The question is: What values should a mother impart to her children?



First: Sincerity to Allaah Alone

First and foremost, mothers must be sincere to Allaah alone. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give Zakaah [obligatory charity]. And that is the correct religion.} [Quran 98:5]

Mothers should seek reward from Allaah The Almighty for the efforts they exert in raising their children. Mothers stay up for hours late at night and take the trouble of continuously guiding their children, monitoring their studies, or doing household chores.

O mothers, seek reward from Allaah Alone for all that and be certain that you will be rewarded for the slightest effort you exert. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as Accountant.} [Quran 21:47]

Do not listen to Satan whispering to you that it is time you should take some rest. Those who aspire for eternal bliss in Paradise should not seek to have temporary rest in this life.

Muslim women have a mission to undertake and they will be rewarded if they do it well. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, praised women who have two characteristics, saying: “The best women who rode camels (i.e. who ever lived) are the women of Quraysh: they are the most tender to young children and the most protective of their husbands' finances.”



Second: Knowledge

After learning the individual obligations that are related to acts of worship, worldly dealings and knowledge of the lawful and unlawful, a Muslim woman should learn the principles of upbringing of children and add to their information regularly.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”} [Quran 20:114]

Islam encourages us to seek knowledge, so why do we blame the deficiencies in our thinking and education on Islam, letting others assume wrongly that Islam hinders women from learning and fosters women’s ignorance? Actually, the annals of Islamic history are rich in information about women scholars of Tafseer (Quranic exegesis) and Hadeeth, poetesses, and women of letters. However, Muslim women should seek knowledge according to the guidance of Islam, without intermixing with men or indulging in immodest behavior under the pretext of seeking knowledge. Also, they should seek useful knowledge that leads them to please Allaah The Almighty and helps them to attain Paradise.

Sound knowledge saves people from being degraded into blindly following trends that might dazzle women who do not know the true path, and consequently are dragged into a moral abyss in the name of "modernization" and "civilization".

The knowledge of Fiqh (jurisprudence) and methods of Da‘wah (propagation), that is necessary for women is encouraged by the Quran and the Sunnah. Everything that women need to learn about various aspects of their life is attainable not only at home and at schools, but also through other lawful channels such as mosques, from neighbors, and through meeting with people. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said: “What is the matter with people who do not make their neighbors understand (their religion), nor educate them, nor advise them, nor explain to them? Why do some people not learn from their neighbors, nor understand (their religion), nor be advised? By Allaah, these people shall educate their neighbors, make them understand (their religion), advise them, enjoin them [to do good] and forbid them [from doing evil]; and those neighbors shall learn from their neighbors and be advised, or I will hasten punishment on them.”

Let us learn as much knowledge as we can and spend some time with our books, and we will be rewarded, Allaah willing.