the Holy Quran and to act upon its commandments. May Allah Almighty enable parents to bring their children up according to Shari’ah.

Our righteous predecessors رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی used to bring their children up according to the Islamic teachings. Let us listen to a faith-refreshing parable of a pious father and his well brought up daughter.

Well brought up daughter of Shaykh Kirmaani

Sayyiduna Shaykh Kirmaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was a righteous individual. His daughter was good looking as well as possessed a noble character. When she got to the age of getting married, a marriage proposal came for her from the royal court. Sayyiduna Shaykh Kirmaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه asked for a time of three (3) days and started looking for a pious young man by visiting every Masjid. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came across a young man who offered his Salah properly. Shaykh Kirmaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه asked him: ‘Are you married?’ He replied: ‘No’.

Then he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه asked: ‘Do you want to get married? The girl recites the Holy Quran and punctually observes Siyam and offers Salah. She is beautiful and possesses a noble character.’ He said: ‘Who will marry his daughter to me?’ Sayyiduna Shaykh Kirmaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: ‘I will. Here, keep some Dirhams. Buy a roti [loaf of bread] for one dirham, curry for one dirham and fragrance for one dirham.’ 

This is how Sayyiduna Shaykh Kirmaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه got his pious daughter married to that young man. When the bride came to the house of the groom, she saw a dry roti placed over the water vessel.

She asked: ‘What is this roti for?’ The groom replied: ‘This is the stale roti of yesterday that I kept for [today’s] Iftar.’ Listening to it, the bride intended to leave the house. Seeing this, the groom said: ‘I knew the daughter of Sayyiduna Shaykh Kirmaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه could not stay in the house of a poor person like me.’ The bride replied: ‘I do not intend to leave from here due to your poverty; rather, I intend to leave because your trust upon Allah Almighty seems to be very weak. I am surprised at my father that how did he deem you to be an abstinent and pious person?’ Listening to it, the groom became extremely remorseful and said: ‘I apologise on this weakness of mine.’ The