Seerah for Children

Transcript of the Talk delivered by Dr. Munawar Haque on Dec 8, 2018 on occasion of the Seerah Conference at AMDA

الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين

Throughout human history, the Messenger of Allah – Muhammad (SAW) has been the greatest example for humanity. His personality is not only an example for a specific period, people or place; rather it is for all periods, all places, and all times. Allah says,

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ

“You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah.” (al-Ahzab 33:21)

This session of the seerah conference is mainly for children. There is neither a better food for thought for children nor a better direction for their behavior than the wholesome guidance from the greatest benefactor of humanity – the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He made history in the sphere of affection for children and the development of their personality and character. He had a special love for children, whether they were his own children or those of others. He loved children, with their innocence, and gentleness. He kissed them, carried them on his shoulders, and played with them, reaching toward their innocence.

I intend to share some tips and few ways that our children can learn to honor and celebrate the Prophet’s life. One of the most basic factors in the development of a child’s personality is sociability and proper treatment. The Prophet (SAW) clearly advised his followers concerning this. He told them to respect their children and teach them good manners in an acceptable way. He himself practiced all that he advised his followers concerning the upbringing of children and respecting their personality.

Have your children meet with friends at the Masjid. The Masjid, during the time of the Prophet, was the meeting point for Muslims, so it’s great to make hanging out at the Masjid a social norm. We have to try our best to make our masajid youth friendly. The more children enjoy being in the Masjid, the more likely will they find themselves relaxed and nurturing their love for a healthy social life, much like the youth during the Prophet’s time.

We should encourage our children to take the initiative of doing a good deed every single day. It is a good way to start to follow our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as he encouraged us to engage in good deeds even if it was as small as smiling at one another. It is interesting and exciting to do some creative thinking of doing some good deeds that are a little different or out of the way, like calling on a neighbor to help clean his or her yard. And if “a deed a day” becomes too easy, one can always upgrade to “two deeds a day,” and so on. The Qur’an tells us that following the Prophet (SAW) is a condition for loving Allah (SWT).    

قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

‘Say, If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; Allah is most forgiving, most merciful.” (Aal ‘Imran 3:31)

Often, the Prophet (SAW) used to speak about the great diversity found in this world, and how we should seek knowledge even if we had to travel to far off places – like China in those days. And sure enough, it’s a great, wide world, with so many things to learn. So, with the help of a globe, maps, atlases, books, encyclopedias and the internet, children should be encouraged to do research on various nations, peoples and communities, and to learn about their geographical make-up, history, languages, traditions, and their culture and civilization. This will help them to understand and appreciate other people, and will create a sense of humility in them. Understanding the world around them will bring them closer to Allah in a way that the Prophet (SAW) would have wanted.

The Prophet (SAW) loved the earth, as it was prescribed as the largest Masjid for us to worship Allah. He encouraged the planting of trees and kindness to animals. He also loved being outdoors, appreciating the beauty of Allah’s creation. So get your children in tune with nature. Let them look around for trees, plants, flowers, insects, birds, and other animals. Start an organic garden. Take up a family sport. If your children are old enough, get them networked with green activists so they can be part of something bigger. Have them take part in neighborhood clean-ups and other initiatives. Everything they do to save the earth will bring them closer to the Prophet (SAW), for whom the  Earth Day would be every day.

The Prophet (SAW) was an orphan and cared for the orphans. He urged the believers to do so. So, getting our children involved with orphan-friendly programs will help them to instill in themselves the feelings of gratitude and humility. This can be a good way to emulate the teachings of the Prophet (SAW) regarding the orphans and the poor and needy. 

Keeping in touch with loved ones and acquaintances is part of the Prophet’s Sunnah. The Prophet (SAW) encouraged keeping in touch with friends and family at all times in order to build a healthy ummah. Have your children write letters or post cards to loved ones who are far away. Not only does this allow them to keep in touch, but also it encourages them to express themselves in writing.

One of the effective and useful ways to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is to read and understand the Qur’an, and implement its teachings in our lives. There are blessings in just reading the Qur’an, but there are even more blessings when it comes to understanding the message behind each surah.  This will surely bring our children closer to Allah and His messenger.

For small children, we can replace bedtime stories of fiction and fairy tales that we read to them with stories from the Qur’an and from the Prophet’s life. Listening to stories of Allah’s Messenger before sleeping can help them love him while still very young.

The Prophet (SAW) was known to make du’a for everything. We should call upon Allah all the time, as the Prophet (SAW) did. We should encourage our children to learn and memorize some of the Qur’anic and Prophetic du’as for different occasions. A du’a is a source of blessing that opens the door for guidance, and protects us from evil.

One of the ways to strengthen a child’s personality is to familiarize them with the difficulties of life so as to prepare them for the future. If a child is not familiar with the problems and difficulties of life, he will become easily frustrated when he does face difficulties. Children must understand that one has to work hard to obtain anything. Further, fulfillment of promises towards children contributes to the development of their personality and self-confidence. The Prophet (SAW) said, “If any of you makes a promise to his child, he must fulfill it.”  

Properly instructing children can enable them to have independence of will and self-confidence and respecting them gives them a strong personality and the awareness of their true value and when they grow up, they are less likely to experience humiliation.

Children tend to like most the one who is easy with them and treats them as if he is one of them; on the other hand they are repelled from the harsh, angry and frowning person. Anas ibn Malik (RA) says, “I served the Prophet for ten years, and he never said to me, “Uf” (a minor harsh word denoting impatience) and never blamed me by saying, ‘Why did you do so or why didn’t you do so?’”

It is wisely said that the child and his heart are like a land with no seeds or plants. Whatever seed one casts therein, it will take root.”

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