In the past, it was the norm for mothers to call their daughters and make them sit in their company. They would speak to their daughters and discuss things that were interesting, enjoyable and light-hearted. They would make them memorize those surahs of the Quraan Majeed that are generally recited in salaah and would gradually make them practice on the various laws, injunctions and obligations of Deen.
Once the mothers were satisfied (and confident that their daughters had acquired the Deeni knowledge that they would require in life), they would then commence teaching them social etiquettes and the correct manner of interacting with different people. They would keep a perpetual watch on the manner in which their daughters conducted with people and would scrutinize their daughters’ every action and behaviour.
This was despite the fact that from their very childhood, there was no form of freedom, independence, immodesty and evil found in them, as is commonly found in the young girls of today. Furthermore, the environment and conditions that existed in the past were better and more satisfactory than the environment and conditions of today.
Notwithstanding this, when it came to nurturing and raising young girls, no considerations or concessions were made and their vain desires and interests were not accommodated and fulfilled. In the past, the general mindset and ideas of people was in accordance to the teachings of the elders and pious personalities. Yet, mothers would keep their daughters under their control and would give more importance to nurturing them in a manner that they would one day be proud of and be happy with, than seeing to the present comfort of their daughters. They thus ensured that their daughters treaded on the path of hayaa (modesty, shame and bashfulness) from childhood. When the mothers made this effort to raise, educate and mould their daughters correctly, the result was that their daughters were thereafter immune to the influence of others.
(to be continued insha-Allah)