Social Media — Page 22
~22~ Attend to the Training of Children from a Young Age In a Friday sermon Huzoor-e-Anwar (aba) explained how the environment affects the mind of children and plays a role in building their character. He said: “In the fitrat (nature) of man, Allah the Exalted has placed a tendency to copy others in our surroundings, which manifests from childhood, as it is part of the nature of man. Hence, the tendency to copy others is in the nature of a child. This tendency is certainly for our benefit, but the wrong use sometimes leads to man’s destruction or takes him towards destruction. It is a consequence of this tendency to copy and be influenced by his environment that man learns a language from one’s parents, learns other deeds and good things which make a child a well- mannered person. If the parents are virtuous, observe the Salat, read and recite the Holy Quran, live with each other in an atmosphere of love and affection, and abhor falsehood, then the children under their influence will adopt virtues. On the contrary, if the child sees lying, fighting and disputes, making fun of others in the home, not giving due regard to the dignity of the Jama’at or other such bad actions, then because of that tendency to copy or because of the impact of the environment the child learns these evils. When he goes out, he tries to learn whatever he sees in his surroundings and among his friends. This is why I repeatedly draw attention to the parents that they should keep an eye on the outside environment of the children. And even within the home they should keep an eye on the programs that they watch on television or their Internet usage. ” • Friday sermon delivered 13 December 2013 at Baitul Futuh Mosque, London • Published AlFazl International 03 January 2014