During the days of Arab Jāhiliyyah, there was a cruel custom; when a girl was born in the household, they would bury her alive fearing the shame of having to take someone as a son-in-law. There were occasions when, fearing that they would have difficulties in feeding and providing for children, these cruel people would kill them with their own hands. Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله revealed the verses:
Do not kill your children because of poverty. (Surah Israa: Verse 15)
Under the commentary of this verse, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Uthmāni رحمه الله mentions something amazing, which is substantiated by the Holy Qur’ān itself. He says this verse is not confined to literally killing one’s child due to the fear of poverty, rather killing one’s child also refers to depriving them of Deeni or Islamic education. And Allah Taa’la جل جلاله in the Holy Qur’ān calls a person who does not know Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله and does not obey Him as a dead person.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah Al-An’ām, Verse 122:
In this verse a true believer has been identified as being alive while a disbeliever has been identified as being dead. By us depriving our children of the proper Islamic education, we are indeed killing them spiritually.
Hazrat Mufti Shafi Sahib رحمه الله goes even further and states that depriving our children of Deeni knowledge is actually worse than killing them, since the child only suffers in this world when they are literally killed, but when they are left bereft of Deen, they suffer in the Aakhirah as well.
Imparting Deeni education to one’s child is so important that the Hadīth explains that on the Day of Qiyaamah, a person will be taken to task for neglecting to attend to his child’s Deeni education. (Shu’abal Īmān #8295)
In another Hadīth, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said; “Instill three qualities in your children:
1. Teach them love for Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم;
2. Teach them love for the family of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم;
3. Teach them the recitation of the Qur’ān Majeed, for indeed the bearers of the Qur’ān Majeed will be under the shade of Allah’s throne (Arsh) with the Ambiyaa and chosen ones, on the day in which there will be no other shade.” (Faidhul Qadeer #311)
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله grant us the realisation of how important it is for us to grant our children Deeni knowledge and bless us all with the ability of learning, practicing and propagating our beautiful Deen. آمين
(SOURCE: ANNUAL NEWSLETTER MADRASAH TARTEELUL QUR’ĀN 1446/2024, Pages 15/16/17)