Quran Reflection -- Trial of Children

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

Don't stress out when your children don't turn out the way you had planned. Even the best of parents will be tested with their children. Allah told us in the Quran that our wealth and our children are but a trial.

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. [Quran, At-Taghabun 64:15]

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. {Quran, Al Anfal 8:28]

Ya'qub and Nuh alayhimussalaam had bad children despite being prophets. We can't say they didn't raise them right. So we look to them how they deal with the situation.

Ya'qub responded with beautiful patience.

وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ ﴿١٨

And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe." [Quran, Yusuf 12:18]

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِى بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿٨٣

[Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. Indeed it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise." [Quran, Yusuf 12:83]

Nuh responded with humility and asking Allah for forgiveness and mercy.

قَالَ يَـٰنُوحُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَـٰلِحٍ ۖ فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَعِظُكَ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ ﴿٤٦﴾ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾

[Noah] said, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers." [Quran, Hud 11:47]

When our children were small we have absolute control over them. They listened. We begin losing control over them as they get older. But remember, our children are slaves of Allah, not ours. We are only appointed to be their shepherds. We have to be very concerned about our children and we can't give up on them until Allah commands us. We raise and teach them Islam the best we can. If they take a wrong path, we can't do anything about it. If Prophets can't do anything about their children, we can't do anything about our children either.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧﴾ وَإِنَّا لَجَـٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا ﴿٨

Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. (7) [Quran, Al Kahf 18:7]

May Allah grant us righteous children and offspring and make them comfort to our eyes. May Allah save us and our families from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. Aameen.

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