It is stated in a blessed Hadees: ‘اَلْعِلْمُ فِی صِغَرِهِ كَالنَّقْشِ عَلَى الحَجَرِ’ i.e. acquiring knowledge in childhood is (firm) like engraving on stone.

(Majma’-uz-Zawaid, vol. 1, pp. 333, Hadees 5015)

Let us listen to 4 blessed sayings of the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم regarding the upbringing of children:

1. (When) the Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited the following blessed Ayah:

قُوْۤا اَنْفُسَكُمْ وَ اَهْلِیْكُمْ نَارًا

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Save yourselves and your families from the Fire. (Part 28, Surah At-Tahreem, Ayah 6)

Then the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم asked: ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! How shall we save our household from the fire?’ The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: ‘Command them to perform those actions that are liked by Allah Almighty and refrain them from those actions that are disliked by Allah Almighty.’ (Durr-e-Mansoor, vol. 8, pp. 225)

2. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: ‘Educate your children about three traits.          (1) Love of your Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (2) Love of Ahl-e-Bayt and               (3) Teaching of the Holy Quran. (Jami’ Sagheer, pp. 25, Hadees 311)

3. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: ‘Offspring has the right upon the father that the father keeps a good name for him and teaches him good manners. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, Hadees 6, 6, 8658/400)

4. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: ‘No father has given his child any such gift that is better than good manners.’ (Tirmizi, vol. 3, pp. 383  Hadees 1959)

In relation to this blessed Hadees, the renowned commentator of the Holy Quran a great thinker of the Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemiرَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: ‘Good manners refer to making the child religious, pious