Weekly Classroom Themes – Secondary

Kindness to Parents

In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

As we have each seen and/or experienced, the treatment of parents is sometimes abysmal, if not a form of oppression. Allah teaches Muslims, however, that goodness and dutifulness to the parents is of utmost importance - and leaving such is from the major sins. On many occasions, Allah the All-Knowing follows the command to practice of Tawhed and worship of One God with dutifulness and goodness to parents. On example of many verses if the following:

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word." (17:23)

To exemplify this importance of being good to parents, let us read a statement from ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: 

"Any Muslim who has parents and is dutiful to both of them seeking Allah's pleasure, Allah will open two gates of Jennah for him. If there is only one parent, then one gate will be opened. If he makes one of them angry, then Allah will not be pleased with him until that parent is pleased with him." Ibn Abbas was then asked: "Even if they treat him unjustly?" He said: "Even if they treat him unjustly."

This statement from ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was recorded in Imam Bukhari's al-Adab al-Mufrad and also in al-Bayhaqi. In the former collection the chain is of a weak status, however the meaning is correct (sahih). From this statement, not only do we gain the benificial knowledge about the rights of parents, but we learn about the importance for the believer - in other words the reward s/he may have after having done such a beautiful course of actions (serving the parents). Furthermore, we see that one must be good and dutiful toward a parent(s) even if they are unjust to them. And, we know from other narrations that a person must not obey anyone in disobedience to Allah, however beyond that one is encouraged to be dutiful toward parents.

We have another statement from ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which is sahih (correct) recorded in the above-mentioned text of Imam Bukhari that describes the major sins, within which one of the major sins listed is "to make one's parents weep through disobedience." May Allah protect us from that. In the same narration, ibn Umar explains the importance of the mother and says: "By Allah, if you speak kindly to her and feed her, then you will definitely enter the Garden as long as you avoid the major sins." 
Questions:
Why is it of utmost importance that we treat our parents with respect?
Write about a time where you did not treat your parents with kindness. Do you regret it? Did you apologize? If you could go back in time, what would you have done differently?
Why must we be dutiful to our parents even if they are unjust towards us? What is the one exception?
What are some rights of the parents?

What are some rights of the children?

Assignment:
Write a list of ways that you can show more kindness/respect towards your parents. Try out the things on your list. Write a paper explaining what this extra kindness has done for your relationship with your parents and how it makes you feel.

Week 23

Marketplace

In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

The following are some the manners one should know about working in, and entering into, a marketplace. Some of the etiquettes include:

1) Dua upon entering: "There is none worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without any partner with Him. For Him is the Dominion and to Him is the praise. He gives life and He brings about death; He is living and does not die. In His hand is all good and He has power over all things."  (al-Tirmidhi)

2) To avoid fighting and arguing. He or she must not take false oaths in sales and purchases. 

3) Cleanliness: Particularly in the marketplace where there is dirt and filth and foul odors one should strive to be clean and to have a clean environment. 

4) Fulfill all contracts and agreements that she or he agrees to. He should be clear and straight-forward. 

5) A Muslim should be kind and forgiving in his or her business dealings. One should be generous, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "May Allah have mercy on a slave [of Allah] who is generous and good-hearted when he buys, generous and good-hearted when he sells, generous and good-hearted when he asks to be paid." (Malik's Muwatta)

Questions:

How do we benefit from marketplaces?

Why might it be a good idea to avoid the marketplaces if there is no need to be there?

Why should one make du’a when entering the marketplace?

What are some differences in marketplaces in different parts of the world? What are the main similarities?

Assignment:

Write a skit that focuses on the proper etiquette that should be observed while in the marketplace.

Week 24

Wisdom

Bismillah. It is reported in Sahih al-Muslim that when sending out a mission, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would say: "Give glad tidings to people, and do not alienate or repel them. Make matters easy, and do not make matters difficult."

As we have done ourselves or experienced; some of our brothers and sisters take a rough approach in dealing with others and in calling to Islam. However, this is not the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. 

Once Abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) passed a group of people crowding around a man. They began insulting and beating the man. He came up to them and said: "What's the matter?" "This is a man who has committed a grave sin," they replied. "What do you think you would do if he had fallen into a well?" asked Abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him). "Wouldn't you try to get him out?" "Certainly," they said. "Don't insult him and don't beat him. Instead admonish him and make him aware of the consequences of what he had done. Then give praise to God Who has preserved you from falling into such a sin." "Don't you hate him?" they asked Abu Darda'. "I only detest what he had done and if he abandons such practice, he is my brother." The man [one who had sinned] began to cry and publicly announced his repentance.

Allahu akbar. The wisdom and the beauty of the methodology is inspiring - something for each of us to reflect upon and enact within our lives. This is just one of the reasons the Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them all) used to refer to Abu Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) as the wise one. May Allah guide us with the wisdom to use knowledge in the best of ways. amin.

Questions:

Describe a time/situation in the past where someone did not use wisdom in conveying an Islamic message either towards you or someone else.

What are some consequences of being rough towards people when conveying the message of Islam?

Reflect on a time where you feel you made a mistake while trying to convey an Islam related message. What would you do differently if given the opportunity to do it again?

Who was Abu Darda’ (may Allah be pleased with him)? What can we learn from him in regards to how he treated the man who sinned?

Discussion:

Think of an unpleasant situation that may have arisen between two parties in the classroom. Discuss how it could have been handled more wisely.

Week 25