As salamu alaykum dear sister,

 

Shokran for writing to our live session. As I understand, you have great relations with your in-laws and you love each other as well as respect each other. The problem is, that when you drop your daughter off at your in-laws home, your mother in law sometimes plays religious video’s and “somewhat” teaches your daughter.

 

Sister, I am not sure how old your daughter is, that would make a slight difference but here are two ways of looking at this situation. First of all, you have very loving relations with your in-laws. This is a great blessing indeed and makes for a happy family. As they are loving and accepting. It seems that your mom in law in not maliciously playing the videos against your request.

 

She is probably just playing them in her own personal time in her home as she normally would. I would not want to risk ruining a wonderful relationship over videos. It appears that she respects you as Muslim as she has a good relationship with you. She may not be trying to “change” your daughter, but she may try to share with her -her joy. Just as we as Muslims do with others. While yes we do dawah but we also share Islamic video’s, readings and other things with family and friends who are not Muslim. We are sharing our joy and insha’Allah that is what she is doing.

 

Secondly, if your daughter is getting a strong Islamic foundation at home as well as socially, she will be strong in her identity as a Muslim. Through her life, learning about others religions and viewpoints can be to her advantage, especially as she gets older and talks about Islam with others. Your daughter will encounter many people from different religions and it will be to her advantage to know the basics of other belief systems. She will have an advanced understanding of different religions and why Islam is the only and correct path for humankind.

 

I would kindly suggest dear sister that you not make a huge deal of this right now. I would however kindly suggest that insha’Allah you speak with your daughter about these video’s and how she perceives them. You may also want to create a game (age appropriate) to compare Islamic teachings to what her grandmother is watching on the video’s. It can be as simple as question games (i.e. What do we call God and Why-What does grandma call God and why) or a little more complex such as Islamic lessons on why Allah has no partners.

 

The point will be to further increase your daughter’s Islamic knowledge; her understanding of her grandmother’s beliefs as well as answer any questions she may have. Insha’Allah dear sister, your daughter is not even fixated on these video’s but is just enjoying time with her grandmother.

 

I can understand your concern and it is a valid concern however if handled with care and follow up it will not have an affect on her Islam. In fact, she may one day talk to her grandmother about Islam in a way that will lead her heart to Islam! We never know how Allah will work in regards to touching the hearts of non-Muslims especially those who are family. Trust in Allah sister and make dua that your good relationships with your in-laws may one lead to a full Islamic family.

 

We wish you the best.