The Three Struggling Muslimahs

29

"Khalifah 'Umar ibn 'Abdul 'Aziz Rahimahullah wrote the following instructions to his children's mentor," The girls had began school after the long eid holiday and for the day to start with Miss Rayhannah's class was beyond exciting for each of them. It was the first class of the week and that meant story time. For any of the souls in the room, to think that in less than three months school would be officially over, was a scary thought.

"Be strict on them for this is more effective in restraining them. Stop them from sleeping after Fajr Salah, for this causes stupidity and or negligence. They should laugh less for a lot of laughing kills the heart and soul.

Let the first thing you inculcate in them be the hatred for music, for I have heard from various people of Knowledge ('Ulama) that music develops hypocrisy in the heart just as water grows grass.

Each of them should commence the day with the recitation of the Holy Quran in the proper manner. When they complete that, they should take their bows and arrows and proceed barefooted to the range. Each of them should shoot 7 times. Thereafter they should take mid-day sleep. For Sayyiduna 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood Radiyallahu'anhu used to say: Oh my children! Take siesta, for verily the devils do not do so."

"These words of Khalifah 'Umar ibn 'Abdil 'Azeez (rahimahullah) give us the following lessons on upbringing of children:

1. To commence the day with the recitation of the Quran

2. Not to sleep after Fajr

3. To abstain from music

4. To laugh less

5. Engagement in physical activity, like archery

6. The importance of siesta (qaylulah)

Each of the above are valuable lessons of life, which we as ladies and future mothers can implement and also inculcate in our children.

Quran Recital every morning-

Many of us commence our day by reading the news, which is more depressing than informative or by catching up on our timeline, or swifting through emails etc.

The recitation of Quran, first thing in the morning will bring barakah (blessing) in our affairs throughout the day. Our children should see us reciting the Quran after Fajr. This will subconsciously lead them on to the same.

Music! This affects so many of us wallahy. We are never too young to abstain.
We often justify out leniency towards our kids' indulgence in haram or makruh (repulsive) deeds by saying: 'They are too young'.

The fact that 'Umar ibn 'Abdil 'Aziz detested music even for his under aged children, demonstrates to us how we should view the training of our own.

Don't allow the seeds of hypocrisy to grow even at that tender age. The computer games that they play should be free of foul language, evil habits and the music should be turned off. Never underestimate the effect that these supposed "games" could have on an innocent mind. It's sad, how lightly we take the issue of Music that even as adults, we repeatedly need to be cautioned of our ringtones.

Who is there that can say he has never heard a musical ringtone go off while in Salah in the Masjid?!

Who would have believed it if we were told a decade ago, that a time will come when a Muslim will play music or at least allow it to be played while in sajdah, the closest posture we could get to Allah Ta'ala?!

Entertainment:
Today we all look for how to be best entertained rather than spend our time usefully.

Laughter and jokes have become so common, that at times one will notice people joking even at a janazah!

The rare opportunity we get to ponder about death doesn't pass with an unnecessary joke or fable being shared.

Even in religious lectures, the crowds are inflated if the speaker can entertain better...

As mentioned earlier, these were 'Umar ibn 'Abdul 'Aziz's Rahimahullah guidelines for the upbringing of children. Alas many of us adults need this lesson too.

Natural physical activity:
'Khalifah 'Umar ibn 'Abdil 'Aziz Rahimahullah specifically ordered the mentor to take them outdoors for archery daily. The pagan Arabs also preferred to send their kids to the villages where they could spend their time outdoors, herding goats and learning basic life skills. In fact, until a few decades ago, we too would spend our days outdoors in various activities.

Today's child may be engaging in very similar activities too, but instead of it being outdoors they do it on a screen! It's no more physical, it's actually electronic!

Physical activity has its own benefit in early childhood development that can never be replaced with any electronic device. Parents need to carefully think of ways to keep their children occupied in a manner that won't just keep them from bothering their parents, but ways that will enhance the child's mind, body and Iman as well.

May Allah guide us all, and may He inspire us with the correct tact in upbringing our innocent offsprings."

"Aameen" the girls answered.

"You guys are about to sit for your national exams. This is when you need to concentrate a hundred and one percent on your studies and all that. But before that, actually, while you are up to that, don't forget to pray and stay steadfast in your deen. You need to talk, I'm here. Don't you ever tell yourself that you can handle the stress. Don't let it accumulate. Ever! You need to relieve it, please! please! please! come to me my babies. Don't go through it alone! Kapish!?"

"Kapish!"

They shared a laugh.

Author's note:
This is a message that has been circulating on Whatsapp. Thought I'd share it and use the characters where they can fit in.