Raising Children With Love for Qur’an

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Dear reader,

In a world of screens, it’s exceptionally difficult for parents to raise children who truly have a deep connection with the Qur’an. Nowadays, it’s considered an achievement for children who can parrot long Surahs by heart, but not applying the wisdom of the verses in their daily lives.
It should be a great concern for the parents of the Ummah that our most talented Huffadh are mere mimickers and not learned warriors who will lead the next generations. If Qur’anic knowledge is taken in vain, it is only a matter of time before the world is void of true leaders.
So we ask you—our beloved reader—are you prepared for a world where the Qur’an is only heard on tongues and not done by hand? Or do you want to take the challenge of breaking our Ummah’s children free from the cuffs of modernism?

Warm regards,
Sunnah Academy

Why Do We Need to Teach Our Children the Qur’an?

The Qur’an is the only direct speech of Allah that we have access to. There is no other scripture that relays the message of Allah more accurately than the Qur’an. It consists of all the rulings Allah has made mandatory upon us to follow until the end of time, alongside many wisdoms which we must carry to our graves.
In a nutshell, the Qur’an is humankind’s manual to living life in such a way that earns us Jannah in the afterlife. Given this, why would you not want to teach your child the Qur’an?

Hifdh or Qur’anic Science: Which Way to Go?

Hifdh (حفظ) is an Arabic term that means “memorization” or “preservation.” In Islamic context, it specifically refers to the act of memorizing the Qur’an in its entirety. A person who has successfully memorized the Qur’an is called a Hafidh (حافظ), meaning “guardian” or “preserver.”
Qur’anic Science, also known as ʿUlūm al-Qurʾān, refers to the study of various disciplines and methodologies related to the Qur’an. These sciences aim to understand, analyze, and interpret the Qur’anic text.
Most parents have trouble getting their children to give priority to both studies, and end up fully immersing their children into Hifdh and overlooking Qur’anic science. This can be dangerous.
‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه said:

“Memorising the Qur’an was difficult for us but practising upon it was easy. After us will be people for whom memorising the Qur’an will be easy but practising upon it will be difficult.” [Tafsir Qurtubi]

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali رحمه الله said:

“From devil’s trick is to turn people away from Tadabbur (pondering upon) the Qur’ān for he knows guidance comes from Tadabbur.” [Dhayl Tabaqaat al-Hanaabilah, 2/156]

Hifdh is definitely an important duty that we all must take on for as long as we live. However, memorising without delving into the deeper meaning of the Qur’an’s content is counterproductive.

How Do I Make My Children Love the Qur’an?

Instilling love for Qur’an in children is not an easy task, as shaytan works hard to deter them from Allah from the moment they are born.
However, through practice and patience, your children can slowly learn to attach their hearts to the Qur’an and find solace in it. For that, you need to follow these 5 principles —

1. Lead By Example

Your children cannot and will not be carriers of the Qur’an if you are not one yourself. Both the father and the mother need to be propagators of the Qur’an by reciting it frequently, talking about its miracles often, discussing its wisdoms and stories, and most importantly, acting upon it.

2. Make the Qur’an the Heart of the Home

As Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله‎‎ once explained, the Qur’an and falsehood cannot coexist. So things that cause Fitnah, such as music, shows, movies, video games, magazines, etc. will ultimately undo all the work your children put into learning the Qur’an.
This doesn’t mean that you should throw out all sources of recreation from your home. Instead, restructure your home’s ways of relaxation and entertainment by centering it around the Qur’an and its teachings.

3. Stick to a Routine

Children learn their self-regulation skills from their parents. During the developmental years of a child’s life, they adapt to whatever routine their parents set for them and stick to it, even in their adult lives. That is why children who lack organization skills while they are young still struggle with them when they’re older.
So, set learning the Qur’an in your children’s daily routine in such a way that even if they miss a class, skip a meal, or go to bed late, they still have at least completed an hour-long session with the Qur’an at the end of the day.

4. Regulate Social Circles

As the Prophet ﷺ said, man is on the religion of his companion. This applies to children as well. Naturally, children start by mimicking their parents then slowly expand and begin to shape their personalities by adopting certain traits from their friends.
Of course, it’s impossible for your children to only pick good friends, as it is impossible for you to remove the bad ones. What you can do is place them in social circles which are known to enhance Iman. Such as weekly Tarbiyah lessons, local mosque study sessions, and more. Give them the most possible chances to make quality friends.

5. Pay Attention to Your Child’s Needs

Every child processes information and learning differently. If you see that your efforts aren’t bringing you desired results, don’t give up, just change your approach.
For instance, if you see that your child is struggling to wake up early to read the Qur’an, move the session to the evening. If your child cannot remember the details of a story from a Surah, make them relearn it in a different way, such as flashcards or charts.
There’s going to be a lot of trial and error during the first stage of introducing your children to Qur’an studies, but the results are undoubtedly worth it all.
The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Allah has His own people among mankind.”
They said, ‘Oh Messenger of Allah, who are they?’
He said, “The people of the Qur’an, the people of Allah and those who are closest to Him.”
[Imam Ahmad (11870) and Ibn Majah (215)]