THE DUTY OF A PARENT

The mentality, mannerisms, behaviour, and lifestyle of a child are influenced by the training and the education of Deen‎ given his parents. A child will develop and progress according to the way his parents teach him and discipline him. On the day of Qiyaamah, Allah Ta’ala will ask each parent about his children: 

• What education and training did you give to your children? 

• What did you teach him?

Together with the responsibility of food and clothing, each parent should give his children a‎ formation of Deen for him to be honourable in the eyes of Allah Ta’ala and be spared from jahannam.

In some aspects, this responsibility is on the mother as the father spends much time outside the house. It's the mother who spends more time with the child. So, she must teach and discipline her child. First of all, she herself should present a good example so that she assumes her responsibility better.

If a mother is pious, she does not lie, she is not rude, she wakes up early, she performs Salah in the morning, and she does the Tilaawat of Qur’an, so her children too will develop these good qualities. But if the mother does not behave well, then the children will follow the actions of her mother. It will be engraved in them throughout their lives till their death. And the result will be very harmful in Dunya and Aakhirah. All this is due to the effect of the home environment and the behaviour of the mother.

Therefore, it is necessary for the parents to stay away from sins and the forbidden things in Islam and to practice the commandments of Allah Ta’ala. On the other hand, they must also teach the children to stay away from sins and to practice the Deen‎. In this way, they will have a good formation of Deen‎ and an Islamic education so that they can prosper in Dunya and Aakhirah.

[English version of "Devoir ene parent" - Al Jamiat - Vol.1 No.12]