Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 109
Social Peace 109 children and to make their children the forerunners and leaders of a God-fearing, righteous generation. It only takes one to apply this teaching to oneself to fully realise the significance of this verse. When you desire something vaguely, it may not influence your conduct significantly, but when you pray for it earnestly, then your conduct is bound to be influenced by that prayer. To illustrate this further, there are many amongst us who desire to be truthful but seldom is this desire translated into practice. Those who earnestly pray to God that He should make them become truthful, are influenced far more in their conduct by their prayer than those merely wishing for something vague. A genuine effort is made in moulding one’s behaviour for the better. A person would be acting very oddly indeed after such a prayer if he treats his wife and children in a manner inconsistent with the prayer. Turning exclusively to the younger generation and their rights and obligations, the Holy Quran admonishes: O ye who believe! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what it sends forth for the morrow. And fear Allah; verily Allah is Well- Aware of what you do. 34 The Holy Quran warns the parents that if they fail to discharge the responsibility due to their offspring and leave behind a generation, which is not beyond censure in its conduct, then the parents will be held answerable before God.