From the pens of our Pious Predecessors
Raising Children
ꜤUmar b. ꜤAbd al-ꜤAzīz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه made excellent arrangements for the education and upbringing of his children. The renowned scholar of hadith, Sāliḥ b. Kaysān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, who was his teacher, was appointed as a tutor for them.[1] In addition, he appointed his freed servant, Sahl, to oversee their care. He focused on providing them the best education and upbringing possible.
A letter to the teacher
ꜤUmar b. ꜤAbd al-ꜤAzīz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه wrote in a letter:
I have carefully chosen you for the education and upbringing of my children. Direct them away from bad company, as the latter leads to negligence. Allow them to laugh less, for excessive laughter kills the heart. As a result of your efforts, one important lesson they should learn is to develop a dislike for music and singing, as listening to music creates hypocrisy in the heart just as grass grows with water.
Each of my sons should have in their schedules that they open the holy Quran and recite it with great care. Once they finish, they should take a bow and arrow, go out barefoot, and practice archery by shooting seven arrows at a target. They should return to take a midday nap, because Ibn MasꜤūd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said, “Take a midday nap (qaylūla), because Satan does not take a nap.”[2]
A letter for my son
He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه would directly teach and advise his children also. He once wrote a letter to his son:
Remember the blessings of Allah Almighty upon yourself and your father, then assist your father in the tasks he is capable of, and help him in matters you think he may be unable to accomplish. Pay full attention to your life, health, and youth. If possible, keep the dhikr of Allah Almighty upon your tongue in the form of praise and glorification, for the best of your good words is to praise and remember Him.
The repentance of a person who desires Paradise and flees from Hell is accepted, and his sins are forgiven. Before the appointed time (i.e. death) arrives, before the end of one’s actions, and before Allah Almighty gives the reward for the deeds of jinn and humans, He will give them recompense for their deeds in a place where no ransom will be accepted. Excuses will not benefit and hidden matters will be revealed. People will receive reward for their deeds and disperse, each going to their respective places.
Glad tidings to those who obeyed Allah Almighty, and destruction for those who disobeyed Him. So, if Allah Almighty tests you by granting you wealth, be moderate in your wealth. Humble yourself for the sake of Allah Almighty, and fulfil His rights with your wealth.
When you are wealthy, say what Prophet Sulaymān عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said:
ھٰذَا مِنْ فَضْلِ رَبِّیْ ۖ لِیَبْلُوَنِیْۤ ءَاَشْکُرُ اَمْ اَکْفُرُ ؕ
“This is from the grace of my Lord; that He may test me whether I express gratitude or be ungrateful.[3]
Avoid pride and arrogance, and do not think the wealth given to you by Allah Almighty is due to any nobility of yours or any virtue absent in those whom Allah Almighty has not granted such. If you are negligent in giving thanks to Allah Almighty, you will taste poverty and deprivation, and you will be amongst those who became arrogant due of their wealth, and who were given recompense of their deeds in this world.
Indeed, I am giving you this advice, although I wrong myself greatly and make many mistakes. If a person does not advise his brother until his own affairs are in order and his worship is perfect, people would abandon enjoining what is good and forbidding what is wrong, and they would consider what is unlawful as lawful. Those who advise and offer sincere counsel for the sake of Allah Almighty would become fewer. So, all praise is for Allah Almighty alone, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. To Him belongs all greatness in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Almighty, the Wise.[4]
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