Nurturing The Next Generation to Pray

Fai ʻe Mali Haohaoa - ʻOkatopa, 20Hono 1 2014

Allah subhanahu wa taala has entrusted Muslim parents with their children and made them responsible to raise them in an Islamic manner. They are the model to their children whom are the next generation. It is important to be cautious in our actions and manners especially in front of them. Think before you speak. Think before you act. Hangē ko ʻení, when a father backbites another individual in front of his child; no amount of advice from him to refrain from backbiting will work.

It may seem a huge task to be able to be a good model for the children, but one should also know and realize that it is the only way we can really teach our children.

Both Allah subhanahu wa taala and our Beloved Prophet (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) have mentioned the importance of raising and educating children.

In Surah Al-Tahreem 66:6, Allah the Exalted said:

"ʻA kimoutolu ʻoku tuí! Fakauooti ʻa kimoutolu mo homou ngaahi fāmilí ʻaki ha Afi (Heli) ʻa ia ko hono penisini ko e tangata mo e maka, ʻa ia ʻoku (fili) fefeka ʻa e kau ʻāngeló (pea mo) faingataʻa, ʻoku ʻikai talangataʻa, (mei hono fakahoko) ko e ngaahi fekau ʻoku nau maʻu meia ʻAliaá, kae fai ʻa e meʻa kuo fekau kiate kinautolú"

Imam al-Tabari performed a commentary on this verse and stated that when Allah subhanahu wa taala says ‘Ward off yourselves’ teach one another that which will protect those who do it from the Fire and ward it off from them, kapau ʻe fai ia ʻi he talangofua ki ʻIsaahá pea ʻoku nau fai ia ʻi he talangofua ki ʻAllaah. The phrase “and your families against a Fire” means, pea akoʻi homou ngaahi fāmilí ke fai ʻa e ngaahi ngāue ʻo e talangofuá ki ʻAllaahá koeʻuhí ke nau lava ʻo maluʻi kinautolu mei he Afí. [Tafseer Al-Tabari, 18/165]

Our beloved Prophet (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) naʻe pehe ʻe

“All of you are heads of a group and all of you are responsible for your groups; the ruler is the head of state and he is responsible for his people, the man is head of his family and responsible for his family, the woman is the head in her husband’s house and she is responsible for the house. In short all of you are heads and responsible for your group.” [Al-Bukhari mo e Mosilemi]

This implies that every individual is responsible in building an Islamic society and what occurs around the Ummah today only indicates the neglect of responsibility.

The Importance of Prayer:

Prayer is one of the five pillars upon which Islam is founded, and how can anyone build a building without foundations, and how secure is a building without its foundations?

On the Day of Reckoning, each and every Muslim will first be asked about his/her prayer before any other actions. Imagine a scenario, when failing in the first exam paper, how you will be able to perform the upcoming exam papers that are even more difficult to answer.

In Surah Al Baqarah, Allah subhanahu wa taala stressed the importance of prayer

“Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Al-Baqarah 2:277)

Prayer purifies our souls and is a direct communication between a servant and His Lord. No matter what the circumstances are, it cannot be waived as other pillars of Islam fasting in Ramadan, Hajj (pilgrimage) and Zakat that can be waived under certain conditions.

Not only prayer is important, but also praying on time. Allah subhanahu wa taala said in Surah An-Nisa, Veesi 103:

'Indeed the prayer has been enjoined upon the Believers at stated times’

Abu Amr ash-Shaybani said: The owner of this house – and he pointed to the house of Abdullah ibn Mas’ood – naʻe pehe ʻe: I asked the Messenger (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) ‘Which action is most loved by Allah?’ Naʻa (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) naʻe pehe ʻe: “Prayer at its proper time.” Then he said: What next? Naʻa (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) naʻe pehe ʻe: “Righteous conduct towards the parents.” Then he said: What next? Naʻa (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) naʻe pehe ʻe: “Jihad in the path of Allah.” Naʻa (Abdullah) naʻe pehe ʻe: He informed me with them, If I asked him for more he would have told me more.

This emphasises that praying on time is the most beloved action that he (melino mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻo e Allah ke ʻiate ia) even before righteousness to parents and Jihad. This can seen by the use of ‘What next’

Importance Of Teaching Our Children How To Pray:

It is crucial that we teach our children how to pray, as we have a duty to ourselves and family in relation to religious commitment and goodness. Allah subhanahu wa taala said in Surah Ta-Ha:

"Pea enjoin As-Salaat (ko e lotú) ʻi ho fāmilí, and be patient in offering them [i.e. the Salaat (prayers)]" [Ta-Ha 20:132]

Naʻe fakamatalaʻi ia ʻe ʻApa Hurayrah (ʻofa ke hōifua ʻa ʻAlaahā kiate ia) naʻe pehe ʻe: Ko e Talafekau ʻa ʻAliaá (ke ʻiate ia ʻa e melinó mo e ngaahi tāpuaki ʻa ʻIsaahá) naʻe pehe ʻe: "Akoʻi hoʻomou fānaú ke lotu ʻi honau taʻu fitú, and smack them (meʻavaʻinga ʻaki) if they do not do so when they are ten, pea fakamavaheʻi kinautolu ʻi honau mohengá."

Fakamatalaʻi ʻe Abu Dawood, 495; classed as saheeh (faitotonu) by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5868

Tips on How to Teach Our Children How To Pray

When teaching and reminding children of obligatory duties such as prayer or any other good action even voluntary, it is important that the educator should be approachable and easy-going, and not foul-mouthed, beat or even threat their children. Neongo ia, if the child neglects his/her duties and continue to do prohibited actions, then one needs to firm and use stern measures without causing harm. Here are several tips:

1) When young, children imitate what they see in front of them, so you can pray in front of them. This will ignite an interest in them that they would like to join the salah.

2) Teach them Quran slowly, starting with Surah Al-Fatiha. Break it down.

3) Invite your children 7+ to pray alongside the family congregation prayer (Jamaah).

4) Teach your children that they are praying to the Provider (Al-Raziq) and that when we pray, we give thanks to Him for the blessings He has provided for us.

5) Children ask a lot of questions; so when they see you pray, they will want to question, ʻuhinga, ʻi he taimi, ʻa e founga, who and what for. Do not ignore their questions. The more they ask, the more they learn; which will help the child develop his mental and intellectual abilities.

If you don’t know an answer, it is better for you to ask or research from authentic sources and respond to them.

6) Children love bed-time stories. Instead of princess and action man stories, narrate to them stories in which they can benefit and learn lessons from them; for example parables of the Prophets (peace upon them) how they supplicated and prayed during good and testing times; the advice of Luqman (the wise one) to his son when he stressed the importance of prayer.

Ko hono aofangatukú, Allah subhanahu wa taala has given each and every one of us good and bad tendencies to choose and decide and we will be tested, the more we are tested, the more Allah loves us as Allah subhanahu wa taala tests those He loves. The role of the parents is to encourage the good tendencies in their children so that one can help themselves and their families and follow the correct path.

“And Say Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds and (so will) His Messenger and the believers. And you will be brought back to the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Then He will inform you of what you used to do.” [Surah At-Tawbah verse 105].

This article serves as a reminder; one can only remind, the rest is up to you to think, act and implement. We need to revive Islam within our hearts and actions. Don’t leave it too late.

Mali Haohaoa

......Ko e Feituʻu ʻOku Fakahaohaoa Ai ʻa e AkoAko

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