Islam promotes the flourishing of communities with Quranic Ethics, which can be achieved only through the growth of the members of that community. And what treasure is more precious than the youth who hold the keys to the future?!
Therefore, Islam and the Quran provide Muslim communities with ethics and morals that are so important to teach to children.
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What are the Islamic morals and ethics?
The Islamic morals and ethics are the ethical and moral principles that are promoted by the Islamic doctrine in the Quran and Sunnah. Islam encourages people to embody these principles and guides them through the Quranic and Sunnah teachings.
There are so many of these ethical and moral principles stressed on in the Quran and Sunnah; such as: honesty, compassion, patience, humility, and politeness, and being a responsible person. In Islamic mindsets, teaching children such values is extremely important.
What is the importance of moral values in Islam for kids?
Morality and ethics in Islam are of the utmost importance, especially when it comes to the upbringing of young children, and this is due to a number of reasons:
1- It allows kids to become healthy individuals:
Absorbing the Islamic moral and ethical values allows kids to become healthy individuals; as these principles would help them have inner peace, and a healthy communication with the outside world, which is going to build an invisible shield around their hearts and souls.
2- It promotes a healthy society:
The moral values in Islam promote a healthy society; because if all the members of a society embody these Islamic ethics, the society will become more peaceful and harmonious, with no cruelty, or envy at heart towards each other.
What are the Quranic ethics for kids?
Islam doesn’t just guide us on the Quranic ethics and moral values we should teach our kids but also tells us how to build Islamic ethics in children.
1- Honesty:
In Islam, and in the Arabic language, honesty doesn’t only stand for telling the truth, but also stands for not cheating others in life in general, and in business in particular. So, when related to business, honesty refutes the monopoly of goods, selling corrupted goods, or selling goods in an overpriced manner.
Teaching your kid honesty is necessary, and this necessity is reflected in the Quran; as Allah Almighty says in Surah Az-Zumar, verses 33 and 34: “And the one who has brought the truth and those who embrace it—it is they who are the righteous. They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the good-doers.”
There are also Quranic verses on the business ethics of honesty; for in Surah Al-An’am, verse 152, Allah says: “And give full measure and weight in justice”.
To teach your kid to be honest, you can explain to him how honesty is a characteristic of Allah Almighty; as Allah uses the rhetorical question: “ And whose word is more truthful than Allah’s?” to assert his honesty.
Setting an example for your kid by not lying at all, and always being honest and truthful will also show him that honesty is essential, and abstain from scolding them when telling the truth, and instead, indulge them in a productive act, and praise their honest tongues.
2- Compassion:
Compassion is one of the social ethics in Islam that is so important to the well-being of the community. Teaching kids to be compassionate towards each other, and being merciful towards all kinds of creatures, will contribute to the peacefulness and love to being the common and the normal.
Compassion is the foundation of religious guidance and education, and it’s the base of Daawa. This is evident in Surah Ali-Imran, verse 159; as Allah says to his prophet (PBUH): “It is out of Allah’s mercy that you ˹O Prophet˺ have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you.”
In another incident as well, Allah asks the prophets to be kind to a man who pretends to be a god. In Surah Taha, verses 43 and 44: “Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed all bounds˺. Speak to him gently, so perhaps he may be mindful of Me˺ or fearful of My punishment˺.”
To teach your kids such a great value, treat them with compassion all the time, even when they make mistakes, and whenever they treat others with cruelty, discuss that behavior with them, and what it signifies, and above all remind them that Allah Almighty has said of himself in a Hadith Qudsi: “My mercy takes precedence over my anger”.
3- Patience:
Patience is one of the Quranic moral values that are suitable for kids; as it will quiet down the eagerness of youth, and will get them to be able to bear the slow rhythm of life.
It will also get them used to the idea that not everything will go according to their plan all the time, but sometimes matters take a surprise turn.
There are several Quranic verses about the Islamic ethic of patience; for instance, Allah asks his prophet to endure denial in Surah Al-Maarij, verse 5: “So endure this denial, O Prophet,˺ with beautiful patience”. In Surah Al-Muminun, verse 111, Allah Almighty says: “Today I have indeed rewarded them for their perseverance: they are certainly triumphant.”
Teaching your kid patience is quite challenging; as the process will include reasonably turning down some of their requests temporarily, or having them wait for things, which will lead to some resistance on their side without a doubt, but the results are worth the suffering. Don’t forget to be patient in teaching your kid to become patient.
4- Humility:
Humility is one of the great moral values that Islam promotes and encourages all to adopt. This is due to its importance in keeping one’s image of self healthy and positive, and in preserving a productive and positive interaction between individuals.
An arrogant person who is devoid of any humility will have the illusion of being better than everyone else, having more value than others, and being more important than others, which will be an obstacle in their personal growth. Such a human being will naturally treat others poorly, which is not exactly positively fruitful in society.
Humility is one of the moral values in the Quran; as the Quran stresses on the importance of humility in Surah Al-Araf, verse 205, which says: “Remember your Lord inwardly with humility and reverence and in a moderate tone of voice, both morning and evening. And do not be one of the heedless”.
The previous verse points out the value of humility in Islam; as Allah instructs us to be humble, even when praying.
5- Politeness:
In Islam, politeness is a moral value taught to children and lasts with them in their interaction with others until their last breaths. Through politeness, human communication will be much kinder and nicer for all parties, and people will be more at ease when approaching one another.
There are many Quranic verses about Islamic ethics that highlight the different sides to politeness, whether in speech, in action, or in gestures.
For example: in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, verse 25, Allah teaches us to be hospitable and welcoming towards strangers: ˹Remember˺ when they entered his presence and greeted him with, “Peace!” He replied, “Peace be upon you!” ˹Then he said to himself,˺ “˹These are˺ an unfamiliar people.”
Our wise prophet (PBUH) has also instructed us to be polite towards others, and has highlighted some manners in a Hadith: “Do not abuse anyone…Do not look down upon any good work, and when you speak to your brother, show him a cheerful face.”
The Islamic and Quranic verses on ethical values are a garden of beautiful roses that depend on each other to bloom, and none of them can bloom on its own, in a desert, without its companion ethical roses.
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