L o a d i n g . . .
All Praise be to Allah Who created human beings and conferred on them special favours. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah Alone, Who has no partner, and I bear witness that our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, is the Servant and Messenger of Allah. O Allah, send blessings, salutations and benedictions upon him, his family, all of his Companions and those who are guided by their guidance until the Day of Judgment. As to what follows: I counsel you, O Servants of Allah, and myself to have Taqwā of Allah (i.e. reverential consciousness and self-restraining fear of Allah), the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds. Allah Almighty says concerning the Servants of the Most Merciful:
(وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا)
[Q25:74] [And those who say, Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for those who possess righteousness and Taqwā.”]
O Believers: On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I was with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in one of the sooqs (market-places) of al-Madinah. Then, he left, and one of his grandchildren ran up to him. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) opened up his arms welcoming him. He then kissed him and drew him to his chest, and supplicated for him saying:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُحِبُّهُ فَأَحِبَّهُ
[O Allah, I truly love him, and Thou too love him] (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
They are indeed a gift from Allah, the Bestower of Gifts – a gift which the Prophets and Messengers requested, for verily Zakariyya (may Allah’s peace be upon him) supplicated to His Lord, saying:
(رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً)
[Q3:38] [My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring.]
Due to the magnitude and importance of children, Allah Almighty commanded us to take care of them and fulfill their mental and bodily needs. Moreover, He made parents responsible and accountable for the welfare of their children. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
(وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ فِي أَهْلِهِ، وَهُوَ مَسْؤُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَالْمَرْأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ فِي بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا وَمَسْؤُولَةٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهَا)
[“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The imam who is over the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; a man is a shepherd in charge of the inhabitants of his household and he is responsible for his flock; a woman is a shepherdess in charge of her husband’s house and children and she is responsible for them; and a man’s slave is a shepherd in charge of his master’s property and he is responsible for it. So each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”] (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim) Thus, Allah Most High direct the mothers to look after their children, saying:
(وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلادَهُنَّ)
[Qur’an 2:233] (Mothers shall breastfeed their children)
Furthermore, Allah Almighty made it obligatory on the father to provide support and maintenance for the child and its mother so that she can have a stable life and take proper care of her child. Allah Most High says: (وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ)
[Qur’an 2:233] (Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable.)
Part of the responsibility of fathers is that they strengthen and reinforce their children’s relationship with their Lord and inculcate in their hearts and minds noble values and moral traits. Allah Most High says in the words of Luqman addressing his son: (يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِنْ تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُنْ فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ) [Qur’an 31:16] [O my dear son! (said Luqman), If there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them).] He (Luqman) said to his son as narrated in a tradition:
«يَا بُنَيَّ؛ مَنْ يَمْلِكْ لِسَانَهُ يَسْلَمْ، وَمَنْ يَجْتَنِبْ مَدَاخِلَ السُّوءِ يَأْمَنْ، وَمَنْ يَصْحَبِ الصَّاحِبَ الصَّالِحَ يَغْنَمْ»
[O my dear son! Whoever safeguards his tongue will be safe and unharmed; whoever avoids the ways of evil will be secure and at peace; whoever accompanies a pious and virtuous friend will gain and obtain (benefit)] What beautiful values! What sublime Words of Wisdom! Which are instills in the heart and mind of his child, which will remain with him for his entire life and which he in turn will teach to his children thereafter. O Allah, protect and preserve our children and make them a cause for our happiness. I say these words of mine while I seek Allah’s Forgiveness for you and for me, so seek His Forgiveness, for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Second Khutbah All Praise be to Allah Alone and Peace and Blessings be upon him after whom there is no Prophet, and upon his Family, Companions and those who follow his guidance. Furthermore, I counsel you, O Servants of Allah, and myself to have Taqwā of Allah. Honourable Fathers: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: (وَإِنَّ لِوَلَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا) [… and indeed, your children have a right over you] Of the rights that children have over their parents is that they are raised and brought up such that they find their parents to be the closest of their friends, being able to confide in them what preoccupies them and being able to consult them about that which confuses them. Thus, the wise father listens his son and the loving mother to her daughter. Once Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) complained to her father about something that was hurting and showed him what grieved her. Also, of the rights that children have over their parents, O Servants of Allah, is that we are concerned with our children’s education and health, dedicate a portion of our time to them, impart to them some our experience and instill in them that which strengthen their faith, raise their rank and status in this life and the Afterlife, beautify their character and refine their action; such that when they speak, they are truthful and when they promise, they fulfill their promise; such that they are good and kind to others, revering the old and having compassion for the young, and and strengthen their loyalty and love for the country. O Allah send peace, blessings and salutations upon our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, his Family and all of his Companions. O Allah, be pleased with the Righteously Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali, and the rest of the most noble and honourable companions, and those who follow them in benevolence until the Day of Judgment.
O Allah have mercy on the Muslim men and Muslim women, those of them who are living and those of them who have passed on. O Allah remove from us and the entire world this pandemic and heal those who have been inflicted with this disease and every other disease, bestow healing on all the sick, protect our families and society, confer everlasting health and wellbeing upon us, and upon the inhabitants of the world around us. O Servants of Allah: Remember Allah, the Supremely Magnificent and He will remember you, and stand up and establish the prayer.
