A Fiqh Perspective When Raising Children

A fiqh is described as people’s understanding of Islamic Sharia or the law in Islam. In fiqh we study about law that governs about human relation towards human, their personal interest, society as well as their relation towards Allah SWT.

Fiqh is a form of Islamic jurisprudence, it developed Islamic Sharia through interpretation of Quran and Hadith as the source of law and knowledge for muslims by islamic jurist (scholars). A fiqh might be fallible and can be change since the basic of fiqh is a deep of understanding for certain matter in Islam. Fiqh will deal with rituals, morals, social legislation, and political systems. Read about rules of seeking knowledge in Islam.

In Arabic language we identify the word tarbiyah which means to raise a child (whether its their own child or not). As parents when raising their children we should fulfill their basic needs until they become independent and able to fulfill their own basic need. The scope of basic needs for children including nutritions, physical needs, spiritual, mental health, education and mannered. The purpose for those fulfilling those needs are giving them enough provision to face the challenged ahead and to gain a better place in the afterlife.

The Prophet said in the following hadith,

“Indeed each of you is a shepherd and each of you will be questioned regarding his flock. The commander who is in authority over people is responsible and he will be questioned regarding his responsibility. The man is responsible over the inhabitants of his house and he is the one who will be questioned about them. The wife is responsible in her husband’s house and she will be questioned about it. The servant is responsible regarding his master’s property, and he will be questioned about it. Indeed each of you is a shepherd and each of you will be questioned about his flock.”

Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

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The hadith stated that each of us will accountable at what we did in this world realted to our duty and role. As we know that man and woman have their own duty and play their own role including when raising their children. As mentioned above that people are likened as a shepherd while whoever related and became their responsibilities are likened as flock. We will be questioned in the hereafter of what we did to them. Such parents are questioned about their childs. Read about things you cant eat in Islam.

In Islam we have three basic aspects about how we raising our children:

• Education

A fiqh perspective when raising children is to educate them in a great way, to make them a better person. An education not only in term of worldy matter but also the religious matter. How to give them provision enough to survive, develop their abilities, gain a decent life and so forth. While an education in the religious matter would be provisions for them to get closer relation with their Creator Allah SWT the Greater and the most Knowing. You might read about virtues of scholars in Islam.

• Training by Example

Another things that muslims should care about are give their children a good example of which right and wrong. Give them training and example to learn things. Teach them basic manners like respecting their elderly, how to eat in manner, prayer, care other people, or respecting other creature and environment including how to behave as a social being.

“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.”

QS. At-Tahrim : 6

As mentioned above we must teach our children to carry out His command and protect them being fall into sin and avoid them from Helliest Hell. Rasulullah said in the following hadith, that we should teach our children,

“Command your children to pray salah when they are seven. Hit them about it (meaning if they willfully do not pray) when they are ten and separate (at that age) between them in bed.”

Specifically the hadith said that we should teach our children and give them punishment if necessary if they did not want to perform prayer. It means that religious matter is the first thing they should learn above anything else. You might read about ways on how to give qurbani in Islam.

• Build Their Islamic Identity

According to a fiqh perspective when raising children is we should teach them to love their God, Allah SWT and His Messenger above themselves and their family or other people. Scholars said as follows,

“We must teach our children religion and goodness in addition to what good manners should necessarily be known.”

It is the parent’s responsibilities to teach their child about their identity as muslims. The identity are seen from their behavior, speech, thinking, actions, perspective, goals, interactions and so forth. In Quran there are certain verses stated about how we should teach our children about their Islamic identity.

“And (mention, O Muhammad), when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, ‘O my son, do not associate (anything) with Allah . Indeed, association (with him) is great injustice.’ And We have enjoined upon man (care) for his parents. His mother carried him, (increasing her) in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents, to Me is the (final) destination.”

QS. Luqman : 13-14

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And a fiqh perspective when raising children is that we should treat them gently, do not treat them harshly, and remind them about Allah as the ultimate owner of our life. A great way to teach your children is by following the example of Luqman as written in the above verse. First to let them now that Allah is their final destination, and worldly matter only temporary. Along with respecting both of thier parents and grateful with all the blessing given by Allah SWT. Learn also about concept of adoption in Islam.

It is a must to raise your children by nurturing them with a great devotion toward their Creator. Give them guidance to find their life answer in Quran and Hadith, and always hold on to that matter forever.