THE GREAT VIRTUE OF LOWERING THE GAZE

Allaah, the Exalted said, ‘’Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allaah is well acquainted with all that they do.’’ [an-Nur (24):30] So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value...

Read rest of entry

The upbringing of Muslim children (4)

EMOTIONAL CAREOne should be kind and merciful to his childrenAbu Hurairah reported that Al-Aqra’ bin Habis saw Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, kissing Hasan. He said: “I have 10 children but I have never kissed anyone of them,” whereupon Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “He who does not show mercy, no mercy will be shown to him.” [Muslim, Kitab al-Fadail.]Abdullah ibn abi Qatadah narrated: “My father said: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “When...

Read rest of entry

The upbringing of Muslim children (3)

AFTER BIRTHPHYSICAL CAREBreastfeedingIt is best that the mother nurses her child as her milk is the most beneficent nutrient for him and she is more merciful to him than any other woman. Allah said: “The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, that is for those who desire to complete the term of suckling.” (Qur’an 2:233)Modern research proved that the mother’s milk strengthens the child’s immune system at a time when the child is most vulnerable.Ibn ‘Umar, radiallahu ‘anhu,...

Read rest of entry

The upbringing of Muslim children (2)

AT BIRTHMaking Athan and Iqamah in the ear of the newborn baby.Abu Rafi, radiallahu ‘anhu, reported that he saw the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, making athan in Hasan’s ear when Fatima gave birth to him. (Related by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmithi who said it is an authentic hadith). This is to make the words that glorify Allah the first ones to reach a child’s ear and affect his heart.The second wisdom is to prevent the Shaitan from getting close to the unborn child. Abu Hurairrah, radiallahu...

Read rest of entry

The upbringing of Muslim children (1)

BEFORE BIRTHChoosing the right spouseReligion is the most important criterion in choosing the right spouse. Abu Hurairah, radiallahu ‘anhu, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So marry the religious woman if you do not want to be a loser.” [Bukhari and Muslim.] Choosing a spouse who is observing the correct Islamic behaviour in life will establish the Muslim home on sound...

Read rest of entry