Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuh,

 

At 10 years old, your daughter is now thinking differently as she experiences the world and gets more smart and philosophical in her thinking. This is a good thing and will be a good learning curve for her, but at the same time will inevitably cause her to ask questions. This can be difficult for you as her parent to answer, but at the same time is an essential part of the learning process.

 

At 10 however, she might not be mature enough to understand the more complex things, but at the same time still desires to learn about them. Therefore, at this age, it might be easier to aid her understanding of more complex matters such as the one in question through the use of metaphors that she can more readily understand. In time, she will be better able to understand it in the context that she wants to.

 

In real terms, God is smart, we are not! If He just put everyone where they will end up, heaven or hell, wouldn’t the ones in Hell complain that they weren’t given a chance? What did they do to deserve it? They would wonder why some people have been sent to heaven and think it’s not fair. However, if they go to earth and commit sins, then Allah has the proof and can show them and tell them that this is why.

 

In this case, you might try and explain it like this.

 

Could you imagine if you were thrown into prison and were punished? It wouldn’t be nice, would it? Wouldn’t you wonder why you were there? Did you deserve it? You see people living in castles and wonder why you aren’t living in a castle. Why didn’t you get put in the castle? It’s not fair! However, if you lived the life that resulted in you ending up in prison you would no longer wonder why because you committed a crime and realize this is why you are there and the ones who did good are in castles. Explaining it in more child-friendly terms like this might make it easier for her to understand and apply.

 

Even if she is not immediately able to apply it to the real-life context, in time, as she gets older and matures, she will be able to apply this metaphor to real life and understand why Allah puts us on this earth. Explaining it in a child-friendly way and then being able to apply it as she gets older will also have the added benefit of helping her to understand Allah as being the most Just and most Merciful.

 

May Allah reward you for trying to teach your daughter about Islam. May He guide her and make her of the righteous.