An Islamic scholar, Imam Sirajudeen Bakr has said that it is the duty of parents to guard their children against all forms of contemporary temptations.
Bakr, who is the Chief Imam and Senior Librarian, Fountain University, Osogbo Osun State, made this disclosure while speaking at the 5th annual Ramadan lecture of Al-Qalam Schools, Ibadan.
The event was held at the school premises under the chairmanship of Ustaz Jeleel Oladimeji (FCA) at Olounde, Ologuneru, Ibadan, with the theme “Preparing Muslim teens against temptations.”
Bakr, while speaking on the topic, “Parental roles in preparing Muslim teens against temptations”, noted that God made children as gifts. He can bless man with male, female, or both or make some people barren.
He, however, advised parents to guard their children against contemporary temptations that is rampant among youths in the country.
Bakr said, “God said that you should save your soul and that of your family from hell fire. It is a great work, that is why we say that children can be a source of blessing or curse.
“Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that all of us are shepherds and all of us will be asked how we directed our sheep.
“All children are good, it is the parents that change their ways because of their failure to take care of them. Parenting is more that giving money to your children.
“Children can be a blessing and also be a source of sorrow. So, we have to know how to take care of our children. The person who has children is going through temptations, the one who doesn’t have is also going through the same thing. These two are temptations. May God let us overcome the temptations.
“We have the traditional culture and we have sub-culture. In the past, when a child makes some types of haircut, he will not take it to his parents, but now, some parts of the traditional culture have become sub-culture.
“The entertainment industry used to be regulated, but it is not any longer. You will see some funny and disgusting contents on television now. We are saying that children are violent, there is no other place they see these things apart from the entertainment industry.
“Our children do not eat our traditional food again, they are now eating junks. All these things are learnt from social media and the entertainment industry. Worst still, they are now trying to immitate these celebrities without knowing that they themselves are living fake lives’, he added.
Children are the best investments if parents do what is expected of them: Ustadh Oladimeji
The Chairman of the occasion, Ustadh Oladimeji, who is equally the Coordinator, Da’wah Companion, Lagos congratulated the school management for hosting another successful event for the children, whom he described as the best investments for parents.
“Permit me to thank Allah for sparing our lives till today. Then, to the school for organising another edition, the fifth, of this Ramadan lecture for our children. These children are indeed the best investments if we, as parents do what is expected of us,” he said, during his opening speech.
Ustadh Oladimeji said the parents, who follow the path of Allah and whose children follow their path, are successful both in this life and the hereafter, adding that this is the promise of Allah as established in the Noble Qur’an, Surah Tur, verse 21.
“Allah will reunite them, believing parents and their children on the day of judgement. They will surely enter Jannah. This is a promise from Allah and one of the major reasons we put up this programme,” he added.
Going by the decadence in the society, the Chairman said, “We don’t want our case to be the reverse. Our mission is to raise children that are pious, successful, both in this world and the hereafter. We don’t want to raise children that are gangsters, fraudsters, scammers, etc.
“We don’t want to be losers as parents. Allah says in another verse, the real losers are those who lost themselves and their children on the day of judgement. They are the real great losers, those who didn’t worship Allah and their children too didn’t worship Allah,” he stated.
He emphasised that these children are transiting from one stage of their lives to another – from children to teenagers, adding that, “as parents, we have a lot of roles to play. It’s going to be a long journey and all hands must be on deck. Fathers and mothers must work together to bring out the best in their children. Parents who fail to work together on their children, Allah will call them to account.”
Advising the school management, Ustadh Oladimeji said they are on the right track, adding that they should consistently do what they’re doing and try as much as possible to Islamize their curriculum.
According to him, “They should have more Islamic contents for the students. For instance, if they are teaching Mathematics, they should Islamize it, by using Muslim names as examples e.g Zayd bought 5 apples from Aisha etc
“They should invest in the teachers and pay them well, so that they can dedicate their time passionately for the students,” he added.
Preparing them for ‘a desert journey’ starts with us: Parent
One of the parents, Dr Taofeek Salaudeen, who spoke with Muslim News’ correspondent who was also at the event, said, “I am indeed grateful to Allah for the success of the 5th annual Ramadan lecture organised by Al-Qalam Schools.”
He said, “The lecturer addressed the core responsibilities of parents on their children and I’m happy we have many of the parents in attendance. It was evident from the message that ‘preparing for a desert journey’ starts with the parents. I hope and pray that we parents live up to expectations.
Once again, I congratulate the organizers. I also thank them for giving us the opportunity to be a part of the success.
Appreciation goes to Allah for a remarkable event: Hajia Otun Rukayah
The Director of Academics, Hajia Otun Rukayah Abimbola, who spoke on behalf of the school, thanked God for making the event a remarkable one.
She also thanked parents, friends and well-wishers of the school for their understanding and usual support towards attainment of the school’s yearly set goals along with the mission statement.
She added that the rationale behind the lecture was to address some of the current issues affecting teenagers.
Roll Call
Some of the personalities present at the event were Alhaji Muili Olaide, Seriki Adeen, Ido- Ido Local Govt; Alhaji Saheed Yussuff, Imam, Dundalk Muslim Community, Republic of Ireland; Alh Abd’Ganeey Otun, Imam Anwar-ul’Islam Society, Ibadan Branch; Alhaji Lukman Akinyemi, CEO Akinyemi Electricals; Alhaja Bushera Adeniji, Founder, Allah’s Megaphone; Dr Taofeek Salaudeen, Alh Teslim Tunde Omisore, Alhaja Kudirat Aderibigbe, and Alhaja Rasheedat Oladimeji Musa, among others.
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