Child Education

Child Education

1992 1-2 January-February 8-9 Child Education (565) Every child is born upright in nature. The Qur’an has this to say on “the upright nature with which Allah has endowed man. Allah’s creation cannot be changed. This is surely the true religion, although most men do not know it.” (30:30)

The essence of this verse is that every child born into this world is, from the moment of his or her creation, endowed with the consciousness of human values. What is right, what is wrong, the do’s and the dont’s are all already instilled in his or her psyche.

According to Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet (upon him be peace) said: Each newborn is upright in nature. It is the parents who make him a Jew, a Christian or a Zoroastrian (Bukhari, Sahih, Kitab Al-Tafsir, Chapter: Rome)

This hadith shows that moral deviation in most cases is the result of a vitiated atmosphere, and not the result of some fault of creation. Parents (or the immediate environment) play an important part in the formation of the human personality. If immediate environment is right, the growth of the child will be right. If the immediate environment is wrong, it will have an adverse effect on the child’s growth.

According to Al-Tirmizi, the Prophet said: “The best gift that a father can give to his child is to teach him good manners.” (Mishkat Al-Masabih, 3/1389).

This hadith throws light on the first and most important responsibility that falls on guardians towards the child: that is moral training, how to lead one’s life in this world. How to treat people. The prerequisites for becoming a good citizen: The child has to be prepared accordingly, keeping all this in view. The guardians or parents are the first people upon whom this responsibility devolves.

At the battle of Badr which took place during the life of the Prophet, seventy members of the enemy were taken prisoners, a number of whom were literate. It is worth remembering that the ransom set for their release by the Prophet was that each of them should teach ten Medinan children how to read and write. It is as if the first school set up by the Prophet of Islam had enemies and idolaters as its teachers. (Ibn Kathir, Seerah, 512/2).

This makes it very clear that Islam attaches such great importance to the education of children that great risks may be taken towards this end. We should not hesitate, therefore, to avail of any opportunity for education, even when the teachers are all non-Muslims, or enemies for that matter.

One example of the manner in which children should be educated is given in the Qur’an in chapter 31. Luqman was pious, truthful man. He said to his son when admonishing him: “My son, associate none with Allah, for to associate others with Him is a tremendous wrong.” (31:13). “My son, Allah will bring all things to light, be they as small as a grain of mustard seed, be they hidden inside a rock or in heaven or earth.” (31:16) “Allah is Knowing; Aware.” (31:34) “My son, be steadfast in prayer, enjoin justice, that is a duty incumbent on all. Do not turn away from men with scorn, nor, walk proudly on the earth: Allah does not love the arrogant and the vainglorious. Rather let your gait be modest and your voice low: The harshest of voices is the braying of the asses.” (31:17-19).