An Amana

Sister Sadaaf titles chapter 10 ‘The Apprentice’.

For every mother, we know how our little sweet, adorable babies can grow up into little tantrum throwers, clingers, questioners, spillers and so much More, that you walk around wondering if you should lock yourself in the bathroom (actually do it) or leave town. Having multiples close in age can have a multiplier effect😊. We love them but…how do we cope?

Sister Sadaaf, like most of us, has been there and done that. And she says it was her journey into the Qur’an that made her change her perception of raising little ones. Allah can use anyone to enrich His deen. Through stories in the Qur’an, we can see how children played a vital part in driving home the message of Islam.  Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah, children are a trust from Allah and they become your little apprentices, individuals who are also trying to find their way to Allah. Allah has blessed you with many servants to guide.

She cites examples of three stories from the Qur’an of how Allah used children in furthering His deen:

The sister of Prophet Musa Alayhi Salam

A young male child destined to die

A Mother in pain, placing her newborn in a basket

On the River Nile

Enter the sister

This story is not new to us but truly picture the role of Musa Alayhi salam’s sister. Present when her mother let go of her baby brother, knowledgeable enough to know what this means, responsible and reliable enough to obey her mother and follow the basket as it floated down the waters…and wise enough to stay back, watch the progress of things and then offer her mother as an option for a wet nurse to the family of Fir’awn. A worthy apprentice indeed.

Ismail Alayhi Salam

This young Muslim needs no introduction. For was he not in his youth when he lay, trusting his father to offer him as a sacrifice? Telling his father to obey the command of His Rabb? He who took the advice of his father when he was older concerning his spouse and was a worthy companion when the foundation of the Ka’aba was built. No ordinary house was it and Prophet Ibrahim Alayhi Salam had beside him a truly worthy apprentice who understood the assignment and joined him in dua.

Allahu Akbar.

The servant of Prophet Musa Alayhi Salam

A pretty unlikely story, but he appears alongside his master in the boat while searching for Khidr. You do remember your Suratul Kahf, yes? This was the young man who served his master preparing fish while on the journey and forgot to inform him of the exact spot, the meal disappeared😊. And once he remembered, he called his master’s attention as this was the sign he was waiting for – to find Khidr and start his learning journey. A young man who was a worthy companion and apprentice.

Sister Sadaaf uses these stories as guides on how we should raise our little ones that have been entrusted to us – give them tasks, delegate, and take them along on our quests for knowledge. It’s quite okay for children to hang with adults not just their peers. How else will they learn and act as they grow?

Have a good, frank relationship with them so that they can come and talk to us like the boy servant was able to. It’s okay for them to serve, help, and assist. Be quick to forgive their mistakes and overlook them as they come of age.

Ya Ibaadi, beware. Children’s first teachers and mentors are their parents. There are homes where parents are holding study circles and the kids are off watching TV or shut off in their rooms. Daddy is attending halaqas and learning his deen and his mature kids are learning lyrics of popular songs, trending dances or watching inappropriate videos. How are you enjoying the sweetness of faith, and having this amana, while the ones you claim to love are not right by your side?

How can your children not be on this journey with you?

So, your children are a trust, apprentices on this path of the deen. Yes, they will misbehave, and you have to give them the stern, paternal eye or reprimand them but as we watch them grow, with their little hands and hearts all over the place, say astagfirllah and be gladdened for the gift of them. Make dua that they will also tread this path along with you better, higher…

This path to Allah for the Hereafter.