(1) When Allah Ta'ala blesses someone with children and they begin to reach an age of understanding, first of all, teach them the Kalimah of Tawheed (Declaration of Oneness). Then teach them the necessary manners and etiquette. (2) Whenever they come before you, they should greet you with Salaam. (3) Instill a strong dislike and aversion for lying in them. (4) Teach and emphasize the importance of Purdah (hijab/veiling) and modesty (Haya) to them. (5) Do not allow boys and girls to play together in one place. If they are non-Mahram (marriageable relatives), this restriction prevents future evils and corruptions; and if they are Mahram (unmarriageable relatives), there is a risk of developing immodesty in girls and a potential decline of intellect in boys. (6) Parents themselves should never commit any inappropriate or immodest act in front of children, even if the child is so small that they cannot speak. This is because the reflection of that act gets imprinted on their mind, and its effects manifest after they grow up. (7) Do not let them develop the habit of sensual or vulgar jesting, as this breeds boldness and shamelessness. (8) Ensure that close friendships do not develop among mature/discerning children, as this leads to countless evils and corruptions. If there is any benefit or reason for them to play together, you must be present yourself during that playtime, and do not allow mixing afterward. (9) Make it a habit for them never to do anything secretly. A child will only do a task secretly if they consider it bad. Consequently, they will become habituated to doing bad deeds from the very beginning. (10) Also make it a habit that they never engage in stubborn partisanship (defending something or taking sides unnecessarily). Once the truth becomes clear, even if a person of lower status points it out, they should immediately accept it, and instill the habit of humility and modesty in every matter. (Islaah-e-Inqilaab, p. 204) Make it a habit that if a mistake is committed by them, they should confess it. If that mistake is transitive (i.e., it involves or affects someone else), they must seek forgiveness from the rightful person. Instilling this habit is highly essential, because it contains the safety of their faith (Deen) and the peace and honor of this world, whereas backing away from it stems from arrogance and causes perpetual humiliation and resentment. (Islaah-e-Inqilaab, p. 204) _____________________________________ Book: Tarbiat-e-Aulad Page Number: 70 / 71 Author: Hakim-ul-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahimahullah Ta'ala) Selection: Islamic Tube Pro App