Source: http://www.muslimmarriageadvice.com/focus-now-importance-of-planning-your-childs-future/
This brand new series deals with the importance FOCUSing NOW on the future of your children. The series will discuss a number of hadith and ideas that can be used to develop your children now!
Allah aza wa jal clearly states in the Quran (Sahih International):
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. – Surah Tahrim (Chapter 66) Verse 6. This verse clarifies the importance of raising our children in an islamically correct manner. Allah has said that as believers we have to protect ourselves and our families from the fire. There are many great scholars from the past who have commented on this verse amongst the explanations of the verse are the following:
Ali ibn Abi Talha reported from ibn Abbas:
He said, “Work in the obedience of Allah, avoid disobedience of Allah and order your families to remember Allah, then Allah will save you from the Fire.‘’
Mujahid said: “Have Taqwa of Allah and order your family to have Taqwa of Him.’’ Qatadah said, “He commands obedience to Allah, to not disobey Allah, he orders his family to obey His orders and helps them to act upon His orders. When one sees disobedience, he stops them and forbids them from doing it.‘’
Similar was said by Ad-Dahhak and Muqatil; “It is an obligation for the Muslim to teach his near family members, and his male and female slaves what Allah has made obligatory for them and what Allah has forbidden for them.’’
From the verse and the commentators who explained the verses it becomes clear that upon the parents is a responsibility to raise and guide their family and children in a manner that will save them from an unwanted end. Scholars have said that to safeguard and protect the family means to ensure they live by the commandments of Allah and to avoid his prohibitions.
Many times parents are eager to establish their rights over their children while failing to realize the rights that their children have on them. In Islam, parents are responsible for their children up to the age of puberty which can vary based on whether the child is a male or a female. Responsibilities of parents include:
To command them to obey Allah and to avoid disobeying him.
To teach them all the obligatory aspects of their religion as well as to train them with the correct manners and conducts in their lives.
Therefore in a time when children are exposed to the outside world at a very early age, it becomes imperative to start planning your child’s future and the method that you will use to raise your child even before your child is born.
This subject will be discussed further in future articles in this series.
Finally, as a reminder, one of the great Islamic Scholars of the past Ad-Dhahabi (May Allah have Mercy upon him) said: It is said in reply (to the verse above): the worst type of people are those who are pleased and content for their family with that which displeases Allah (swt).