Early Childhood

First Sermon All praise is due to Allah, the Generous, the Majestic, who has blessed us with the gift of children. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, the Great, the Exalted, and I bear witness that our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, is His Messenger, a man of noble character. May Allah confer His blessings, peace, and benediction upon him, his family, companions, and all who follow them until the Day of Return. To proceed: I advise you, servants of Allah, and myself to fear Allah. He, the Almighty, has said, ﴿وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ ‌وَالْأَرْحَامَ﴾ And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and (fear Allah regarding) the wombs (that bore you). [Qurʾān 4:1] Servants of Allah: There is a prayer that prophets, messengers, and the righteous servants of Allah have made, a prayer in which lie humanity’s endurance, continuity, growth and cultivation of a fulfilling life. It was the prayer of Prophet Zakariya, peace be upon him: ﴿رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً﴾ O my Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. [Qurʾān 3:38] and the prayer of the Servants of the Most Merciful: ﴿رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ﴾ Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes. [Qurʾān 25:74]  Indeed, children are a great gift from Allah, one that brings joy to their parents and a comfort to their eyes. So, those whom Allah has blessed with children; give thanks to Him for them, recognize their rights, and fulfill your responsibilities toward them by striving to treat them well and taking good care of them. O Believers: Experts and specialists agree that early childhood, extending up to the age of eight, is one of the most crucial and most critical stages of a person’s life. Allah, the Most High, says, ﴿ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا﴾ Then He brings you out (from the wombs of your mothers) as a child. [Qurʾān 40:67] When we consider the lives of the prophets , peace be upon them, —Yusuf, Musa, Yahya, Isa, and our Master and Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ —we find that this stage was an important part of their lives. Early childhood, servants of Allah, is the prelude to human life, the first stepping stone. During this stage, the details and intricacies of one’s life are formed, encompassing knowledge, language, identity, balance, personal strength, and mental and physical health. Islam has granted this stage significant importance and recognition. When a child is born, he is received with congratulations and prayers, and the entire family celebrates his arrival. The mother embraces him in her arms, drawing him close to her; her embrace brings him comfort and warmth, and her milk provides him with healing and nourishment. Allah, the Most High, says, ﴿وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ﴾ Mothers shall nurse and suckle their children [Qurʾān 2:233]. O Parents: What most profoundly affects children in their early years and deprives them of their rights is when parents feel burdened by their responsibilities towards them and leave them vulnerable to neglect at the hands of others. This reflects a weakness in their care, leading to a weakeness in their character and personality, depriving them of their role in life, and making them susceptible to being bullied and having their thoughts and minds manipulated by addicts or extremists. Where is your responsibility, O Parents? Your Prophet ﷺ said, «كُلُّكُمْ ‌رَاعٍ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ» Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. (that is to say: Each of you is a caregiver, and each of you is entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing and caring for those placed in your care) So, fear Allah in regard to your children, consider their weaknesses and needs, and understand their longing to see you. Yes, O father, and O mother, you are responsible for your children. Keep their memory free of scenes of discord and separation. Do not think that they are too young to understand what you do; children have memories, feelings, and emotions. Instill in them the love of Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him). Pray in front of them, remember Allah in their presence, and endear their Arabic language and native dialect to them. Establish in them noble morals and keep them away from negative behaviors like lying, gossiping, mockery, and ridicule. As Ibn Masʿud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, عَوِّدُوهُمُ الْخَيْرَ، ‌فَإِنَّ ‌الْخَيْرَ ‌عَادَةٌ Foster in them the habit of goodness (i.e. Get them used to doing good), for goodness is a habit. Teach them to love their homeland and its leadership. Bring them to your gatherings so they can emulate you, and raise them to take pride in their traditional attire with its elegance, completeness, modesty, and dignity. Spend time with them, play with them, instill the principles of chivalry, courage, and manhood. Do not leave them to become addicted to electronic games; instead, create physical play areas for them within your homes and gardens. Avoid scolding or mocking them, and do not make supplications against them. Instead, be patient in raising them and be gentle in guiding and advising them, for  «إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي شَيْءٍ ‌إِلَّا ‌زَانَهُ» Gentleness is not found in anything except that it beautifies it. Pay attention to what you do in front of them, for they see you as their role models. Whatever qualities of goodness may be missing in yourselves, make up for them in your children, for they are an extension of your life and a provision for you in both this world and the Hereafter. I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan. ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ‌قُوا ‌أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا﴾ O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire [Qurʾān 66:6]  and  ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ﴾ O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you [Qurʾān 4:59]. I say this, and I ask Allah to forgive me and you. Second Sermon Praise be to Allah, as is He rightly  deserves. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, His Prophet and Servant, and upon his family, companions, and those who followed his guidance thereafter. To proceed: O Believers: a significant national occasion has come upon us, the Flag Day, on which our beloved nation celebrates by raising our noble flag high above our homes and institutions. This act embodies the meanings of solidarity and belonging, in loyalty to the memory of the founding leaders who built the union with their wisdom, raised this nation with their hands, and shouldered the responsibility of elevating it. It is most fitting for us to remember their legacy and efforts on this cherished occasion, to instill their love in our children from a young age, and to involve them in such celebrations, as well as in the initiatives launched by our leadership. In doing so, love for the national flag will grow within them, so they will raise it in every field, proclaiming, May safety endure, and long live the flag. O Allah, send prayers, peace, and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, upon his family, and upon all his companions. O Allah, be pleased with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, and with all of the noble Companions. O Allah, bless our children and descendants, make them a source of joy for us and a delight to our eyes, and bless us through them. Guide us to take good care of them and fulfill their rights. O Allah, let there be no one deprived of offspring in this mosque but that You grant them, ease their means of healing, and fill their hearts with contentment in Your wisdom. For indeed, You delay or advance provision only for profound wisdom, storing for Your servants what You will and granting them from Your provision when You will. O Allah, make us kind to our parents, and have mercy on them as they raised us when we were young, O Most Merciful of the merciful. O Allah, maintain stability in the UAE, grant us continued health, expand our provisions, and bless our spouses and descendants. O Allah, guide and grant success to the President of the State, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, his deputies, his brothers the Rulers of the Emirates, and his trustworthy Crown Prince, to do what pleases You and gains Your approval. O Allah, have mercy upon Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, and the founding leaders. Admit them by Your grace into the vastness of Your gardens and include our nation’s martyrs in Your mercy and forgiveness. O Allah, have mercy on Muslim men and women, believing men and women, both the living and the deceased. O Allah, grant us rain and do not make us among the despairing. O Allah, grant us relief; O Allah, grant us relief; O Allah, grant us relief. ﴿‌رَبَّنَا ‌آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴾ “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.” [Qurʾān 2:201] O Servants of Allah: Remember Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, He will remember you, and be grateful to Him for His blessings, and He will increase you (in blessings). And establish the prayer.