Have you ever touched a bare electric wire with wet hands? Have you ever put your hand on burning coals during a barbecue? Have you ever tasted thick bleach?
Have you ever thought of why your answer to the above three questions is “no”?
The reason why your answer to the above three questions is “no” is because you have certain beliefs that guide you to what you can do and what you can’t do.
Our belief system has extraordinary power over our lives. People without belief are like cars without engines, airplanes without wings, or motorboats without motors.
Belief helps you see what you want, have the determination to reach out for it, and have the persistence to get it, no matter what it takes.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) changed people’s beliefs in Makkah in the early days of Islam; hence, their thoughts changed, their feelings changed, their priorities changed, and consequently, their behaviour, choices, and attitudes changed.
“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and afterwards have doubted not but strived with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah. Those are the sincere ones.” (Al-Hujurat 49:15)
Raising Muslims with a sound belief system is like equipping the coming generation of our Ummah with a compass, a map, and a shield to go about life with.
Providing our children with a direction, a guide, and a safeguard against dangers is one of our duties as parents and educators that we are accountable for before Allah Almighty.
“O you who believe, ward off yourselves and your families against a fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed angles stern and severe, who disobey not (from executing) the commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.” (At-Tahrim 66:6)
What Are Some of the Basic Islamic Beliefs We Want Our Children to Have?
1- Belief in Allah Most High
He is the One and Only. He has created them and everything around them.
He is always watching them: their feelings, their thoughts, and their actions.
He loves and protects them.
He is powerful and capable of doing anything He desires.
2- Belief in the Angels
Belief in the angels, their existence, nature, and responsibilities.
3- Belief in the Previous Books
Belief in the previous books of faith and prophets, in the nature of their mission, and in the fact that they were all sent by Allah to deliver a common message of worshipping the One and Only.
4- Belief in the the Last Day and in the Afterlife
Belief in the fact that there is a life after death where Allah Most High will judge everybody, then reward or punish them based on their deeds in this life.
Practical Tips That Can Help Build Belief in Our Children
1- Introducing and maintaining certain habits can help foster a sound belief in their hearts. Examples of these habits are:
Supplicating to Allah Most High during and after prayer, when going out, when riding in the car, before sleeping, and so on, builds their connection with Allah (SWT) and reminds them that He is near, which gives them a sense of strength and courage.
It also helps minimise bad deeds as they remember that Allah Most High is watching them.
Reflecting upon Allah’s creation and not taking it for granted. Supposedly simple, naturally existing creations—like sunshine, rain, wind, flowers, our body parts, and so on—should not go unnoticed.
We should try to encourage our children to reflect on the reasons behind them, the capable power behind them, and the fact that they must be there for a purpose.
Using different events, such as the birth of a baby, the death of a person, or the healing of a wound, to illustrate some of the beliefs we want our children to have is very important.
This can be done by eliciting from the children what they make of that event, Allah’s mercy and guidance in it, and our duties and responsibilities towards it.
Telling the children stories about believers, what they believed in, and the impact of their beliefs on their behaviour can also play a major part in shaping our children’s belief system.
Stories about Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and the other prophets.
About the boys in Surat Al-Kahf (The Cave) and the story of how their faith and belief influenced their choices, or the story of the magicians at the time of Prophet Musa (Moses) and the total change in their perception once they believed.
Other stories from the Qur’an or seerah (biography of the Prophet or Companions) that would be fun to listen to, as well as giving the children the foundation of their beliefs.
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