The Real Gift For A Parent

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

The real gift for a parent is not a son or a daughter or many sons or many daughters but a righteous son or a rightoous daughter who is going to leave sadaqah jariah (continuous charity) for you for their good actions and deeds.

In the Qur'an, Allah tells us that He has blessed Dawood (peace be upon him) with a righteous son, Sulayman (peace be upon him). One of the common traits that both father and son had was that they repeatedly turning back to Allah. Allah highlights this in the Qur'an.

وَوَهَبْنَا لِدَاوُۥدَ سُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ ﴿٣٠

And to Dawood (David) We gave Sulayman (Solomon). How excellent a slave! Verily, he was ever oft-returning in repentance (to Allah). (30)

[Qur'an, Sad 38:30]

ٱصْبِرْ‌ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱذْكُرْ‌ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُۥدَ ذَا ٱلْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ ﴿١٧

Be patient (O Muhammad SAW) of what they say, and remember Our slave Dawood (David), endued with power. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance (toward Allah). (17)

[Qur'an, Sad 38:17]

How do we receive this gift of a righteous child?

Righteous child does not come from thin air. We have to constantly turn back to Allah. At the same time we must take the means to educate our children with Islamic knowledge so they know their Creator and how to worship Him.

Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with father and son) reported that he heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying:

"Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a woman is a guardian of her husband’s house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. A man is a guardian of his father’s property and is responsible for it so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care." [Bukhari]

Malik bin Huwairth narrated: "I came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) with some men from my tribe and stayed with him for twenty nights. He was kind and merciful to us. When he realized our longing for our families, he said to us: "Go back and stay with your families and teach them the religion. And offer the prayer and one of you should pronounce the Adhan for the prayer when its time is due. And the oldest one amongst you should lead the prayer." [Bukhari]

Allah tells us that our children, just like our wealth and possessions, are but a trial. Allah the Most High says:

وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَ‌ٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٨

And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward. (28)

[Qur'an, Al-Anfal 8:28]

إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَ‌ٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ‌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿١٥

Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (15)

[Qur'an, At-Taghabun 64:15]

Since our children are but a trial and that the highest reward is with Allah the Almighty, it is then our responsibility to teach our children Islam. It is only through Islam that they can become righteous and be of service to Allah. We pass our trial once our children worship their Creator.

The best thing we can give to our children is the knowledge of Islam. It is the best education and the best means to fight ignorance and drive away evil. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says in the following hadith:

Amr bin Sa’id or Sa’id bin Al-‘As narrated that Allah’ Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

"A father gives his child nothing better than a good education." (Tirmidhi and Baihaqi)

‘Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

"A single scholar of religion is more formidable against Satan than a thousand devout people." (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

When we strive to teach our children Islam, we hope that Allah will reward us with righteous children who make du'a for us and do righteous works that will continue to benefit us even after we die.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) says in the following Hadiths:

"A man will be raised some degrees in Paradise and he will say, ‘For what reason I am receiving this?’ He will be told, ‘Because of your son asking forgiveness for you.’" [Bukhari]

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "When a man dies, accrual of merit in his favor from good deeds ceases except from three actions: a charity which continues after his death; knowledge left behind from which people continue to benefit, and righteous offspring who pray for him." [Muslim]

Knowing the importance of Islamic knowledge, it is imperative that we encourage our children to spend time acquiring it.

One of the characteristics of a believer is love for the search of knowledge. This should inspire us and our children to constantly seek knowledge.

Abu Said Al-Khudri narrated: Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

"A believer is never satiated with gainful knowledge; he goes acquiring it till his death and entry into Paradise." [Tirmidhi]

It is only through knowledge that we can know our Creator and how to worship Him.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Whoever follows a path to seek knowledge, Allah will make the path to Jannah (Paradise) easy for them.” [Sahih Muslim; Sunan Tirmidhi].

Whoever sets right his intention in seeking knowledge and desires only Allah's pleasure, is on a road to salvation and happiness.

May Allah guide us in seeking authentic knowledge of Islam, and enable us to impart it to our children, not just by what we say, but also by what we do. May Allah grant us righteous children. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam