Sermon stresses attentiveness towards pupils during Ramadan

Raising children in a loving and caring environment to bring about a productive and moral generation was the responsibility of the whole community, worshippers are told.

Raising children in a loving and caring environment to bring about a productive and moral generation was the responsibility of the whole community, worshippers were told during the Government-issued sermon delivered in mosques throughout the country on Friday. For many children, the new school year begins today and teachers, students, parents and society as a whole had a role to play in shaping youth and preparing them for the future, the sermon said.

"We must know that we are responsible for raising our young. The Prophet said: 'All of you are shepherds, and all of you are responsible for your followers.' "Fathers and mothers must provide an appropriate atmosphere to help their children study in a family environment surrounded with love and affinity. They should not upset the tranquillity of their children with meaningless familial conflict."

The sermon noted that, during Ramadan, routines were often interrupted, with many gathering with extended families and staying up late, socialising, going out to restaurants or watching their favourite Ramadan specials on television at home. Some parents were too lax during the fasting month and allowed school to lose its priority, worshippers were told. "They must contact the school and follow up on their children's progress ... supervision and following up are the responsibility of both the schools and the family. Our good country has provided us with all that is needed to give our children the chance to obtain contemporary knowledge, so we must take advantage of all that this country offers us. By obtaining knowledge, we are repaying this favour to our motherland and working towards its advancement and refinement."

Public school teachers also had a vital role to play. "The teacher should be a good example for students to follow. He must show good manners, give generously from his vast knowledge, have integrity in carrying out his exalted duty, and to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet." The General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments issues a sermon every week and expects imams to preach within the topic.

Friday's topic was relevant as many people had called for the postponement of the beginning of the school year until after Ramadan, fearing fasting might create hardship for teachers and students. Public and private schools and universities will begin in September as scheduled, but will have shorter hours to accommodate staff and students who might be fasting. "As for students, they must attend school and not skip classes, the sermon said. "They must be well-mannered, and treat their teachers with the utmost respect, and to pay attention to their studies without wasting time doing useless things. They must remember the hadith of the Prophet: 'Seeking knowledge is a duty for every Muslim.'"

At the Mariam bint Sultan Mosque, one of the few that delivers sermons in English, Sheikh Jihad Hashem told worshippers to celebrate the fact that Ramadan coincided with the start of the school year. "The door to the sky is open. What better way to begin," he said. [e-mail]