Upbringing and guiding the future generation to the straight path are among the greatest challenges Muslims face in the 21st century. Sheikh Muhammad Bin Jameel Zaynoo has words of encouragement in his book “Kayfa Nurabbee Awlaaduna”: “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from the Hellfire.” (Qur'an, 66:6) Mothers, fathers, teachers, and the society as a whole, will all be accountable in front of Allah about the tarbiyyah (education and upbringing) of this generation. If the tarbiyah is good, then there will be happiness – both in this world and the hereafter. If it is not, then there will be misery, and it will be a rope around your necks – since there occurs in the Hadith: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about those who you are responsible for.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) But – O teachers – rejoice over the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: “By Allah! That Allah guides through you even a single person, is better for you than the most precious of camels.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslims) And – O parents – rejoice over the authentic Hadith: “When a person dies, his actions cease except for three – a recurring charity, or knowledge that he leaves which benefits people, or a pious offspring who supplicates for him.” (Muslim, no. 1631) So you must first of all reform yourselves, since good results from the good that you do, and bad results from the bad that you do. So good conduct from teachers and parents in front of the children is the best form of education and upbringing for them.
