Check our new online courses here; or see the details below.
Bismillāh.
وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
And those who say, ‘Our Lord! Give us joy and comfort in our spouses and offspring, and make us imams of the Godwary.’
(Sūrat Al-Furqān No. 25, Āyat 74)
At the end of Sūrat Al-Furqān, the Qur’an mentions the qualities of believers, and included in this is the above prayer that they make.
Commenting on this verse, the renowned scholar ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī explains that the believers’ true desire for their families to be the “comfort of their eyes” is for them to be a source of joy through their obedience to God and avoidance of His disobedience. They have no other greater need or desire, as they are people of truth who don’t follow their whims.
This perspective challenges us as parents. We often worry about our children’s health, education, and worldly happiness, but how often do we prioritize their spirituality? This divine perspective must not be forgotten. It has been narrated that during the time of Prophet Sulaymān ‘alayhis salām a sparrow once said to his wife, “Come close to me … perchance Allah will grant us a child who shall remember Him.” Prophet Sulaymān (a), who understood the language of animals, was surprised by this statement, and said, “This [logic and] intention is better than my rulership.”
One area where parents are tested in this regard is when it comes to giving young children access to the internet and entertainment media. Parents may easily give their children unrestricted access to these platforms, without considering the obvious negative impacts it could have on their spiritual growth.
As Muslims, we have a profound responsibility to our children. We must create an environment that supports their development in all dimensions, with their spiritual growth as the highest priority.
A key step in this is to manage our children’s media usage from a young age. While a time will come when they must choose their own path, we can guide them while they are young. It is our duty to protect them from indecent or provocative content. We can manage their internet access, encourage them to fill their time with other activities, and ensure their screen time isn’t in the total privacy of their room. Moreover, we should talk to them about the problems with such inappropriate content so that they themselves can make the correct choice when faced with one.
We pray that our primary concern for our children is that they grow up to be devoted servants of Allah. May Allah grant us success in raising pious children who uphold our faith and pass it on to future generations.
Source: ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān
ALI 703: Lessons from the Timeless Event of Karbala
The movement of Imam al-Husayn (ʿa) offers timeless lessons in akhlāq, guiding us to higher spiritual and ethical heights. In this webinar we will reflect on Sayyidah Zaynab (ʿa)’s contributions to this sacred legacy — focusing on the theme of Fervor and Honor (Ghayrah) with insights from the Qur’an and the Ahadith of the Maʿsūmīn (ʿa).
Schedule: Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
Timings: 1:30 pm to 3 pm in Toronto/NY; 10:30 am to 12pm LA/Vancouver
Instructor: Syed Ali Kazmi
Fees: CAD $10.00
Registration for all courses: www.academyofislam.com/registration/