We face a huge challenge when we bring up our children, that is, we are not alone in bringing them up but the whole society contributes to the process. Television, school, friends and the internet are all contributing to the upbringing process, particularly after the globe has become like a small village after the gigantic development in mass media and the fact that cultures can easily move from one place to another. This poses a huge challenge to the upbringing of our children. How shall we protect them from the other stormy trends of upbringing that are broadcast by the mass media and which spread by means of the street, school and clubs, from one to the other? Allah The Almighty favored us by a power which helps us in the process of upbringing – it is a hidden power that no body knows except the one who appreciates it. It is, indeed, a gift from Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.
This hidden power is the pure disposition that Allah The Almighty created in mankind. No matter how man changes, this hidden power calls him to take him back to the path of truth. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the Fitrah of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.} [Quran 30:30] The Prophet said: "Every human is born on Fitrah (sound innate inclination to the truth)." Ash-Shawkaani commented, "Every child is born with an inclination to the true religion, so if he adheres to another religion, this would be due to an external factor that happened to him after birth. The factors might be changes on the part of his parents or those responsible for raising him." Therefore, people assuming the upbringing process must be certain that any changes in the child's innate disposition are due to those who bring him up. That is because the child is like the whitest blank paper. Dr. ‘Abdullaah Naasih ‘Ulwaan says,
Educationists and moralists believe that the child is born with the natural inclination to Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) and faith in Allah The Almighty, and with the origin of purity and innocence. Thus, when he is given a conscious upbringing at home, righteous social companionship and a faith-boosting educational environment, he will grow with firm faith, virtuous morals and a righteous upbringing. This faith-based fact was confirmed by the Quran and the Prophet and was proved evident by educationists and moralists.
Sayyid Qutb said, "Thus, the Surah (Qur'anic chapter) links human nature with the nature of this religion. Both are made by Allah The Almighty, in accordance with the law of existence; both are mutually harmonious in their natures and objectives. Human nature is set on a firm basis, and so is the divine religion. When people deviate from the proper path of nature, only divine religion turns them back to it, since it is in full harmony with both the human and universal nature.
Pure disposition is a divine gift
This innate belief is a gift from Allah The Almighty which helps and supports you in raising your child. It also serves as an internal call which permanently echoes in the heart of every Muslim, urging him to return to the path of truth. This call, no matter how distant man is from and disobedient to his Lord Allah, keeps echoing loudly within his body and stimulates his reproaching soul, calling him, "Turn back to Allah The Almighty."
Dear parent, or anyone assuming the responsibility of the upbringing process, you have an irresistible power called "the call of Fitrah (innate belief)" which:
- constitutes the inner call inside every person to do good and avoid evil
- stimulates man's reproaching soul when he does something evil
- stirs the inner feeling that death and resurrection are inevitable
- awakens man's conscience
Since Allah The Almighty supported you with this power, your duty is only to provide a good role model and accustom your child to righteousness. By doing so, you are playing the greatest role in shaping, preparing and raising your child successfully. It is a trust you carry on your shoulders and you have to meet Allah The Almighty successful in fulfilling it on the Day of Resurrection.
The Prophet utilized the Companions' Fitrah
The Prophet perfectly utilized the power of Fitrah with his noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. He made it a basis for raising them on the immortal meanings of Islam. A very clear example is Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with him, who is the most trustworthy man in this Ummah (nation). The calls of the innate belief were blowing in his heart since an early age, implying, "These idols can neither bring about benefit nor inflict harm, and that Allah The Almighty is One and the only Deity worthy of worship." Yet, he needed to see the role model that affirmed, venerated and strengthened this innate belief. The Prophet was the best role model for him, and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was the first man to embrace Islam without hesitation. The reason was his innate belief.
Listen to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, talking about his childhood and how his innate belief barred him from worshiping idols. In a group of the Companions of the Prophet , Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I have never prostrated to an idol. When I became mature, Abu Quhaafah took me by hand and went to a site where idols were set up. He said to me, "These are your high and lofty gods," then he left me alone. I drew near to an idol and said: "I am hungry, feed me," but it did not reply. I said: "I am naked, clothe me," but it did not reply. So, I threw a stone at its face, and it collapsed."
The Prophet utilized this innate belief that was firmly inculcated in the heart of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, to introduce to Islam the most trustworthy man in this Ummah, his companion in the cave and his first successor.