Hadeeth one: 40 Hadeeth pertaining to children.

Salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.

The prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“Every new-born child is born in a state of fitrah. Then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magian, just as an animal is born intact. Do you observe any among them that are maimed (at birth)?” [found in Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi dawood, Tirmidhi, ibn Majaah]

This hadeeth informs us that every child that is born is born with a natural disposition.

Scholars have differed over the actual meaning of al-fitrah and depending on the context in whihc it is used it can take on different meanings. In this hadeeth it refers to the state of submission, i.e. Al-Islam.

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

 "Every child is born upon a way" i.e. Al-Islam. [Sahih Muslim]

 "There is no child except born in a state of fitnatul Islam" [sahihi ibni Ibaan]

More proof about the meaing of Fitrah in this hadeeth can be taken fromt he understanding of the hadeeth. This being that the child will change their way to another religion or way other that al-Islam.

Ibnul Qayim al Jawziyyah explained the realitiy of the word fitnah in saying 'It is important to know that a child is born in a state of fitrah, Islam, in a pure way'. whilst this does not mean that they are fully aware of Islam in the understanidn gof the laws such as fasting and Salat, because as Allah says in Suarh Nahl, "Allah caused you to comeo out of your stomachs knowing nothing", but rather it means it is naturally a part to accept and practice what Allah prohibits and commands in the Qur'an and Sunnah, upon the condition that there is no corruption i.e. to become a jew or any other religiuon the natural disposition has changed.

Surah Yunus (10:11)

"And if Allah was to hasten for the people the evil [they invoke] as He hastens for them the good, their term would have been ended for them. But We leave the ones who do not expect the meeting with Us, in their transgression, wandering blindly" [Surah Yunus 10:11]

If my LORD asks me. Poem

A man once came to Imām Ahlus-Sunnah, Ahmad bin Hanbal and asked him, “O Imām, what is your opinion on poetry?”

He replied, “Which poetry is this?” to which the man responded by reciting the following couplets:

إذا ما قال لي ربي اما استحييت تعصيني
If my Lord asks me, “Have you shyness in disobeying me?

وتخفي الذنب عن خلقي وبالعصيان تأتيني
You conceal your sins from my creation – and with sins you come to me.”
Imām Ahmad took these lines and repeated them over and over again, and wept profusely to such an extent that one his students said that he almost perished due to him crying so much.

“If my Lord asks me…”
poem which made Imam Ahmed RA cry

تعصيني

If my Lord asks me, “Have you shyness in disobeying me?

وتخفي الذنب عن خلقي وبالعصيان تأتيني

You conceal your sins from my creation – and with sins you come to me.”

فكيف أجيبُ يا ويحي ومن ذا سوف يحميني؟

So how will I answer? O woe to me – and who shall protect me?

أسُلي النفس بالآمالِ من حينٍ الى حيني

I keep averting my soul with thoughts of hope – from time to time

.

وأنسى ما وراءُ الموت ماذا بعد تكفيني

And I forget what is to come after death – and what is to come after I am shrouded.

كأني قد ضّمنتُ العيش ليس الموت يأتيني

As if I am guaranteed life (eternally) – and that death will not come to me.

وجائت سكرة الموتُ الشديدة من سيحميني

And when the severe stupor of death overtakes me – who will protect me?

نظرتُ الى الوُجوهِ أليـس منُهم من سيفدينـــي

I looked at the faces; is there not from amongst them who will ransom me?

سأسأل ما الذي قدمت في دنياي ينجيني

I will be asked regarding what I have prepared in my life to save me (on the Day of Judgement).

فكيف إجابتي من بعد ما فرطت في ديني

Then how will I answer – after I have neglected my religion.

ويا ويحي ألــــم أسمع كلام الله يدعوني

Woe to me! Did I not hear the Speech of Allāh inviting me?

ألــــم أسمع لما قد جاء في قاف ويسِ

Did I not hear what came in (the chapters of) Qāf and Yā-Sīn?

ألـــم أسمع بيوم الحشر يوم الجمع و الديني

Did I not hear about the Day of Gathering, the Day of Assemble and the Day of Judgement?

ألـــم أسمع مُنادي الموت يدعوني يناديني

Did I not hear the crier of death inviting me, calling me?

فيا ربــــاه عبدُ تــائبُ من ذا سيؤويني

So O my Lord, a slave (turning to you) I have repented – so who then shall shelter me?

سوى رب غفور واسعُ للحقِ يهديني

Except a Lord extensive in forgiveness – to the truth He will guide me.

أتيتُ إليكَ فارحمني وثقــّـل في موازيني

I have come to you (in repentance) – so have mercy on me, and make heavy my scales (with good deeds).

وخفَفَ في جزائي أنتَ أرجـى من يجازيني

And lighten my account – You are the best of who will bring me to account.

Source: P.205 Manāqib Imām Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi

As a parent you are already a teacher

As a good parent, you have always been your child's teacher: you have read to him, played games with him, helped and encouraged him to learn basic skills, introduced him to the world around him. Parents are their child's first teachers, so don't think that homeschooling your child takes special skills or talents that you do not possess. If you are a good parent, you are also a good teacher, and you can homeschool your child.

Taken from homeschool.lifetips