lend a HAND or lead the WAY
Number 7, July 2008
Challenges faced by Muslim Parents
Sadeqa Ghazal
Parents today want their kids to be hugely successful in academics so that it can land them in lucrative jobs. It has become a social trend to judge a person by his/her earning potential which brings in its wake fame and glory. Muslim parents are no different. They too go to any extent to ensure their ward’s success in the worldly sense. As a result Muslim children are now performing excellently in many fields.
Wouldn’t it be good for the Muslim parents if they can inculcate some Islamic morals and ethical teachings also in their kids so that the new generation could lead a good Islamic life? Unfortunately the Muslim parents have no patience to teach their kids the virtues of this beautiful religion, Islam, and this may result into a moral degradation of the upcoming generation. Let me cite some living examples. Once I asked a boy, who had recently passed his Class Ten with 94% marks, “How many rakahs are there in Fajr prayer?” “Twelve”, he said. Another example is of a girl, studying in Class Nine, who performed only one sajdah in each rakah. These may seem isolated incidents but in reality these are symptoms of a common malaise. These young Muslims without the basic knowledge of Islamic methods and etiquette may not be useful at all as majority of them may distance themselves from the pressing issues of the community.
There is no denying that some educated Muslims are trying to learn about Islam as they have seen how devastating life can be without a true religion. But much more needs to be done on this front. It is the responsibility of each and every Muslim to help in the cause of Allah. The responsibility doubles as a parent. If all of us want to see our children successful in this world, why not in the other which is everlasting? What can we do to attain success in both the worlds? The answer is simple. Open and support Islamic schools. These schools should impart high quality contemporary education as well as elementary Islamic knowledge. Children should be taught that Islam is not just a disparate set of beliefs but a complete guide for a successful and happy life. If you follow it you never lose in life or Hereafter.
But all this can be of little use if the child does not get a similar environment at home. What the child learns in school, he should repeat at home. Here the parents play a big role. They have to follow Islamic manners themselves. Their lifestyle should be according to Quran and Sunnah. They should not indulge in loosely criticizing those people who are working to reinforce Islamic ways and principles in society. We Muslims should support each other through thick and thin. Only then shall we emerge as a strong community to make our future generations safe.
It is also important to think about the Muslim students attending institutions which are predominantly non-Islamic. They may develop some habits and attitudes that are unsuitable for Muslims. The parents should be more careful in such cases. They should discuss religious topics regularly with older children. Regular study sessions of Quran and its tafseer would help a lot. It would be better to form a group of children and arrange a Quran & Hadith study session, at least once a week. These steps would ensure that the child would learn about Islam and would follow it, Insha Allah. Then he or she will become a good Muslim and will influence others positively. Whenever they will face a problem in life they would revert to Quran and Sunnah for their answers. They will seek guidance from Allah. Thus they will be successful in this world and in the life Hereafter.
Sadeqa Ghazal is a young student of Patna and a budding communicator.
Importance of being Mendeleev
Dr. Badruddin Khan
Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev was a Russian chemist, who died on January 20, 1907. His most famous contribution to mankind is the periodic table of the chemical elements, by which he was able to predict the existence of hitherto unknown elements. This job consumed most of his time and energy.
The first part of Dmitri Mendeleev's life is characterized by family turmoil; his father having died early, leaving his mother, Maria, alone with a huge family as Dmitri Mendeleev had 14 siblings. She found work in her family's glass-factory, which burnt down in the year 1848 leaving the family in a desolate condition. Dmitri’s mother died of tuberculosis soon after he was accepted into the university at St. Petersburg
Mendeleev married Feozva Nikichna in 1863 by a family arrangement but was not happy in marriage. Luckily, he found a safe haven in his work. He was a brilliant and recognized scientist. His work allowed him to travel around Europe, which at that point of time was flourishing in science. Back in Russia, Mendeleev set out to bring knowledge to the common people. He would travel in third class to talk to peasants about manuring strategies. This contact with the masses was regarded by the authorities with some suspicion but since he was helping Russia rather than promoting dangerous ideas (such as democracy); they thought it was OK. As he grew older some of his statements became more and more political. Finally he was 'promoted' from professor to Minister of Education, a nice way to keep mischief away from the lecture halls.
Eventually, Mendeleev’s arranged marriage with Feozva failed and in orthodox Russia it was not possible to marry again as it would be deemed a criminal act of bigamy. He did marry again though, this time for love. The Orthodox Church, of course, did not like the idea very much but fortunately the Czar backed Mendeleev by saying: “Yes, I know that Mendeleev has two wives but I have only one Mendeleev.”
Work obviously came first for Dmitri Mendeleev who survived many bouts of tuberculosis in his younger years and died peacefully during a reading of Jules Verne's Journey to the North Pole, aged 73.
Dr. Khan teaches in the University of Kashmir (khanbudr@yahoo.co.in)
Dua for all Occasions
The question of a believer
A man asked Prophet (PBUH) what was the mark whereby he might know the reality of his faith. The Prophet said, "If thou derive pleasure from the good which thou hast performed and thou be grieved for the evil which thou hast committed, thou art a true believer."