Expired
10-06-08, 07:16 PM
Teaching Good Character
The parent should aim to raise his children upon good character from a young age. He should teach them the Qur’an, the seerah of the Prophet and that of the companions also. One should not leave his children to continue making mistakes saying that he will correct them when they get older, because indeed it becomes increasingly more difficult to correct a person when he has grown up upon incorrect actions and bad characteristics. As a poet once said, “Whoever grows up upon something, he grows old upon that same thing.”
So we should teach our children from a young age the correct ‘aqeedah and belief, for example that Allah is above His Throne, and we should teach them love for the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his companions. We should also teach them aspects of good character, like being courageous, kind, generous and modest, etc. Then if one of our children makes a mistake, we should point out this mistake to them and explain that the action is wrong, not leaving them and saying ‘they are just children’ or that we will tell them when they grow older. This is because of the saying, “Whoever grows up upon something, he grows old upon that same thing.”
And from the guidance of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is that he used to train and bring up the children from a young age upon good manners and character. As can be seen in the hadith of Hasan (radhiallahu anhu), in which he narrates how he once took a date from the dates of sadaqah, and the Prophet reprimanded him and told him to take the date out of his mouth. The Prophet explained to him that the dates were for sadaqah (charity), and that sadaqah was not allowed for the Prophet or his family.
So the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not leave Hasan alone; rather, he reprimanded him for what he did and explained to him the correct way, using intelligence and hikmah. Likewise in the hadith of the son of Umm Salamah (radhiallahu anhuma), who narrated that he used to stay in the house of the Prophet, and that he used to eat in an incorrect way (ie from everywhere in the plate). So the Prophet said to him:
‘O boy! Mention Allah’s Name ie say ‘Bismillah’, eat with your right hand and eat that which is in front of you.’ (Al-Bukhari)
So this companion went on to narrate that he continued to practise this etiquette of eating until that day (ie until he had become older). This shows that the Prophet would correct the children by pointing out their mistakes, and also he did so in such a way that they would continue upon the correct way that he had taught them until they became older. And the Prophet is for us the best of examples to follow.
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The parent should aim to raise his children upon good character from a young age. He should teach them the Qur’an, the seerah of the Prophet and that of the companions also. One should not leave his children to continue making mistakes saying that he will correct them when they get older, because indeed it becomes increasingly more difficult to correct a person when he has grown up upon incorrect actions and bad characteristics. As a poet once said, “Whoever grows up upon something, he grows old upon that same thing.”
So we should teach our children from a young age the correct ‘aqeedah and belief, for example that Allah is above His Throne, and we should teach them love for the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and his companions. We should also teach them aspects of good character, like being courageous, kind, generous and modest, etc. Then if one of our children makes a mistake, we should point out this mistake to them and explain that the action is wrong, not leaving them and saying ‘they are just children’ or that we will tell them when they grow older. This is because of the saying, “Whoever grows up upon something, he grows old upon that same thing.”
And from the guidance of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is that he used to train and bring up the children from a young age upon good manners and character. As can be seen in the hadith of Hasan (radhiallahu anhu), in which he narrates how he once took a date from the dates of sadaqah, and the Prophet reprimanded him and told him to take the date out of his mouth. The Prophet explained to him that the dates were for sadaqah (charity), and that sadaqah was not allowed for the Prophet or his family.
So the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not leave Hasan alone; rather, he reprimanded him for what he did and explained to him the correct way, using intelligence and hikmah. Likewise in the hadith of the son of Umm Salamah (radhiallahu anhuma), who narrated that he used to stay in the house of the Prophet, and that he used to eat in an incorrect way (ie from everywhere in the plate). So the Prophet said to him:
‘O boy! Mention Allah’s Name ie say ‘Bismillah’, eat with your right hand and eat that which is in front of you.’ (Al-Bukhari)
So this companion went on to narrate that he continued to practise this etiquette of eating until that day (ie until he had become older). This shows that the Prophet would correct the children by pointing out their mistakes, and also he did so in such a way that they would continue upon the correct way that he had taught them until they became older. And the Prophet is for us the best of examples to follow.
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