Mercy is the foundation of Education for raising Children

In Our Religion of Islam

Lesson 01: Rahmah is the Foundation of Education

Raising children correctly is a vitally important issue for every parent and every educator because it is an amaanah(trust) from Allaah. Allaah has ordered us:

O you who believe save your own selves and your families from the hellfire.[Soorah at-Tahreem, 
 66:6]

Introduction:

From the advantages of Islam is that Allaah has given due attention to all of the stages of a person's life. The childhood stage is the most important stage. Childhood will set the pace for the rest of a person's life, especially, early childhood. If he is taught to be upright at this early stage, it is very likely that he will continue to be upright throughout his life. However, if he is taught corruption, he will be corrupt for the rest of his life unless Allaah has mercy on him. If you raise a child properly he will remain on this and you will have fulfilled your responsibility.

Abul-'Abbaas begins with the topic "Rahmah is the Foundation of Education."

He expounds on how mercy is the beginning, middle and end goal of of educating children. Allaah has informed us that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is the best example for us to follow. And the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has informed us that: "There is no newborn child except he is born upon the fitrah-the natural inclination that a person has to accept the truth and it is his two parents who make him a Jew, Christian or Fireworshipper."

Every child is inclined towards accepting tawheed, becoming upright and accepting Allaah's guidance. Parents and educators play a big role in affecting the outcome of the child (you can corrupt the child, take him away from his fitrah, make him go astray or you can give him the tools to become a righteous person). We are reminded that this duty we have is a crucial one and Allaah has given due attention to this responsibility. Allaaah and his Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) have laid down principles and guideline that will assist us in raising children correctly. If we take them on, we will be successful.

We are warned that if we teach children corrupt principles then our sins will be compounded with their sins of following what we have taught them.

Abul-'Abbaas brings four ahaadeeth that explain the importance of correctly educating those in our care. From them is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, who said the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever invites the people to some kind of guidance will get the reward of each person whom he guides, without decreasing their reward. Whoever invites to an evil thing, he will have the sin of himself and those who followed him."

We are warned, as parents and educators, to beware of our actions because children can emulate our bad actions even if we do not tell them to. We are warned also that this issue of guiding children correctly is a grave one as the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has warned us of the dire consequences of not taking care of this amaanah that Allaah has entrusted us with.

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