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Salaam ladies,
Hope that you all are having a fantastic weekend thus far,
So, it might seem a bit shocking to everybody since I’m posting for the second time this week, but with Ramadaan officially underway, I thought I would give you all a heads-up on articles since I have been MIA lately.
Travelling between site for work purposes plus studying has meant that I did not always have time for writing blog posts, however, it has also meant that I have been listening to the local radio stations quite a bit & that’s when the topic for today’s article hit me.
It was on my way to work when the local muslim radio station had just started the fajr (morning) prayers. The sheikh was making a few requests prior to starting the fard (compulsory) fajr prayers; his requests were as follows:
1.) Can you please put off all cellphones for the duration of the salaah [ I deem this as fair]
2.) All the children, can you please give up your seats for the adults, especially here in front row [Hold up!]
So many of you are probably wondering why this request caused me to stop and back-track a bit to what the sheikh said. In all fairness, the fajr salaah was done beautifully and the sheikh made a really nice dua.
However, let’s look into his request. The older generation were given preference over the younger generation and this is where I totally can’t agree. Now, before somebody shouts disrespect, hear me out. I fully agree that you MUST respect your elders, and yes we should honour them but not to the detriment of principles.
I just don’t agree that an adult should take up the seat of a child in a mosque. Here’s why, the older generation have all had their time to make the decisions in their lives pertaining to their religious stand-points whereas children have not. By enforcing the mentality that their presence in the mosque is not as significant, we teach them that the mosque is not a very nice place to go to & that even if they do make the effort to come to the mosque early to sit in a nice place in front, their presence will still be overshadowed by an adult.
If we look into it a bit further, the same reaction will occur because of elders who scream at children to keep quiet, or grab them to sit still, how is doing any of these things to our children going to bring them closer to the fold of Islam?
How about we push the children to the front row, show them the beauty of being in the mosque, because inevitably they are the future leaders of our Ummah. Adults, elders especially, don’t like to hear that but it’s the truth. The children are the ones who are one day going to grow up, are going to raise the even younger generation, and carry over whatever was taught to them.
Children are like little sponges, if we show them the beauty of Islam and embrace them into things like making salaah, giving sadaqah, etc. then they will definitely not forget it. But, if we treat them with this iron fist & try to shove Islam down their throats then we are ensuring a generation of adults who don’t want to make salaah or read Quran because to them it’s a horrid event.
Some people might say, “yes, but that doesn’t happen”. Mark my words it does, so let’s start them off early, teach them about the salaah in a loving manner so that it will be something that they love to do, take them to the mosque and let them stand right in front. I can guarantee you, that that child will feel so proud that he stood by the Sheikh who led the salaah that he will keep coming back to the mosque to do it again.
Same applies to young girls, except it extends towards wearing the hijab, if you going to force her to wear it, chances are she never will.
In ending, let’s build a young generation of gifted minds who want to enhance the Ummah, and surely we will reap the rewards in the end.
Have an amazing evening all!
Mwah
covered.clique 
