All of us wish to be the best parents for our children. I bet, most of us made a list of what kind of parents we would be. The list could be based on our own experience growing up, or it could be based on our observation on other parents. We may put in what we wished our parents should have done and what we felt that they should not do. We may also promise to be like those adults who have made a lasting impression and not to be like the ones that scarred us for life.
As Muslim parents, we have been entrusted an 'amaanah' from Allah SWT from the day we carry a child in our womb. Expecting mothers must take enough nutrition and must take good care of their health, both physically and emotionally. The environment outside the womb will affect the brain cells development of the embryo, which have an everlasting impact on the child's future development.
Once the child is born, it is the parents' responsibility to mould the child to be a good muslim and muslimah.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) is reported to have said: "Take care! Each of you is a shepherd and each of you shall be asked concerning his flock; a leader is a shepherd of his people, and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a man is a shepherd of the people of his house, and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a woman is a shepherd of the house of her husband and over their children, and she shall be asked concerning them.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Regardless of our definition of a perfect parent, from Islam perspective, it is our responsibility to teach our children good manners and guide them toward the recognition and obedience of Allah. We need to embrace and teach our children on our responsibility as the Khalifah of Allah, to conduct ourselves as what was asked by Him and to leave what was forbidden.
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