“OUR CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS OVER US”
Honorable Muslims!
In the verse I have recited, our Lord Almighty (swt) states, “Know that your wealth and your children are only a test and that with Allah is a great reward.”1
In the hadith I have read, the Messenger of Allah (saw) says, “There is no gift that parents give their child more virtuous than good manners.”2
Dear Believers!
Our children are one of the most beautiful blessings and precious gifts given to us by the Almighty Allah. They are a blessing entrusted to us by our Lord (swt). Our children are the ornaments of our homes and the joy of our families. Our children are the light of our eyes, the most precious legacy we will pass on to the future.
Dear Muslims!
Our children are born into a world with a pure nature. In their essence is truth; in their soul is good. They tend to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Therefore, we have some responsibilities to ensure that our children can preserve their pure and clean nature. We all have specific duties to raise them in the light of our national and spiritual values.
Dear Mothers and Fathers!
In one of his hadiths, our Prophet (saw) says, “Your child has rights over you.”3 Our primary duty is to ensure that our children eat halal food, are dressed in nice and clean clothes, and are provided with a good education. It is one of our most important duties to bring up our children to be good servants of Allah (swt) and individuals who will benefit their nation and humanity. It is their right over us that we shape their personality and character based on Islamic ethics and guide them in learning our customs and traditions.
[1] Anfal, 8/28.
[2] Tirmidhi, Birr, 33.
[3] Muslim, Siyam, 183.
FRIDAY KHUTBA of TOKYO CAMII “OUR CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS OVER US”(PDF)