YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How can I instil Islamic values in my child? Instilling Islamic values begins not with formal lessons, but with the atmosphere at home. Religion should be a natural part of everyday conversation and a priority rather than an afterthought. The mother has a particularly important role in shaping this spiritual environment. In August 1996, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan attended a gathering at Mountain Valley Mosque in New Jersey on the Islamic upbringing of children in American society. His message was simple: religious classes and cultural practices alone are not enough. Parents need to “Islamise your home”. Religion should have a central place in family conversations rather than allowing clothes, money, business and careers to dominate. Children learn values most effectively when they see them being lived at home. How can one introduce the real Islam to their children? Parents should sit with their children, read stories of the Prophets and the Companions, read the translation of the Quran together and provide a peaceful environment at home. They should talk with their children, ask their opinions and encourage them to think, reflect and reason, as the Quran repeatedly asks believers to do. Rituals alone are not enough; children should understand their meaning and spirit. Their natural curiosity should be encouraged and their questions answered patiently. They should also be encouraged to choose good friends, as bad company can have a powerful negative influence. Nowadays, suicide is on the rise in youngsters who have failed to achieve their desired academic goals. How can this be prevented? Student suicide can arise from the dangerous belief that personal worth depends on academic success. Failure in an examination is then seen as failure in life. This is a serious mistake. A person’s value is not determined by marks or degrees, but by the ability to learn, adapt and grow. Parents, teachers and society should help young people understand that success and failure are both part of life. Failure