UPBRINGING (TARBIAT): Encourage Your Kids To Offer Prayer (Salat)!

 

Upbringing (Tarbiat):

Motivate Your Kids

To Offer Prayer (Salat)!

It Protects From Evil

And Haram

(M. Javed Naseem)

 

"Verily, I am Allah! There is no god but I.

So serve Me (only), and establish regular

prayer for celebrating My praise!”

(al-Quran 20:14)

The Command of our Almighty Creator is very clear in black and white. He is our Lord and we are His subjects, therefore, we are supposed to serve Him, please Him and sacrifice for Him. In all the Scriptures He has commanded us – His creation – to obey Him, pray to Him and thank Him. As a Supreme Creator of the universe, Allah the Almighty, has certain rights over us. It is only in our own interest that we deliver what is expected from us. Allah tells us in the Quran:

“I have only created Jinns and men,

that they may serve Me.”

(al-Quran 51:56)

So, we were created to serve Allah the Almighty, just like the Jinns who have the same obligation. Through many Prophets, Messengers and Holy Books, Allah has told us how to serve Him; what to do and what not to do. For a believer, one of the biggest obligation is the prayer (Salat). We are supposed to bow down in prayers, along with others who offer prayer. Prayer (Salat) keeps us away from evil and vulgarity. The Almighty commands us in the Quran:

“And be steadfast in prayer; practice regular

charity; and bow down your heads with those

who bow down (in worship)!”

(al-Quran 2:43)

Prayer was obligatory for all the nations that passed before us. Their Prophets and leaders guided them on how to serve the Almighty God. All Prophets and Messengers prayed (bowed down in prostration) to Allah. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also commanded to do the same.

"O Mary! Worship your Lord devoutly;

prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer)

with those who bow down!"

(al-Quran 3:43)

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), after completing the construction of Kaabah at Makkah, prayed to God and supplicated to Him for his children and descendants that they may be guided to offer prayer. He begged Allah with this supplication:

“My Lord! Make me one who establishes regular

prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring,

our Lord! And accept my supplication!”

(al-Quran 14:40)

Prayer (Salaat) is simple and easy, so please don’t make it complicated for young kids. Teach them to offer only Fardh (Farz) or obligatory prayer in the beginning, so that they don’t feel burdened. As a matter of fact, Fardh (Farz) prayer is the real prayer. Allah will ask us, on the Day of Judgment, about the Fardh (Farz) Salat. All other prayers fall into the category of ‘Nawafil’ (optional). If you offer them, you will get extra reward but if you don’t offer them, you won’t be asked, nor would you be punished. Nawafil have no limits. You can offer just 2 Rakaat or you can offer 100 Rakaat every day. There is NO fixed number for Nawafil. Offer whatever is easy!

Children’s upbringing (Tarbiah) and

education (Taaleem) is an obligation;

and you will be questioned about it

on the Day of Judgment!

Here’s the break down for the Fardh (Farz) or obligatory prayer (Salat):

Fajr: 2 Rakaat

Dhuhr: 4 Rakaat

Asr: 4 Rakaat

Maghrib: 3 Rakaat

Isha: 4 Rakaat

Total: 17 Rakaat in one day (24 hours)!

Witr Prayer: Witr is due for every night. It is like closing the account of a particular day. It is offered in odd number of Rakaat, i.e., 1, 3, 5, etc. You can offer it after Isha prayer or you can offer it before going to sleep. You have the time until Tahajjud prayer to offer Witr. Since there is no Salat with one Rakaat, the Witr prayer is generally offered in 3 Rakaat, with Dua Qanout in the last Rakaat.

Nawafil: All prayers other than the Fardh (Farz) or obligatory prayer, are considered Nawafil, though people have given them different names/titles. You can offer as much as you can; there’s no limit.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) offered at least 12 Rakaat of Nawafil everyday along with the Fardh (Farz) prayers. Sometimes he offered more than than that. Plus, he offered 3 Rakaat of Witr every night before going to sleep or with Tahajjud prayer in the last part of the night, before Fajr.

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Prayer (Salat) is easy; don’t make it difficult

for kids! Start with only Fardh (Farz) prayer

until they get used to it!

Don’t force Nawafil on them!

Isha Prayer is only 4 Rakaat, not 17.

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The Nawafil which the Prophet (s.a.w.) offered regularly, without fail, every day, are called ‘Sunnah Mowakdah’. They are 12 Rakaat in one day (24) hours. Then there are Nawafil which the Prophet (s.a.w.) offered sometimes but not always. They are called ‘Sunnah ghair-Mowakdah’ or non-Mowakdah. For example, the Prophet (s.a.w.) sometimes offered 4 Rakaat before the Fardh/Farz prayer of Asr. But sometimes he did not do that. Here below is the break-down of the 12-Rakaat Sunnah Mowakdah the Prophet (s.a.w.) always offered:

Fajr: 2 Rakaat before the Fardh/Farz prayer.

Dhuhr: 4 Rakaat before the Fardh/Farz prayer and 2 Rakaat after the Fardh/Farz prayer.

Asr: None.

Maghrib: 2 Rakaat after the Fardh/Farz prayer.

Isha: 2 Rakaat after the Fardh/Farz prayer.

Total: 12 Rakaat in one day (24 hours).

Let your children start with only Fardh/Farz or obligatory prayers and then slowly and conveniently add Nawafil/Sunnah to it, so that they don’t feel burdened. Don’t rush; take your time! May Allah give our children strength and encouragement to follow His Deen (Islam) in letter and spirit. 

 

Salat (prayer) is the biggest ‘mark’ of a Muslim. It separates him from non-Muslims. Allah the Almighty says in the Quran:

“Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers,

especially the middle prayer; and stand before

Allah in a devout (frame of mind)!”

(al-Quran 2:238)

When a believer offers prayer, he is in fact whispering with Allah, his Creator. That’s the best form of communication with the Divine. Believers are also advised to seek Allah’s help (or get in contact with Allah) through prayer and be patient. The Almighty says in the Quran:

“O you who believe! Seek help with patient

perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with

those who patiently persevere!”

(al-Quran 2:153)

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