Raising your Child to be a Muslim

It is true that the first learning center for a child is the mother’s lap. The mannerisms of the parents are reflected in the children.

The story of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani is famous: When he was traveling with a caravan, a gang of thieves robbed the caravan, when it came time to check Abdul Qadir Jeelani (Rahmatullahi Alaih), an eighteen year old young man, the thieves inquired if he had any valuables to which told them about money which had been sewn in his clothes by his mother. The thieves asked out of curiosity as to why he let them know of the sewn money to which he told them that his mother had advised him before leaving ‘to never lie’ upon which the thieves become ashamed and repented to Allah.

It is the duty of the parents to be an example to their children and advise them. Allah (Subhanahu Ta’ala) tells us of the advise that Luqman Hakeem gave to his son, “Behold, Luqman said To his son by way of instruction: “O my son! Join not others with Allah; association with Allah is indeed the highest wrong-doing.”

Then after some ayaat, the advise continues,
O my son! If there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth; for Allah knows the finest mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them).

O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is Just, and forbid what is wrong; and bear with patient constancy whatever befalls thee; these are affairs of determination.

And swell not thy check (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; For Allah loveth not Any arrogant boaster.

And be moderate in thy pace, and lower they voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of an ass.

(Surah Luqman)

We can recall not to long ago in our Muslim culture that all the grown-ups in the community would take the role of guiders for the youth. No child dared acting up in front of elders in any gathering. All the elders held enough authority that they could discipline the child without having to face the wrath of the parents as is the case today. As a result, children tend to misbehave and disrespect elders because they no longer have fear discipline from anyone besides that parents and that too is seen little.

Parents find out too late that what they thought was giving ‘freedom’ to their children was really digging a hole for them. Being affectionate to your child is one thing but to let them free to do anything is not affection rather it is hurting the child. Ah, this is all a result of the parents forgetting the duty of teaching the child. More often the television takes the place of the parent and it is from here the child gains much of his/her ill-mannerisms. Today, I ask you to take my words to be a reminder and a word of caution.

When the child is able to speak a little, teach them the name of Allah. Before, mothers would put their children to sleep by chanting Allah Allah, but now it is by playing the music on the radio.

When children are mature do not do anything in front them which will ruin their mannerisms because they tend to copy these acts, they do whatever they see their parents doing. Never argue with your spouse in front of them because this leaves puts a lot of stress on the child and causes them to think that they are the cause of the argument. Never curse your children.

Pray Salah in front of them, recite Quran, take them to the Masjid with you, and tell them stories of our pious predecessors, they like to listen to stories very much. Hearing stories with lessons and morals will increase their good habits. When they are a little older, teach them the five Kalimat, Imane Mujmal, Imane Mufassal, and then teach them Salah.

Put them in under the teaching of an Allah-fearing, Mutaqee Saheehul Aqeeda Hafiz or Maulvi of to learn Quran Majeed and knowledge of the deen so they can learn of the beautiful religion to which they belong. Teach them the masail of gusul, wudu, and salah.

If Allah gives you taufeeq, make atleast on your children Alim or Alimah or Hafiz or Hafiza. A Hafiz will get three generations forgiven and Alim will get seven generations forgiven [on the Day of Judgement]. It is baseless to think that an Alim has no source of earning bread for his family. Know that one does not get more than destined by learning uloom of the dunya; one will get what Razzaq has written for him.

Teach your children simplicity and do not expose them to materialism. Teach them the value of doing thier own work. Send them to college, make them judges, make them doctors or any successful and halal career in this world but make them such that they take on these professions as honest Muslims who know their religion.

Omair Abdul Jabbar

A message to every Muslim (Sacha Ashiq -e-Rasool (P.B.U.H ) A must Watch Speech ...

Making od Wadu ...

Fards in Wuzoo
THERE ARE FOUR FARA'ID (MANDATORY ACTS) IN AN ABLUTION.
1-To wash the face once.
2-To wash the two arms together with the elbows once.
3-To apply masah on the one-fourth of the head, that is, to rub a wet hand softly on it.
4-To wash the feet, together with the ankle-bones on the side once.

Sunnats in AblutionThere are eighteen Sunnats in an ablution.
1-To recite "Bismillah" before the making the ablution.
2-To wash the hands including the wrists three times.
3-To rinse the mouth three times by using new water each time. This is called madmada.
4-To wash both nostrils three times, taking fresh water each time. This is called istinshaq.
5-To wet the invisible parts of the skin under the eyebrows, the beard and the mustache. It is fard to wash their exterior surfaces. If the hairs are scarce and the skin can be seen, it will be fard to wet and wash the skin.
6-To wet the section under the two eyebrows when washing the face.
7-To apply the masah on the hanging part of the beard.
8-To comb (taklil) the hanging part of the beard with the wetted fingers of the right hands.
9-To rub and clean the teeth with something.
10-To apply masah (to wipe) both ears once.
11-to apply masah on the neck once with three adjacent fingers of both hands.
12-to wash (takhlil ) between the fingers and the toes, the little fingers of the left hand is inserted between the toes from under them in successions,beginning with the little toe of the right foot and, after finishing with the right foot, carrying on with big toe of the foot.
13-To apply masah on the whole head once.
14-To wash every limb three times which is to be washed. At each washing every part of the limb must be moistened. It is sunnat not to pour water three times but to wash it completely three times. It is makruh to wash more than three times.
15-To intend through the heart to get reward when beginning the Wudu.
16-Tartib. In other words, to wash the two hands, the mouth, the nostrils, the face, the arms, then apply masah on the head, and not to change this order.
17-Dalk, to rub the limbs washed.
18-Muwalat, to wash the limbs one right after another quickly.

Mustahabbats in AblutionThere are twenty-eight twenty-eight mustahabbats in an ablution.
In this context adab means something which causes blessings when done but incurs no sin if committed.
1- To make an ablution before it is time for Salaat.
2-If the private parts have not been smeared with najasat (impurity); it is an adab to wash them with water. If the najasat (impurity) is less than one dirham [which is equal to one mithqal: four grams and eighty centigrams], it is sunnat to wash. If one has been smeared with one dirham of it, it is wajib, and if more than that it is fard to wash.
3-To wipe oneself dry with a piece of cloth after washing. If there is no cloth one must wipe with one's hand.
4-To cover oneself right after the cleaning is completed.
5-Not to ask for help from anybody, but to perform the ablution by oneself. If one pours water for one without being asked, it will be permissible.
6-To turn towards the qibla when making an ablution.
7-Not to talk while making an ablution.
8-To recite the kalmia-i-shahadat while washing each limb.
9-To recite the prescribed prayers (du'a) of ablution.
10-To put water in the mouth with the right hand.
11-To put water in the nose with the right and to clean the nose with the left hand.
12-When washing the mouth, rinse it if not fasting.
13-When washing the nostrils, to draw the water almost up to the bone.
14-When applying masah on the ears, insert each little finger into each earhole, respectively.
15-To use the little finger of the left hand when washing between the toes when inserting from the lower sides of them.
16-To shift the ring when washing the hands. It is necessary and fard to shift a tight ring.
17-Not to waste water though it may be plentiful.
18-Not to use little water so as to appear rubbing with oil. During each the three washing, at least two drops of water must fall from the place washed.
19-After using a container for ablution, to leave the container full of water so that the other may use it.
20-To recite the prayer (du'a ) "ALLAHUMMAJ'ALNI MINATTAWWABIN….."after or during the ablution.
21-To make an ablution though one has an ablution. In other words, after performing one namaz, renew your ablution for the next namaz.
22-To clean the inner corner of the eyes and clear away the dried mucus in the eyelids when washing the face.
23-When washing the face, the arms and the feet, wash a little more than the compulsory amount. When washing the arms, we must fill our palm with water and then pour it towards the elbow.
24-When performing an ablution, do not let the water used splash back on the body, the cloths, etc.
25-To wash the face with both hands.
26-To put the water container on the right side. While performing an ablution.
27-When washing the foot, start from the fingers.
28-To perform two rak'at [cycle] salaat after an ablution, which is called "THAHEEYA-TUL-WUDU".

Prohibitions in WazooThere are ten prohibitions in performing an ablution
1-When relieving one or urinating in the toilet or outdoors, one should not turn one's front or back towards the Qibla. It is makruh also to stretch one's feet towards the Qibla or the Quran. If the Quran is above one it will not be makruh.
2-It is haram to open one's private parts near someone in order to make taharat.
3-One should not make taharat with one's right hand.
4-When there is no water, it is makruh to make taharat (to clean oneself ) with food products, manure,bones,animals food,coal,someone else's property,reeds,leaves. Instead of that should have "Tayammum".
5-One must not spit or throw mucus into the pool where one makes an ablution.
6-One should not wash one's limbs of ablution much more or less than the prescribed limit, nor wash them more or less than three times.
7-While washing the face, one must not splash the water on one's face, but pour it from the upper forehead downwards.
8-One must not blow on or over the surface of the water.
9-One must not close one's mouth and eyes tightly. If even a tiny part of the outward part of the lips or the eyelids is left dry, the ablution will not be acceptable.
10-One must not make masah on one's head, ears or neck more than once after moistening the hands each time. But it can be repeated with moistening the hands again.