Hajira Parvaiz
Mothers play a critical role in their families because they are the primary teacher of a child in Islamic culture. In the Islamic culture, the mother’s main responsibility is to raise children as responsible and upright Muslims by molding their young minds with the teachings of Islam and the doctrines of Allah.
Allah Almighty Says “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion…”[Quran 5: 3]
A good mother should always demonstrate love and affection to her children in order for them to grow as people filled with optimism, trust, hope and ambition. Remember to treat your children fairly and equally.
According to the Islam Basics Library, mothers who honor Allah lavish their children with love, but do not favor one over another.Teaching the attributes of Allah to your children at a young age is critical for all mothers. The most important aspect of Islam is teaching children to testify that there is no other god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger. The method of teaching varies depending on the age of the child.
Direct your children’s focus and attention to how to please Allah with good actions. children will associate good actions to pleasing Allah, which is the basic foundation of what a good Muslim should be. Guide them to become righteous people who do everything in the name of Allah.
As a mother, it is your greatest responsibility to raise your children with appropriate upbringing and strong Islamic education. It is your primary role to shape the mind of your child toward Islam.
Indeed the mother’s role may be even greater: while the children are young they are very close to her and dependent upon her, and they spend more time with her than with anyone else. There is an Arabic saying: “The mother is the first school”. She may be a good school, an indifferent or even a bad school. She may even be unaware that she is serving as a role model in her behavior, and her attitudes.
Every mother should be conscious of her role and do her best to make it beneficial for the development of her children as they set out on the journey of life. It is true that the first learning center for a child is the mother’s lap. The mannerisms of the parents are reflected in the children.
When the child is able to speak a little, teach them the name of Allah. Before, mothers would put their children to sleep by chanting Allah Allah, but now it is by playing the music on the radio.
Encouraging the child’s sense of belonging to the Muslim Ummah, by teaching him of the brotherhood between Muslims, teaching him to care for Muslims in any land, and that he is part of the Muslim body, to feel joy when Muslims are joyous, to feel sad for Muslims’ sadness, and to do best to achieve the Muslim nation’s goals. All of this can done practically through by:
Taking children to mosques and introducing them to their brother in Islam regardless their race, language, or origin. Teaching the children the history of the prophet (S.A.W.) and his companions and the history of Islam with in to the child’s capability of understanding. Encouraging children to sympathize with Muslim problems and to contribute to the solutions such as the poverty problem and to donate some money to the hungry Muslim children.
Taking part in the celebrations and festivals with Muslims and sharing picnics and creating ties with their Muslim brothers of the same age. Teach your children simplicity and do not expose them to materialism. Teach them the value of doing their own work. Send them to college, make them judges, make them doctors or any successful and halal career in this world but make them such that they take on these professions as honest Muslims who know their religion.
When children are mature do not do anything in front them which will ruin their mannerisms because they tend to copy these acts, they do whatever they see their parents doing. Never argue with your spouse in front of them because this leaves puts a lot of stress on the child and causes them to think that they are the cause of the argument. Never curse your children.