and

contemplating the Noble Qur'an, with frequenting mosques, with

continually celebrating Allah's praises, with perfonning voluntary

worship, and with fea ring Allah, the child will inevitably become

characterized by purity and goodness. He will be known for his

belief and sincerity, will be fearful of Allah and pious, and will be

marked with a trace of submission to Allah, the Lord of the

worlds.

Third: the Intellectual Connedion

This means linking the Muslim from the age of reason and

discrimination, through his boyhood. youth, and manhood, with

the system of Islam both as a re ligion and a state, with the

teachings of Islam and the Qur'an as a constitution and legislation,

wi th the sciences of jurisprudence (fiqh) as a way and rulings, with

Islamic culture as a spirit and an ideal, with Islamic heritage as a

civilization, and with the methodology of the Islamic Call in both

action and enthusiasm.

We have previously mentioned in the section on "The

Responsibility for Intellectual Education" some suggestions for

educators in raising their children intellectually. Now I am going to

summaritt what I have previously written. and I will add some

points, which are closely related to the points previouly dealt with.

These points aTe given in order as follows:

1. The eternal nature of Islam and its being proper for every time

and place.

2. Our fo refathers did not achieve thcir might, power, and

civilization except by cherishing Islam and applying the system

prescribed by the Qur'an.

3. Uncovering the Islamic civilization, which has been a lighthouse

for the whole world, guiding mankind with its light, and

quenching its th irst fOT knowledge throughout history.

4. Exposing the plans delineated by the enemies of Islam. These

are: evil Jewish plans, brutal impenal plans, atheistic communistic

plans, envious crusades.

5. Continually reminding of the fact that the nation of Islam will

not restore its well-merited place unless it adopts Islam as a way

and legislation, the Noble QUT'an as a Constitution and rulings,

and takes the following saying of 'Umar ~ as a mOllO, "We are

people whom AlHih has endowed with might by means of Islam.

No matter how hard we try to seek might by a means other than

the one Allfih has endowed us wi th, All iih will cause our

humiliation."

6. Continual reminding of the fact that the backwardness, disunity,

and division which have amicted the whole International

Islamic community, and this imperial Jewish dominion which

has imposed itself on Palestine and Al-Aq? Mosque is nothing

but a consequence of the Mus lims, leaving the way of Alliih and

failing to carry out His Commandments.

7. Continual reminding that the future is for Islam, regardless of

how hard the enemies conspire and the disbelievers plan. This is

established by the authentic Prophetic Ifadiih reported by

Imam Ahmad, " The jim Slage of your religian is Praphelhood

and mercy, which lasl willi you as long as AIMh wills il 10 10$/.

Then Allah 1ft willlifl il. Then Ihere will be a Ca/iphOlefollowing

Ihe way of ProphelhooJ, which lasts 0$ long 0$ Alltih wills;1 10

las/. then Allah RiI will lift it. Then there wi! he unjUSI rule. which

will last as long as Alhill wills ilIa losl. Ihen Allah Iii! willlifl il.

Then Ihere will be compu/;'nry rule, which will las/ as long as

Allah wills illO last, then Alltih iii will lift il. Then there will he

a ColiphlJle following the way of Prophe/Mod, applying Ihe

Prophet's Sunnah 10 people. Islam will he jirm in the land. so that

the dweller in hea"en ami/he dweller an Ihe enrt" wi/! he salisfied.

Hem'en Will1Wlletlve nland Willwul poI/ring heavy rain on it, and

Ihe eartb will nO/ withhold any plant or blessings but will give nll

of Ihem forth."

What we infer from this lIadiih is that it is now the turn of

compulsory rule, the token for which is the many coups which

bring those who have led them to rule regardless of the opinion

and will of the people. These dictatorships were sta rted by Ata

Turk in Turkey then followed one another in every place.

However, the promising evidence for Islamic awakening denotes

that this will not last for long, and the day will come when the

Caliphate will follow the way of Prophethood. Let us hope that

this will come true soon. Allah willing.

8. Continual warning against pessimism which sa ys, "Everything

has come to an end and we have failed", and "Stay at home;

Work and glory are or no benefit." The Noble Qur'an warns us

from this impeding group when it says,

~ ~ :,1 (f) ':1j 1: .;i$ $';\ 1.; 'C:lj rt rt'J-"t ~TiII ~ :;.;.:n :if ~ ,J. ~

y:;.S G~ :;"Pf £,: ~ ~ ~1' j.'r;j ~ Ul;il ~ t;I~~ ~j.li .;; III ~

~ ~tV;j:it ~ [:..:; j..1tl);;,rJ ~ i~) if,.,. hJ\ fr-;J:..1~

"Af/ih o.lready blows those amollg you who keep hack (men)

from fig hring ill AfM" 's Calise, alld those who say to thdr bret hr~n

"Come hue to,,'ards a .• ," ","if~ they ( themu freJ) come not to the

bartfe except a fitlfe, Being miserly towards yoa (as frgards help and

aid ill Alltih's e aa,.r) . Then when fear comes, you ,,'iII see them

fooking to you, thd r ~yes rerolring lik~ (thOSf! of) one 'wer "'hom

hm'us dearh; bur "'hell the fear departs, t"ey "'il/ Jmitl! you ",it"

sharp ton!Jues, miserly IOII'ards (spendillg any rhing ill any) good

(and 01111' COPelOlI.' of homy and ",ealth). Sach "ave not befie red.

Thuefore A 1M" muke .• their deeds fr"j/feu ... "(AI .A~tib. 18. 19)

The Messenger 3: warns us against this group of hinderers

which impedes the political and struggling progress of Muslims. He

says, .. Whoso<'ver SU)'S. mankind hllve become II wellk is theftrsi one

who deserves 10 be so des/royed." You should, fellow educator,

leach these facts 10 your family day and night and should

continually remind them so that all may move towards Islam with

an enthusiastic optimistic spirit, high aspirations, and firm

believing hearts,

Among the ways Ihat link your child with Islam intellectually

and emotionally is listening to enlightening ordtions, valuable,

sophisticaled lectures, and good historical plays. So, be keen, my

fellow educator, to choose the appropriate mosque where you

pcrfonn the Friday Congregational prayer, to choose the proper

place to lislen to lectures, and to choose the right place to watch

plays. These are the most important mcan~ which I suggest to you,

to link: your child mtclle<:tually, and prepare him in lenns of creed

and belief.

Fourth: the Social Conn~lion

The social connection is such that the educator should e~ert his

utmost 10 link the child from the age or discretion to comprehend

the essence of things, with a righteous, clean, social environment,

Pari Three

form which he acquires cleansing for himself, purity for his heart,

consolidation for his belief, useful knowledge for his mind, healthy,

good manners for his body, Islamic enlightenment for his intellect,

sincere struggle for the sake of his call to Islam, divine light for his

spirit, and believing enthusiasm for his religion.

But what is this righteous social environment which helps a

child acquire these noble attributes, and makes him that righteous,

enlightened, and ideal? In my opinion it can be realized through

three connections:

I. Linking the child with the guide.

II. Linking the child with righteous company.

III . Linking the child with the call and callers to Islam.

I. Linking the Child with the Guide

If the child is linked with a righteous, sincere guide, who

understallds the authentic sources of Islam, who struggles for i t,

applies its rulings, commands, and prohibitions, and who fears no

blame as a result of his following what is right, no two people

would disagree thal this child will be perfect in belief and morals,

he will also be mature intellectually, will be able to struggle and call

to the way of Alliih, and will be generally raised on firm belief and

sound Islam. However, if we look around, right and left, and triy

to examine the conditions of those who undertake guidance and

raising souls, what do we lind?

Unfortunately, we will find that most of them give their pupils a

distorted negative picture of Islam or offer a certain aspect of it,

neglecting others. Some examples of delineating a negative picture

of Islam are the following sayings:

- Islam does not have a system of government.

- A good Muslim should not be engaged in politics.

-!fyoll saw your guide in a sinning state, YOll should think that it is

obedience to Allah.

- If the follower docs not approve of everything said by his guide,

even of an evil thought, then he is not keeping the pledge to him,

besides other similar sayings which lIrc in contradiction with

Alliih's law and the system of Islam.

Here are some examples of those who command a cerlain aspect