If you are blessed with children raise them well

Muslims today will be told that they have the responsibility to raise their children well.

Raising children to become the best adults is a social and religious obligation, Muslims will be reminded today.

“Children are the fruits of the heart ... they are the joy of parents when they are young and their support when they are old, they carry their names and memories,” today’s sermon says.

Life’s joys are only completed in their company, as a verse from the Quran says: “Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of the world.” Therefore, whoever was blessed with children should raise them well.

“A child grows up with a pure self ... so if he found who guides him to faith and steadiness and goodness”, he will grow up accordingly.

Prophet Mohammed always gave attention to children and taught them well. As Ibn Abbas said: “One day I was behind [riding behind him on the same mount] the Prophet and he said to me: ‘Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]. Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”

Moreover, when children are grateful for their parents’ good upbringing and efforts in raising and taking care of them, they could be the reason for a person’s upgrades in the hereafter.

Prophet Mohammed said in a hadith that a man’s class in heaven could be upgraded, and when he wonders where the upgrade came from, he will be told it was due to his son’s istighfar (seeking forgiveness) on his behalf.

If children are neglected they could fall into the cracks of society and not reach successful and pleasant positions in this life and the hereafter, therefore it is the parents responsibility to make sure they are on the right path, the sermon concludes.