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Teaching Our Children |
Within the two-parent Muslim family, there are, by definition, two educators for the child: the father and the mother. Contrary to current thinking, a father's role is not limited to paying the bills and engaging in a little consultation now and then.
The Muslim father is also responsible for his child's training and education. Concerning this, the Prophet (S) said: A father gives his child nothing better than a good education. (Mishkat, 4977, transmitted by Tirmidhi and Baihaqi) |
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There is a wealth of material in the Qur'an and hadith encouraging learning and acquiring knowledge in general. Although mothers are not addressed specifically, they are often the major force in carrying out this obligation |
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In the first Muslim community, both men and women learned their religion directly from the Prophet (S). In cases in which men were addressed, they were responsible for conveying the information to their wives and children. |
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| Women were almost exclusively in charge of early-childhood education, as well as usually being responsible for the education of girls. Men were responsible for seeing that their children learned their religion and its way of life and behaved according to its teachings.
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| Respectful
behaviour is an extremely important value in Islam - respect for parents, grandparents and other relatives, elders, teachers, Muslims, and human beings in general. However, we are living in an environment in which lack of respect - for others and for themselves - seems to be a hallmark of the young generation. Unfortunately, this prevailing attitude of disrespect often carries over even into religion. |
| Some children speak of Allah Ta'ala without the proper respect and even treat the Holy Qur'an with disrespect. Generally acting flippant toward religion is not acceptable
behaviour. A parent does not need to be harsh or mean about this, but merely be firm and consistent in not allowing disrespectful
behaviour. |
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