Malfuzat - Volume IV — Page 39
39 Malfuzat – Volume IV progeny that goes on to live a life of sin and transgression, the verdict of Sa’di seems correct, when he says: ہکشیپازدپررمدہہبانفلخ It is better for the ignoble son to die before his father. Another point to note is that people do often hold a strong desire to have chil - dren, and they are blessed with children also. However, it is rarely observed that they strive and struggle to train their children, to make them exemplary, instil in them good character and teach them to become obedient to God Almighty; they do not pray for them either. They do not keep in view the various aspects of training. My own state is such that not a single Prayer goes by in which I do not pray for my friends, my children and my wife. There are many parents who will teach their children bad habits. In the very beginning, when they begin to learn bad deeds, they do not admonish them, and as a result, day by day, they become even more bold and fearless. There is a story that a young man was sentenced to death by hanging for his crimes. Just before his death, he expressed a desire to see his mother. When his mother arrived he approached his mother and said: ‘I would like to kiss your tongue. ’ When she stuck out her tongue, he bit it off. When he was questioned about this, he said: ‘This is the mother who has led me to my hanging; for if she had forbidden me from committing vice, today I would not be in this state. ’ In summary, although many people desire to have children, this is not so that they will become servants of the Faith, but only to produce a worldly heir. Then, when a child is born, due concern is not shown to train them, nor are they cor - rected in their beliefs or set right in terms of their moral state. Remember, such a one cannot be sound in their faith who does not understand the responsibility they owe to their nearest relations. When someone is failing in this respect, how can it be expected that they will do other virtues? Allah Almighty has expressed in the Holy Quran the manner in which one ought to desire children, as follows: 1 ًا َم َِمَا ا َِْيَْن ْق َ َت ُ َم ْ ُل ِ ْل َا ْن ْ ُل َ ُع ْجْ َ ا َو ٍ َن ُ ْي ْ ِع َ ا َ ٍة َ َر ُقُ َا ْن ِ ُت ٰـ ُي ِ ُر ُ ْذ َوَ َا ْن ِ ْج َْوَا َز َ ا ْ ُن ِ َم َا ْن َ ْل ْ ٍب َ ْه َا ْن َ َب َ ُر Our Lord, grant us of our wives and children the delight of our eyes, and make us a model for the righteous. 1 al-Furqan , 25:75 p. 312