YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad) The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey. What is the greatest harm parents can do to their children? The greatest harm parents can do to a child is to indulge every demand out of love. This teaches the child to expect that every wish should be fulfilled, creating a painful contradiction when they encounter the real world. Parents who give in to every demand may mean well, but the child eventually discovers that the world does not work this way and may struggle to accept reality. Parental love should therefore not be used for pampering, but for preparing children for life. Parents should teach patience, responsibility and an awareness of their duties, helping children grow into responsible and contributing members of society. What is the most precious gift parents can give their children? A Hadith of the Prophet says that the best gift a father can give his child is good manners. Parents should teach their children how to behave well, deal with difficult situations, understand God’s Creation Plan, practise gratitude and think positively. They should also teach them to avoid a complaining attitude, become dutyconscious and fulfil their responsibilities sincerely while seeking their reward from God. God has given us the blessing of family so that we may nurture our children with love, instil good values in them and prepare them to become beneficial members of society.