Shaykh Faraz explains the parenting duty in light of the aspects of tarbiya (taking the child, stage by stage, to his/her ultimate fruition), ta’deeb (instilling discipline/adab) and ta‘leem (facilitating knowledge). Parents must instill in their children love of Allah, of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), of his family, and the Holy Qur’an. They should also instill the daily sunnas and the prophetic virtues. Shaykh Faraz advises parents to attach their children to religion, and to keep them away from bad company.
Ustadha Shireen argues that a good murabbi (one who takes the child from stage to stage, to his/her ultimate fruition) must rectify their own spiritual shortcomings. They must seek knowledge and exemplify the prophetic sunna, because their children will emulate them. Spouses should respect and have good manners with one another, and learn from each other’s experiences of being raised in different ways. The mother is particularly important, as she sets the atmosphere in the home.
Shaykh Walead explains the nature/nurture debate. He says the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave the most weight to nurture, saying children are born in a state of fitra (natural instinct), and parents make them Jewish, Christian, or Magian. He argues that children today have conflicting environments: an Islamic one in the home and an ego-driven one shaped by the global monoculture. He emphasizes the importance of building the Muslim community and defying the surrounding lifestyle.
- Teacher: Shaykh Walead Mosaad
- Teacher: Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand how to raise righteous children.
- Model prophetic manners themselves so that children can emulate them.
- Understand the importance of seeking knowledge to rectify their shortcomings.
- Realize how to nurture children in order to build a stronger Muslim community.
