Strong Memories our children possess - Harness it right

Assalamu Alaikum, Almighty God's peace and blessings be upon you ...

There was a time when I used to lead a married bachelor's life, and in my heart I used to hate it. Anyway, there used to be lots of family people with their kids visiting my home, and to provide personal satisfaction to my heart, I would spend time with these kids.

I would play with them, tell them stories and joke around with them, and they used to love it.

One of the many little girls named Laila (name changed) happened to listen attentively to one of my many stories. And after a long long time period of 8 years replicated it in black and white, presented it to her class (3rd grade, now) and got A+ grade.

When questioned by her father, she responded that she heard the story from me, and treasured it only to reproduce it after such a long years to win a prize.

Her father, my very good friend, ex-room mate called me on the Eid day and shared this wonderful incident with me. My parents(Pray to Allah swt to keep them in the company of Shohadah and Saliheen, give them maghfeerah, provide them shade of His throne on the day of judgement, and allocate them the best position in Jannah Aameen) used to say that children memory is like  wet cement. Whatever you narrate to them, it gets hinged to their memory.

As parents, it is our duty to share with them stories of our beloved
Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), and the sacrifices he and his companions made to spread the Deen of Allah. Share with them the history of Islam, stories of prophets, as this will inculcate in them all the good qualities of great people.

And here comes the important part as parents as we have to play a perfect role model. Dictating a sermon on maintaining regularity for Fajr prayer, and you yourself end up snoring your time, then its a bad role model you are playing.

Here, I would like to talk about my office colleague newly emigrated from Pakistan, who happily claims that he has to wake his son ( a near teenager) only once, and his son gets up ready to go to masjid with his dad for Fajr prayer. Here the father is playing a good role model.

I know this is tough for some, but this is what is called as a "sacrifice". Haven't we read in the holy Qur'an, that as parents take care of your family first, as on the day of judgment you will be questioned about them.

Another good brother of mine from Bangladesh conducts weekly halaqa, and Allah swt has blessed him with a daughter (7years) and 2 sons (5years, 2.5 years). He allocates responsibility to his daughter and first son to prepare few ayah from the Holy Qur'an. Of course, he and his spouse guides them. And when the halaqa day comes, the daughter presents the topic before the whole halaqa members. This way, she is learning and as well presenting the good work.

We must encourage our children, befriend them, pardon their mistakes, pray for them
24 X 7, guide them and most important listen to them PATIENTLY. We must not find fault with their activities. To put it delicately, one must say, "If I were you, I would have done this", not directly commanding them, You fool, you should have done this.

Do you know the name of the sahaba (lady) who fought besides our beloved
Holy Prophet Muhammed(PBUH) in one of the battles against Kuffar.

Who said "Akhdim Akhdim Haizoon" when and to whom.

Who is Abu Dujaana, and do you know in what tale of bravery he is famous.

Name the young lads who finish Abu Jahl in Badr.

Do you know upon which prophet (PBUH) did Allah swt showered golden crickets as a prize for his long patience.

Do you know upon which prophet (PBUH)'s body  Allah swt grew a plant through which he used to feed himself for an allotted time.

Do you know the number of children who spoke when they were just born babies (Two of them are mentioned in Holy Qur'an).

Try to find the answers to all these questions, and share this with your children.

If we dont carve out a path for our children, then the outside environment will make them go astray. Facebook, cartoons, movies, soap operas will contaminate their young minds.
Dora, Barbie, Iron man, Spider man, Spongebob Squarepants will become their role models, and we all know what doom this will lead to.

Pray to Allah swt to protect our children and our lineage to come,  from the fitnah of Iblees.
Pray to Allah swt to keep our children and our lineage to come under His safest custody 24X7, and make them lead their lives within the radius of Deen, Islam, and make them strong momeen and a good Dayee. Aameen.