Children are the men of the future and a great blessing and generous gift from God, the sermon will tell mosque-goers on Friday.
They are the shapers of the future, the nation’s reserve and the wealth that should be protected.
All future hopes are pinned on them and they are extensions of their parents.
Prophet Mohammed said on families: "A man is a guardian of his family and is responsible for them; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and children and is responsible for them."
Parents should hold themselves accountable for their children and cater for their physical and emotional needs.
The sermon will tell worshippers that parents owe their children many things. The foremost is to strengthen their connection with their Lord and teach them the guidance of their Prophet. Parents should invoke Allah for their children, for supplications are among the most beneficial things for them in this worldly life. Supplications endure for them and become a cause for their well-being, success and great achievements.
Parents are also responsible for following up on their children's’ education and academic achievements, keeping in touch with their teachers and observing the impact of what they have learnt at home and among their friends.
Children should also be taught noble social principles, the sermon will say, listing kindness, respect and maintaining good relationships with family members and neighbours as examples.
They must be taught tolerance, forgiveness, self-accountability and awareness. Parents should also teach children the positive meanings of life and that each one of them should have a noble goal and high ambitions to achieve through hard work and wise use of their time.
Humans are born with a good nature and a pure soul, the sermon will say.
On this, Allah said "[Adhere to] the fitrah (inborn characteristics) of Allah upon which He has created [all] people." (Ar-Room: 30). Such characteristics are affected by both good and evil which lead one to acquires both good and evil ethics.
Therefore, if younger generations are offered sufficient care and rearing, good nurturing and wise guidance that are conducive to strengthen righteous conducts in them, then they will definitely grow up embracing good ethics and adhering to the righteous path.
