YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

does not define a person; it is one stage in a longer journey. From the Quranic perspective, trials are part of life and can help develop patience, humility and character. The emphasis should therefore shift from grades to effort, and from competition to self-improvement. Children should be taught that they do not need to be perfect. They need to strive, learn from mistakes and find meaning beyond material achievement. Failure can be a redirection, not a dead end. What is the role of the elders of the house who have reached old age in the making of a home? Old age is a great blessing from God. Older people are often free from many responsibilities that occupied them earlier in life, giving them more time for learning and for developing a deeper understanding of the Quran and Hadith. They can also bring patience, wisdom and experience into the home. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan once wrote about a young man who would sit with his elderly father after returning from work. His father would tell simple stories from his youth. At first the son found them repetitive, but gradually realised that they contained lessons in patience, gratitude and perseverance. His father’s calmness during arguments and crises also taught him to listen, pause and value relationships over winning an argument. Older people, therefore, should not merely be seen as family members who need care. They can become living sources of wisdom and experience. Like the roots of a tree, their quiet presence can give stability and strength to the entire family.  Everyone in this world should behave as a morally responsible servant of God and everyone is given equal opportunities to do so.