Children’s Rights Over Parents Pt3 – Tarbiyat

Main Topic

This lecture focuses on the crucial Islamic obligation of tarbiyat (proper upbringing and spiritual nurturation) of children. The speaker highlights key pillars for raising pious children, including ensuring 100% halal rizq, fostering a wholesome Islamic home environment, purging the love of dunya (materialism) from young hearts, teaching correct Islamic mannerisms, and parenting with affection and consistency.

Key Lessons

• Halal Earnings (Rizq): The spiritual light (nuraniyat) and character of children are directly affected by the purity of the food and wealth brought into the home. Income must be 100% halal, free from deceit, injustice to employees, or unfair treatment of suppliers.
• Conducive Home Environment: External Islamic schooling or hifz classes cannot compensate for an un-Islamic home. Parents must eliminate immodesty, music, television, and bad character from the household to safeguard their child's Iman.
• Removing Love of Dunya: Shaitan beautifies the material world to distract believers. Parents must constantly redirect a child's natural awe of earthly beauty toward Allah Ta'ala and the eternal rewards of Jannat.
• Curtailing Greed (Hirs): Greed is the root of most spiritual sicknesses. Parents should avoid giving in to tantrums or buying children every brand or item they demand, as instant gratification fosters greed and unprincipled adult behavior.
• Manners and Routine (Tarteeb): Teaching structured daily routines, respectful address toward elders, and Islamic table manners helps discipline the nafs (lower self) from a young age.

Quranic/Hadith References

• Surah At-Tahrim (66:6): "Qoo anfusakum wa ahlikum narah" (Save yourselves and your families from the Fire).
• Hadith of the Dead Kid Goat: Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) demonstrated the insignificance of dunya by showing Sahaba a dead defective goat, explaining that the world is even more worthless in the sight of Allah Ta'ala.
• Hadith on Dining Etiquette: Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) advised Umar ibn Abi Salama: "Sammillah, wa kul bi-yameenik, wa kul mimma yaleek" (Mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you).