A teacher once asked her young students to write an essay about their grandmothers. As they began to write one of the girls started crying. After school the teacher discussed this with the girl’s mother. “Actually, she is very attached to her grandmother. Her grandmother passed away before she was born, but because I keep telling her about her she loves her so much. This is why she was crying.” The mother explained. Parents play a strong role in molding the character of their children. Parents play a strong role in molding the character of their children. It is they who teach how to love and whom to love. Mothers especially have a greater influence; it is often observed that children are attached to the people with whom the mother is attached. Why not develop the love of Rasulullah (s.a.w)? Why not talk about him and how amazing he was. Mention him repeatedly; tell your young ones how Muhammad (s.a.w) loved kids and used to play with them. Relate the Ahadeeth that depict his playfulness and affection. Tell them he used to wake up in the middle of the night to pray for you. He worked hard and faced trials only so that the true message of Islam could reach you. Most definitely they’ll become eager to meet him after all these conversations. Don’t assume that your toddlers and young children are ‘under-age’ for this kind of conversation. This is the best time to plant that the seed of the love of Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w) in the hearts. Don’t expect an immediate outcome that they become all goody- good and obedient, they are children after all! Keep planting the seeds and inshaAllah harvesting season will come soon. Furthermore, read aloud or narrate stories from the Seerah. Do Seerah related activities; make lap books, read together, listen to lectures and take notes, make games and quizzes. Seerah is the road map that shows us the conduct of the Prophet. It guides us on how the Prophet (s.a.w) endeavored to spread the light of Islam. We don’t want our kids, the future of this Ummah, to just be good at their prayers and fasting. Rather, we want them to lead the Muslims out of the present state of misery and humility. We need wise Da’ees, patiently persevering Mujahids and knowledgeable Scholars. Inculcate simple Sunnahs in your everyday life in the same manner. Plant the seeds of affection and prepare the soil before expecting results. We also need to teach our kids the importance of obeying the Prophet (s.a.w). Everything that he commanded us to do is for our own benefit. His Ahadith and Sunnah are a source of salvation in this world and the hereafter. His love does not mean mere lip service and reciting anasheed, it lies in obedience and emulation. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “The person who loves my Sunnah loves me, and he will be with me in Jannah (Paradise)” (Tirmidhi) Be Sociable, Share! Posted By Umm Salih