preserving children identity is a crucial case in this era .As in the past, the Muslim nation used to live in one country with no political borders between its regions and there was no need of visa or passport upon entrance or exit. But, in this age, everything is changed and there is a need of immigration and moving from one country to another for many reasons. Many Muslim parents who are living in western countries live in a challenge in order to maintain their children identity and even they fight between the integration into a society that is different from their beliefs and keeping their Islamic identity from getting lost. In fact our reality warns us.
As, according to the new statistics in USA, nearly 70% of people identify as Christian, and 23% identify as having no religion, and less than 1% identify as Muslim. AS our identity is our religion, faith, and the Sunnah of our prophet peace be upon him, parents have a great role to keep it.
In a famous hadith on parents and religion regarding Islamic identity , Prophet said, “No child is born but that he is upon the natural disposition [to believe in Allah] Thereafter, it is one’s parents that make the child a Jew, or a Christian, or Magian.
What does Islamic identity mean?
Islamic identity is believing in the doctrine of this Islamic nation, feeling proud to belong to it, showing Islamic rituals and adhering to them, respecting its cultural and civilizational values, feeling uniqueness and independence and doing what Allah obligated.
3 effective ways to preserve your kids identity in west;
To preserve your kids Islamic identity from being lost, there are three ways you should ;
Three astonishing ways to protect your Muslim kid identity in West in details
Establish a strong Aceedah ( faith) since childhood .
The effect of this strong Aceedah must be apparent in their behavior and thinking. In fact, Tawhid (monotheism) is one of the most important pillars of Acedah and a great thing Allah bestowed to Muslims .So, the Muslim who believes in Allah, prophet Muhammad and takes Quran as a constitution of his life is a Muslim whose identity is so strong .Allah says” Say: “Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds”
”And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers”.
The best way to teach Acedah to your kids is to set a good example for them as kids are influenced by the world around them. All your actions and attitudes influence them directly or indirectly. It is known that it is very hard to keep your kids excited about reading Quran or doing Salah .But by seeing you praying or reading Quran and encouraging them to learn, they may get excited.
It is parent’s responsibility to make Salah friendly to kids and there are many ways to get them excited .Like games, inspiring them with stories and pictures. The whole matter starts with parents as more than anything; children model their parents’ faith after them. So, Parents shall focus on themselves first.
Jaffar ibn Mohammed Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Allah’s inheritance to His pious servant is a righteous child who repents for him.” [Makarim Al-Akhlak}
2-Attach your kids emotionally with mosques and all Islamic events showing happiness and cheerfulness.
As, Muslims in order to preserve their identity they shall celebrate some occasions like Eid al-Adha “festival of the sacrifice” , Ramadan ” a month when most Muslims observe a degree of fasting and Eid al-Fitr ”Feast of Breaking the Fast”.
Ways to celebrate Islamic Occasions
There are many ways to celebrate Islamic occasions like, Decorating homes with some Islamic Zina, getting your child Engaged by making their own paper versions, Hanging white twinkly LED lights in your child’s rooms, so they feel like they’re celebrating special festivals and you can also build excitement for Eid al-Fitr ,Al Adha or Ramadan by displaying a countdown decoration paper full of colours in your home. Each day Ramadan or Eid progresses, your child can cross off a number on the calendar and take some candy.
(22:32) That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.
3-To preserve your child identity teach them the Islamic history;
As a nation without history and past is a nation without future and identity. Our history witnesses that the Islamic nation is a very virtuous and distinctive among all other nations. This history does not start from Prophet Muhammad and his immigration, but starts with Prophet Adam, the father of all prophets.
Allah said;” It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he might dwell in security with her. And when he covers her, she carries a light burden and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke Allah, their Lord, “If You should give us a good [child], we will surely be among the grateful.’
