Getting children interested in religion
14-9-2003 | IslamWeb
Question:
How can we make our children interested in religion? We found that they are more interested in playing only. Any Du'a for making our children pious and good.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is the duty of the parents to guide and encourage their kids to abide by Islam and enhance their awareness of their religion. The tendency to play among children is an instinctive natural process and it is necessary for their normal upbringing otherwise they will grow up suffering from complexes. However, the parents are to maintain a balance in this regard, namely when it is time to be serious in doing a job, there should be no room for fun or playing games. A clear line should he drawn between discipline and indulgence. The games should be selected so as to be a means for enhancing the awareness of Islam among the kids. For instance, the games, which show the glorious creations made by Allaah and remind the children of the great bounties which Allaah bestows on mankind. We have to select such educational games for the above-mentioned purpose.
Moreover, we have to reward the kids with gifts whenever they perform a good deed, such as performing the prayer on time or reciting Surahs of the Quran. However, this rewarding should not be routine, otherwise they shall always be waiting for worldly reward for their good deeds. We have to keep in mind that the good example set by the parents plays an important role in guiding the kids and encouraging them to abide by Islamic teachings. Good treatment, respect and affection in the family help promote obedience and thus the kids heed the advice of their parents.
The supplication also has a positive effect in the good upbringing of the children. The parents can use whatever supplication as deemed appropriate in this context. Furthermore, they can recite the supplication contained in the Quranic verses such as the following:
{My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. }[Qruan 14: 40].
{…“My Lord, enable me (1379) to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.” }[Quran 46:15].
Allaah knows best.