Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 99
99 CHAPTER 6 HIGH SCHOOL YEARS “ Fear Allah and treat your children fairly (with equal justice). ” 6. 1 INTRODUCTION These are challenging years for children being raised in any society. The transition from early teens to adulthood is physiologically, emotionally, spiritually and culturally a difficult time for children and parents. Parents may find that the child they have known and understood from birth has changed into a completely unfamiliar person who questions their authority and whose personality changes with every mood swing. However, trying to find one ’ s own identity, challenging authority, questioning moral values, pushing boundaries and curiosity are the norm rather than a mark of “ difficult ” teen years. The answer to this transition lies in prayers, prayers and prayers, while following the guidance of the Qur ’ an, Ahadith, Sunnah, teachings of the Promised Messiah (as), and his successors. This is the time when it is imperative that parents provide a loving and caring ‘ safe haven ’ for their teens, where basic Islamic values are consistently upheld and practiced. At the same time, parents h ave to be on their guard against the un - Islamic influences that teenagers are sure to encounter in high school and to be ready to take action to counteract them. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rh) has advised: “ Keep an eye on your children ’ s habits and conduct right from their early childhood. Whenever you smell danger start working hard on it right away. Try to instill the love of faith