Raise good Muslim kids??

[USResident]

Re: Raise good Muslim kids??

@Submission_To_Peace

I faced the same problem with my younger brothers as it used to take me alot of time to convince them to go with me to Masjid.

Two things I learned from guidence of scholars, which worked

1. Give them small gifts everytime you return home from shoping etc. The gift doesn’t have to be expensive but only your way to tell them that you love and care about them. This would help you in making your place in their heart. (It would be preferable if you judge what gift would make them excited, if given at once )

2. We need to realize that the present generation is not like the one in the past. This generation is of internet and cable TV. You can’t force them to do anything. Just be polite, soft and caring, by occasionally telling them a hadith regarding the benefits of praying in masjid. But do consistantly request them once at the time of every prayer. The repetition of words would play the magic and a time would come when they won’t be able to ignore their inner guilt. ( but it should be done with minimum words, at the “right” time, but no lectures)

3. At night when everyone goes to sleep, sit on the prayer mat and pray to Allah with tears of sincerity for your relatives. The heart of every one is in the control of Allah and Allah turns it to anyside when a relative begs for it. ( It is preferable at night because Allah says that at the time of tahajjud, I come down to the first sky and announce that " IS there anyone who wants anything from me, so that I may grant him")

p.s. The above has done wonders for me. Alhamdulillah.

Good words.

I do not have teenage siblings or kids. My kids are in the kindergarten age or younger. However I have been thinking about rewarding with a quarter/nickel for everytime they pray (even though they do not completely know how yet). Probably a nickel if they do the actions and a quarter once they learn. However it will not be only for the money. I will also explain to them this reward is from your parents however Allah SWT also rewards in much more than nickels and quarters. This is so they do not learn to do things only for money but enough to provide incentive and get them in the habit of saving. At this young age they need to see something tangible.