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A Message to Parents

Parents, teachers, students, administrators I welcome you on this happy occasion and I congratulate all who have and will graduate today.

As a student of this mosque for almost my whole life and now a teacher for the last 4 years is so great to see how this community is trying to do for these students.

Today I wanted to speak with anyone about the condition of these students and our young generation. This is primarily targeted to parents.

The subject of my speech on the need to renew your Muslim child to allow it to prioritize and do everything in your power as a parent and member of the community on true Islamic understanding and trust to inculcate in our young people. I would like to give some examples of what is going on today that the extreme urgency of this need and highlights how important it is for us all to start making changes. Finally I would like to give some practical suggestions on how to do this.

At one point I thought that any parent would the purpose of raising his or her child is un-Islamic, but now, through experience, I really have to wonder. I do not think that some Muslim parents want their child to raise. They believe that if their child has basic knowledge and practice, that's enough. That Islam should be in the background while doing other things, such as a doctor, goes to an Ivy League school, enjoy the good life with a big house, car, good job is more important for their child in the future. They kill themselves so that their children can have everything in this life.

Something is very wrong with this. I'll tell you why. How narrow-minded as a parent to prepare their children for this life and does nothing for their child hereafter. As a parent, truly loves their child and wants the best for them, their goal in the first place to the best Muslims they can raise. This is the best thing you can ever do for your child, in this life and the Hereafter, which is eternal. If your child has a Good Muslim, they want to do well in everything they do. They will want to attain knowledge, safety, help people around them and be good people. They will prevent as much damage and problems in this society.

Islam will NEVER, NEVER prevent your child from everything. It will only what they do.

I give some examples of what happens when Islam is not the first priority in families. At the university where I attend graduate school now, you will find the most amazing things. I've met Muslims raised their entire lives in Muslim families who do not pray, that date, participating in MSA meetings but go out to parties and clubs and drink those drugs.

Why is this happening? These are not extreme cases. These are ordinary Muslims who were raised without Islam as their priority. They were taught, consciously or unconsciously, that Islam was cultural and secondary. They taught Islam blindly and do not understand and are lost.

We must question, if not alarmed. Not shrug it off and say: "It will not happen to me, it will not happen with my children. "Do not live in paradise a fool and say," Oh ma'shallah my son or daughter is an honors student, they would never do everything bad. "It can and will and is happening now.

We are too late to save Muslim students. I say this even an employee in the MSA last 5 years. I would even say it's too late for high school students. How many of them will ever return to Islam? Very little. It's too late for them.

But it's not too late for your children, the young generation we have today.

We need to raise them with Islam and Muslims are good as the priority, the # 1 goal as parents and the community.

So, how can we do? I would like only 10 simple, positive, proactive things we will do everything to give.

# 1 Be consistent. Bring your child to arrive at the mosque to attend activities. That does not mean that every so often, for Jumah, or every Sunday. I mean every Friday, Sunday class. It is extremely frustrating for us as teachers have students who come only on Friday or students who only come Sunday, or maybe every other week. It is unfair to the whole class and unfair to your child. It sends a message to your child how important you think that Islam really is.

I do see the difference (even between test scores) of students coming eratically or just one day per week with students who come consistently. This can not be deposited at 12 or 15, should continue.

# 2 Join as a parent or member of the community. Take an interest in what happens at mosques in their class, helping with homework, help them save, to discuss Islamic issues with them, answer questions their questions. We do not expect the teachers to do anything. You, as parents, are responsible for your child to give an Islamic upbringing. How much can we learn to 2 hours per week? We can only help. How many parents have volunteered at the Islamic school? Said: "How can I help my child Islamic education in the mosque?" How many single people have volunteered to teach or assist in the mosque? Help build the much-needed school building, playground?

# 3 Create Islamic alternatives. Your children should never believe that Islam is dull or dogmatic. It is a complete way of life that is good and fun. Parents should help organize camps, festivals, accommodation, fun day, sports, film and Islamic day for them.

# 4 Buy Islamic books. How many of us have Muslim kid's books, tapes, games or videos home? If you do not, buy some. Iqra, Sound Vision, Astrolabe all products of excellent quality fun educational materials for Muslim children. Why buy your kids home Alone if you can Salam's Journey of Adam's World now? Why buy a Barbie coloring book when you buy an Islamic coloring. We need more of an advantage of this Islamic culture for our children to create.

# 5 Send your children to Islamic camps, conferences and conventions. How many of you go on vacation to Disney World or something? How many of your kids to 4-H camps or basketball? Why not to ISNA together as a family or send your children to Myna where they can meet with other Muslim children from all angles? Do you have a problem sending them somewhere alone? Go with them. I guarantee nothing in public schools is 1000% worse.

Which brings me to # 6 Be aware. I do not know if some parents consciously or unconsciously, just do not care. What is your child's public school look like? Do you know? You know what they're watching on TV, sitcoms, MTV, which just about everything there is 90% in the sexual and inappropriate content? You know who their friends are?

This is not to say go overboard. The best type of parent is flexible and not rigid about things not worth fighting. Give alternatives. You can not forbid they have no friends, but to facilitate Muslim friends. Limit established. Start by limiting TV up to 3 hours maximum per day and watch with them.

# 7 Eliminate the cultural baggage. Cultural baggage are all those things that have grown up with parents who are not part of Islam, but part of their culture. Separate what is your culture when Islam. Cultural issues only confusing, hypocritical and unfair to young people. Get rid of them now or else your children will be equated with Islam.

# 8 Use the resources of this community. There are many experienced parents, teachers and imams in this community who can help if you have problems with your child. They can help you if you are unsure how to incorporate Islamic education for your children or do not understand its importance. You know how your child says, "But anyone else's parents let them do it "Now you can ask other parents if they are :…) with them now to help solve problems not wait to get out of hand, when the child is 15 and refuses to listen to anyone.

# 9 Learn to understand, not blind ritual. We can not keep teaching our children things without getting explain why she should do or what they mean. How many of your children say Surah Fatiha in prayer and have no idea what it means. Do not know what they say in prayer at all? This is so wrong. Say you should pray and here's how it is not enough. Islam becomes blind ritual for them and they will not be able to Islamic principles or practice transfer their daily lives.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, # 10 a good Muslim. You need a good, practicing, active Muslim for your child to be. If you have little knowledge about Islam, your child will be less. If Islam is not a priority for you, it will not be for your child. If you're not constantly learning about Islam, your child will not be.

Inshallah I pray, I transferred the current necessity for making Islam a priority for young Muslims. I hope parents will heed the true-life examples of the prevailing situation, that can only get worse.

Inshallah, we now intend to try some of these simple things to help our children understand and practice Islam. Let us not leave this unfulfilled need for a different generation.

Anna wa la ilaha Ashadu antastaghfiruka itubu ilaik. Forgive me for any mistakes I have made. Okay I have said is from Allah, the errors are mine.