يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“O people of the Book! Why do you confound (mix) the truth with falsehood, and conceal the truth when you know (the reality)?” (Surah Aal-‘Imraan v71)
This verse addresses the Jews and the Christians. They knew that Islam was the true Deen and that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was the true Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala, as the prophethood of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was clearly mentioned in their scriptures. However, they changed their scriptures in order to conceal the truth of Islam.
As parents, we need to ask ourselves, “Are we not also guilty of ‘confusing’ Islam and ‘hiding’ it from our children?” In madrasah, the child is taught that backbiting, photography, television, intermingling and music are all forbidden, but when the child returns home, these are all openly violated. Are we not confusing the minds of our little children when it comes to right and wrong and Islamic values? The little, innocent child is then corrupted as the parents’ behaviour teaches him that Islam is nothing major and does not have to be taken seriously – Allah Forbid!
If we are involved in any vice e.g. we have a television at home, and we do not yet have the courage to change our lives, then at the very least, we should speak to our children daily and explain to them that what we are doing is wrong. We should thereafter make istighfaar with the sincere intention of changing. In this manner, the children will at least realize that these sins are haraam and the guilt of committing these sins will remain. This will hopefully be a means of keeping the door of repentance open.