Way of The Seekers — Page 48
48 THE of Satan. The Holy Prophet, on whom be peace and blessings, has assured that the child born after this prayer will be free from Satanic influences. Many people say that they have used this prayer but the result has not been as expected. Let me tell them that address- ing the prayer like a magic formula or a charm is not enough. I am quite sure that many who complain use the prayer only as a charm. Secondly, this prayer does not cover all the subsequent delinquencies of which man is capable. Many learn evil habits after birth. Only the inheritable delinquencies are covered by this prayer. After acquiring the disposition to sin at the parental stage, a child begins to develop sinful dispositions in his early childhood. Islam has expounded this great truth and has laid down that the training of the child should begin not only at birth, but long before birth. I almost think that the Holy Prophet (on him be peace and blessing) would have gone even further back. He would have laid down that the training of the child should begin while the child is still In his mother's womb. But not many people would have been prepared to undertake the care of the unborn child during this delicate period. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (on him be peace) laid down that the training should begin at birth. The first thing is to recite the Azan in the child’s ear at its birth. Nobody should think that this is just a piece of magic incantation. Both the words and the meaning of Azan find their way to the mind of the child. Moreover, it is a reminder to the parents that they are responsible for the life of the newly born. The training of that life is now their responsibility. It begins from its birth. Besides the Azan , the Holy Prophet (on him be peace and blessings) has laid down that children should be taught good manners from their childhood. He is reported to have given the following advice to Hazrat Imam Hasan, his own grandchild, when he was having his meal. The Holy Prophet said to him: