When should you start educating your children about Islam? This might be THE most question for us all if we are serious about our life after we die. At what age should you start telling your kids about Islam? What should you tell them? How to tell them? Is there any specific written material you should follow? Who should educate your children, mother or father, or someone else?
There are tons of questions that come to mind when talking about the education of our young generation especially in the countries where Muslims are a minority.
Islamic Education Of Children
We are going to address this question in the context of Japan. However, it may be applicable in most other places in the world as well.
What Is Islamic Education?
Islamic education educates the child with the right knowledge of Islam. Providing Islamic education allows the right knowledge of Islam to be taught to children. Parents or grandparents may not have 100% knowledge or correct information as they may not have gone to classes formally for all aspects of Islam. So, in that case, what should be the alternative?
Seerah is very important in training children. To know the life of the Prophet pbuh to know his sacrifices and to show your children his beauty. Most important of all, try to become a prophetic model in your home for your children. Make sure that they understand that your behavior is exemplary because you have been guided by the Prophet (pbuh).
How To Get Ready For Imparting Islamic Education?
It is possible that you may not have the necessary knowledge about Islam to teach your children properly. In that case, you should start learning about the basics of Islam soon after you get married. It will help you have a good family life in later years.
When should you start educating your children about Islam?
In fact, Islamic education should start even before your kids are born. Muslim mothers should spend time a good chunk of time reacting or listening to the Quran. They should learn more and more about the life of the Prophet (pbuh).
We have observed especially in japan, most Muslims do not think about the Islamic education of their kids until these children are well into their early to mid-teens. The problem with this approach is that a child starts learning things right after they are born. His or her personality development is already completed by the age of Seven. Especially, after 14 years of age, they hardly learn anything new in terms of their personality development. They tend to stick to whatever habits and thinking they have developed in their earlier years. So, what important thing can you teach your children when are 14 years old or more. Perhaps, not much.
Think about this all-important issue well in time. Do not wait until they have already formed their behaviors or attitudes about various aspects of life.
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