UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN:

A child should be weaned off breast milk at the age of two. 

When the child is learning to speak, first teach him or her to say the name of Allah and teach the child Kalima Tayyibah at a later stage. 

When making a child sleep, mothers should read Naaths or Qasida instead of singing songs or playing the radio. 

Try to set a good example and practice what you preach as children have a habit of imitating what they see. 

Read your Namaaz in their presence, recite Quran Shareef and take them to the Masjid with you. 

Read stories of good pious people as children love listening to stories and can learn valuable lessons and form good habits from Hadith and such stories. 

When children reach the age of 7 years, they should be ordered to perform Namaaz, learn the five Kalimas, Imaan-e-Mujmal and Imaan-e-Mufassil. 

Send children to Madressa to learn Dua’s, to read the Quran Shareef and other Islamic Books and magazines. 

Children should be taught to keep their body, clothes and surroundings pure and clean. 

They should be given responsibilities as well as certain duties or tasks to perform in the house. 

They must be taught to do their own work and should also be taught to make Salaams when entering the house or when meeting people. They should be taught the importance of respecting their elders. 

Encourage a life of simplicity including simple dressing and eating habits. 

It is advisable that at least one of the children should become Hafiz or an Aalim as it has been stated in a Hadith that three generations of one Hafiz and seven generations of one Aalim will be pardoned. 

Instill good constructive hobbies in them, those that can be means for them to earn a Halaal Rozi (sustenance) at a later stage in their lives. 

According to Islam, children must be educated in religious and worldly affairs. In this connection, there is also a famous Hadith of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) which says: "The acquisition of knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim man and woman." But the education of the females should be in accordance with her temperament and the immediate needs of society. She should be educated in such a manner as could make her a good Muslim, wife, mother, educator and an ideal citizen. Girls should be taught handicrafts, cooking, sewing, etc. It is very important that with any career one should gain Islamic knowledge and practice good Islamic way of life and values. 

If a child is not given proper Islamic training and as a result adopts evil habits and commits sins, the sins thereof will be upon the parents.