Parental Responsibility
Jummah Mubarak sis! Parenting is undoubtedly challenging, but it comes with an immense responsibility unlike any other. We have the duty to nurture the next generation, enriching the genetic pool and shaping future scholars and upholders of our faith. Whether you're already a parent, eagerly awaiting the opportunity, a stepmother, mother-in-law, aunt, godmother, or serve in any capacity as a guardian, you share this vital responsibility. The question is, how are you utilizing one of the greatest gifts you've been entrusted with in this life?
Surah An-Nisa | 4:36
وَٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـٔٗاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنٗا وَبِذِيٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلۡجَارِ ذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡجَارِ ٱلۡجُنُبِوَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلۡجَنۢبِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُكُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَايُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخۡتَالٗا فَخُورًا
“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”
Parents are invaluable, offering immense sacrifices for their children. As Muslims, we are continually instructed to do two things: worship Allah alone and honor our parents with respect and kindness.
Our mothers and fathers dedicate significant time and effort to raising their children. There are countless stories, for an example of immigrant parents, who leave their homelands to provide their children with opportunities for a better life.
Allah (SWT) commands us to be dutiful to our parents, for He made them the means by which we came into existence after we were nothing. In many places, Allah (SWT) pairs the command to worship Him with the obligation to honor our parents.
But as parents, we must ask ourselves: how are we making it easier for our children to fulfill their duty?
Parenting in Animals
When observing the social behaviors of various animal species, it becomes evident that mammals tend to invest significant time and effort in nurturing their offspring. In contrast, other species like amphibians may spend minimal to no time with their young. While there is considerable diversity in these behaviors across species, many of these differences arise due to social and ecological factors. This leads us to question how human parental behaviors might be influenced by our own social and ecological environments.
