The Children We Raise Today Will Shape the Ummah Tomorrow
Parenting is more than providing food, clothing, education, and a comfortable home. It is the responsibility of nurturing a soul and helping a child grow into a person who knows his or her purpose, understands right from wrong, and remains connected to Allah throughout life’s journey.
Every day, our children are learning from us—not only from what we tell them, but from what they see us do. They watch how we speak when we are angry, how we treat their father or mother, how we respond when life becomes difficult, and whether we turn to Allah when we are worried. They notice whether we apologize when we are wrong and learn what we truly value by watching how we live.
That is why purposeful parenting requires intentionality. We should not only ask, “What do I want my child to become?” We should also ask, “Who am I helping my child become?” Do I want a child who merely succeeds academically, or one who knows his purpose? Do I want a child who knows how to earn money, or one who understands halal and haram? Do I want a confident child, or a child whose confidence is rooted in knowing that Allah created and honored him?
Our ultimate goal should not simply be to raise children who can survive in this world. We should strive to raise children who can navigate this world without losing their way to the Hereafter. Allah says: “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones…” (Qur’an 66:6).
This is why purposeful parenting begins long before adulthood. We teach our children ṣalāh before they desperately need it. We teach them honesty before dishonesty becomes convenient, responsibility before the world demands it from them, and modesty, kindness, courage, forgiveness, and self-control before life puts these qualities to the test. We teach them to apologize when they are wrong, to keep their promises, to stand for what is right, and above all, to know, love, worship, and depend upon Allah.
And we must remember that our children do not need perfect parents. They need parents who are willing to grow, learn, repent, apologize, and keep trying. Sometimes, one of the greatest lessons we can teach our children is not that we never make mistakes, but that when we do, we take responsibility, seek forgiveness, make amends, and return to Allah.
May Allah make us parents who raise children who are conscious of ṣalāḥ in this world, a benefit to the Ummah, and a continuing source of reward for us after we return to Allah. Āmīn.
Umm Sumayyah Mai
