Summary

The author reflects on the importance of religious upbringing balanced with the development of critical thinking and logical reasoning in children, while also considering the impact of societal norms and personal faith on parenting decisions.

Abstract

The article delves into the author's personal journey of understanding how to raise a child in a religious context. Initially challenged by a friend's suggestion to allow children the freedom to choose their beliefs, the author grapples with the tension between adhering to religious doctrine and fostering independent thought. The author concludes that providing children with a strong foundation in their family's religion, alongside equipping them with the skills to question and argue logically, is the best approach. The article emphasizes the role of early education in shaping a child's worldview and the importance of teaching children to critically evaluate their beliefs against other theories and ideologies, including atheism and liberalism, as they mature.

Opinions

The author believes that it is a parent's responsibility to guide their child towards the "right path" as defined by their religious beliefs, in this case, Islam, due to the belief that it leads to paradise.
Early religious education is justified and seen as beneficial, as it shapes the child's moral framework and prepares them for a successful life.
The author criticizes those who abandon their religious upbringing in favor of liberal or atheistic ideologies without a deep understanding of their own religion or the new beliefs they are adopting.
There is an emphasis on the importance of reading authentic religious texts and comparing them with other philosophies before making informed decisions about one's belief system.
The author suggests that maturity brings the opportunity to research and potentially adopt different religious or philosophical views, but this should be done with sincere intentions and thorough research rather than merely seeking comfort or liberty.
The author implies that the friend's argument for allowing children to decide their fate lacks depth, as it does not consider the importance of a structured religious upbringing and the challenges of changing deeply ingrained beliefs.

Being a parent this is how I will raise my child

One day my friend commented that let the children decide their fate. They should have the right to decide either to be a follower of a religion or an atheist.

Groomed in a specific society make us rigid in beliefs and give tough time in listening and believing opposite thoughts. So, I was also shocked and amazed at first. Righteous thoughts (which I believed to be right) started knocking my mind and urged me to ask “What The Hell are you talking about?. Why should we give our child new ways to diverge from true religion?”

I was mature enough not to be driven by evil and ended the conversation gently by replying her that

As our country is an Islamic state and we are nurtured in a Muslim family hence truly believe in truthiness of Islam. It is our faith that Islam will lead us to paradise. Preferring paradise for us and let our children led to hell by their modified liberal thoughts is not justified.

She was not satisfied at that time just because I failed to convince her. My urge to get knowledge propelled me to get answers for her question and here is my finding for you to share with. The first question I asked myself

If I am a parent how should I raise a child?

The answer was simple:

Try to provide my child the best I could provide. Make her/him clear about existence of this life. Teach to follow the right path. Strong her/his argument skills and develop logical mind. Make her/him learn science and get life easier.

Feeding the best food to children, providing the best shelter, and watching them being successful are basic things every parent desires. So, if a Muslim or a Christian parent thinks themselves on the right path (As they believe in Allah, in humanity, in obeying rules, no one is disturbed by their actions) and their way of living is good for his/her child to adopt then what is wrong in it to teach young generation that religion gives the best way to live. We choose the best school for our child where they will have good teaching staff and a better chance to develop their personality. Selecting the best school in the city, providing quality education is our choice because we know what is best. An immature person driven by juvenile thoughts will ruin growth time if she/he starts taking decision early. Similar, religious parents start teaching their child about the truthiness of religion and make kids mind to follow it which is quite justified.

The second question I tried to answer is:

If teaching religion to early stage of life is good then why a child is not given right to decide about following religion or doing research on other theories about God existence at maturity in religious community.

It seems logical before going into depth.

It’s human nature to follow what they have been taught in the early stages of life and the plethora of logic needed to divert someone from early grooming. A child who has been taught religion in childhood have every right to study other theories but just listening to some scholar and making beliefs isn’t enough. You have to read the literature written by authentic writers. I have seen many Muslims who went to America for higher studies and got impressed by the liberal and atheist culture there. They start believing that Islam is not only true religion just because Islam bounds them from some liberty. For example, In Muslim’s holy book Quran God addresses to men

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do (Surah An-nur verse 31)

In very next verse Allah address to women. HE says

O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah An Nur verse 31)

When Muslims travel to Europe America or another non-Muslim country, they found ladies walking in jeans and skirt. This liberty attracts them and many starts rebelling from religion. Islam bounds man women not to indulge in illegal relations for the name of friendships but man originating from Islamic culture easily turn down from their Islamic beliefs and start criticizing it just because they found liberty. They didn’t even try to read the Quran and Hadees before inverting their mind towards liberal thoughts.

I found that if a child starts researching on other religions after maturity she/he should do it but not like how many people do. Not because of appeasing your comfort zone, start reading other theories for the sake of betterment. Read the Quran and books of other religions and compare them with liberalism and atheism and make a fair decision.

The girl who argued with me wasn’t logical in her newly adopted theories due to lack of basic knowledge of religion and liberal thoughts.