Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #32

Children adopting bad habits from their parents

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen, pg. 3/71]

Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Allaah تعالى said, mentioning the statement of the People of Maryam to Maryam عليها السلام:

{يا أخت هارون ما كان أبوك امرأ سوء وما كانت أمك بغياً}

{O sister of Haaroon! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman} [Surah Maryam (19): 28]

It is as if they are saying: “From where did you get this child of fornication – we ask Allaah for our well being – while your father was not an adulterer nor was your mother an unchaste woman?” In this there is an indication that if a person commits adultery/fornication, his progeny will be tried with adultery/fornication, and we seek Allaah’s refuge from this, there is a saying:

من زنى زنى أهله

“The one who commits adultery, his progeny too will commit adultery.”*

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*It doesn’t mean that the children will bear the sins of their parents; but only that the children might get influenced from their lewd habits.

One of the factors affecting a child’s religiosity is the parents. So, if we, as parents, learn our religion, practice it and are sincere in it, then we will be leaving a lasting legacy for our children...

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “No child is born except on Al-Fitrah (Islaam) and then his parents turn him into a Jew, Christian or Magian – like an animal which produces a perfect young animal; do you see any part of its body amputated?” Then he recited:

{So, set you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) your face towards the religion (of pure Islaamic Monotheism) Haneef (worship none but Allaah Alone). Allaah’s Fitrah (i.e. Allaah’s Islaamic Monotheism) with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in Khalq-illaah (i.e. the religion of Allaah), that is the straight religion, but most of men know not} [Surah al-Room (30): 30]

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree & Saheeh Muslim]