Cleric sensitises Muslim fathers on child upbringing, says financial role not enough

POPULAR cleric and preacher, Sheikh Tajudeen AbdulKareem Al-Adaby, has underscored the need for Muslim fathers to resume the responsibility Allah has preferred for them which is to train their children to become morally upright adults who will set examples for others.

Sheikh Tajudeen Al-Adabiy, commonly known as Baba l’Agbeni, gave this advice in Ibadan, Oyo State, at a public lecture organised by the Anfani, Imalefalafia, Ososami and Environs Muslim Community.

Discussing the topic ‘Islamic Child Upbringing and Menace in the Society’, the scholar said it is contrary to the dictate of Allah for a father to use the excuse of work and providing for the family to avoid other important responsibilities like sharing moments with his children and instilling good manners in them.

Sheikh Tajudeen Al-Adaby, who is the Ameer, Federation of Ahlus-Sunnah Organisations in Nigeria (FASON), maintained that it is Allah’s design that the father shall be responsible for his family’s well-being in all respects. He then warned men against prioritising child bearing and taking child rearing with levity.

He urged all Muslim fathers to resume some roles towards the children which they have relinquished to their wives, saying they must create time out of their busy schedules to have close personal relationship with their kids with a view to seeing how well they are growing.

He said: “Muslim men must realise that the role of upbringing the children resides with them more than their women.

“It is not enough for the Muslim husband and father to provide financial support for his family; it is his responsibility to provide his family with a peaceful home and guide his family to righteousness and enjoy a happy life.

“He is responsible for raising his children, providing nurture for their bodies and their souls and showing them how to be virtuous and achieve success in life.”

According to the scholar, the world is in turmoil today because the foundation of human societies, the family, is in a shambles as parents, particularly fathers, have neglected their duty of producing good additions to the society with the kind of children they are allowing to grow under their roofs.

He was, however, quick to note that there are no bad children but bad parents who fail to be involved in their children’s development and safeguard them from the evils of indulgence in hard drugs and involvement in crimes and other twisted ideas of attaining pleasure and fulfillment in life.

Sheikh Tajudeen Al-Adaby affirmed that children that are raised in an atmosphere of piety and put through qualitative Islamic and conventional education have better chances to succeed at contributing positively to the society than those neglected by their parents.

“Equipping children with moral education and the knowledge of God,” he emphasised, “will prepare children for the vicissitudes and trials of life and how to deal with them and ultimately shape them into good people who will relate conscientiously and peacefully with others around them.”

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