دار محمد Daar Muhammed

We often discuss how different the world is today than how it was when we were small. We also talk about how many signs of the end of times we have already come to witness. Yet what we do not talk enough about is whether we have readied the young generation to face the challenges their days may bring. It is a major lack on our part if all that mattered was simply to “grow” them up physically. By focusing solely on materialistic forms of development, we do not strengthen them for the certainty we know well is to come.

Equipping a Muslim Child with Tools beyond Resilience; How Exactly?

In the rapidly-changing world today, believing children to be well-supplied with the tools they need to face it is a matter of urgency. Natural disasters, endless wars, loss of trust, death of scholarly giants, normalisation of racism, fear-mongering and a deep dive of morality in the world today mean the Muslim child anywhere needs to be prepared to see through a lot of things presented to him. He needs to be able to be fearless and well-grounded in truth and not afraid to stand alone if the situation calls for it. As the traditions of his Religion are deemed more and more strange, he needs to make these very “strange” things his life purpose and give up the nauseating people-pleasing attitude our generation often had. He needs to make himself comfortable in the principles of his religion and grasp its endless truth, outdoing the enemies of the Religion in knowledge and strength. Most importantly, he needs to be able to dust himself and get back up regardless of the circumstances, pulling him down or knocking him down. Like the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم throughtout his life, the Muslim child needs to transcend and understand the course of the world as it nears its end rapidly. As a daunting task as it may feel, Momma, have no doubt, your child has exactly what it takes.

Turbulent Times

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained in the clearest terms, the challenges the believer will face, 1. in his personal life as well as 2. a member of his Ummah in general, as the Last Day draws closer.

Lack of Value for Human Life, Natural Disasters and Trials and Tribulations

عن أبي هريرة قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : ( لا تقوم الساعة حتى يقبض العلم، وتكثر الزلازل، ويتقارب الزمان، وتظهر الفتن، ويكثر الهرج وهو القتل القتل، حتى يكثر فيكم المال فيفيض ).

In a hadeeth regarding the end of times narrated by al-Bukhaari (1036) from Abu Hurayrah who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Hour will not begin until knowledge is taken away, earthquakes increase, time passes quickly, tribulations appear, and there is a lot of haraj, which is killing, killing, and until there will be a lot of wealth among you and it will become abundant.” 

Loss of Trust

In another hadeeth recorded by Muslim and others, the the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم: “People will be carrying out their trades, but there will hardly be a trustworthy person. It will be said: ‘In such-and-such tribe there is an honest man.’ And that it will be said about some man: ‘What a strong, polite, and intelligent man he is,’ even though he will not even have faith equal to a mustard seed in his heart.”

Decrease in True Knowledge

In a hadeeth reprted by Bukhari and Muslim, Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah does not withhold knowledge by snatching it away from his servants, but rather he withholds knowledge by taking the souls of scholars, until no scholar remains and people follow ignorant leaders. They ask them and they issue judgments without knowledge. Thus, they are astray and lead others astray.”

Natural disasters, endless wars, loss of trust, death of scholarly giants, normalisation of racism, fear-mongering and a deep dive of morality in the world today mean the Muslim child anywhere needs to be prepared to see through a lot of things.

Adversarial Growth

Adversarial growth is a significant psychological change caused by the experience of stressful life situations. Scientifically, this concept highlights man’s dynamic ability to adapt and grow through adverse life conditions if he allows it. It is the journey of a person through highly challenging situations that create a positive change in him and create a favourable and permanent alteration in his perception of life, personally, and the world at large.

Our Deen overflows with references to this concept. To grow through difficulties and reach positive outcomes as a result of them is witnessed throughout the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He demonstrated the absolute need of the believer to grieve, contemplate, and keep moving. He showed how growth happens and lived his words that the matter of a believer is all for his good. In situations that may have meant giving up for many people, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم met them with conviction, patience, and prayer.

He modelled growth through tough life experiences for his Ummah, illustrating through this the nature of our this life; there will be times of ease and times of adversity. One day for you and the next day not. Yet, the position of a believer through and through will be of dignity, faith, and perseverance. To reach through this, ultimate victory.

A Shining Example صلى الله عليه وسلم

From experiencing orphanhood to beginning his duty of Messengership despite the mockery from his people to being driven out of his homeland and soon facing a strong and bitter enemy which included his own people at the battlefields, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is a shining example to what it is to transcend beyond life’s obstacles and grow through every challenge. He gave every situation what it called for; from strategic planning to nights of feverent prayer to leave us, his followers, a legacy of exemplary strength.

He modelled growth through tough life experiences for his Ummah, illustrating through this the nature of our this life; there will be times of ease and times of adversity.

How do we begin to lay the foundations for such growth? Read soon, in sha Allah – Part 2/3 Adversarial Growth: Acknowledging the Distress of the Situation and the Weight of the Truth