What Should I Do if My Son Is Refusing To Learn the Quran?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
We live in Europe. My sons go to Islamclub to learn about Islam, Quran, and Arabic. My six-year-old is very driven, and I usually don’t need to motivate him to learn Quran. On the other hand, my seven-year-old always complains, doesn’t want to learn Quran, doesn’t want to hear it, and gets annoyed when I ask him to recite it.
I’m afraid he will dislike everything about the Quran if I keep asking him and I struggle to motivate him. Should I stop asking him?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah guide us to that which pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.
Thank you for this question. You should not stop asking your son, but you should encourage him in different ways. It’s important at his age not to be too hard on him. Lead by example and create a loving environment of the Quran in his life, and in sha Allah, he will love the Quran.
The ‘Ibada Yardstick for Children
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and punish them [in moderation] for it (prayer) when they are ten years old, and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.” [Abu Dawud]
The hadith above is a beautiful yardstick for introducing formal ʿibada (worship or servitude to Allah) to your children. While it addresses prayer, other forms of worship are referred to by extension.
Please consider taking our free course:
Parenting in Islam: How to Raise Righteous Children
I pray this is of benefit.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
