Question:
Assalamu’alaikum
Does Tarbiyah of a child start as soon as the mother get to know that she is pregnant?
if yes then,
How to make Tarbiyah of a child in the womb itself?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The time before birth one should turn to Allah and make Dua for a safe delivery and normal child. The mother should engage herself in Zikr and Quran and seeking Allah’s help and blessings. The reward for a woman who bears the pains of childbirth is great, hence one should ask Allah for their full share of reward and do it mindfully and for the sake of Allah.[1].
A mother is chosen by Allah for the creating and up bringing of the future worshippers of Allah, the future Ulama or Mujaahideen or teachers or leaders: the future Ummah. Mothers of The Prophets (Alyhimus Asalaam) and the great scholars and pious also went through the difficulties of childbirth to bear such great personalities. Similarly the intention at the time of delivery should be to bear such children who would become such great Muslims and assets to the Muslim Ummah. This will be a great investment for the mother. The temporary pain is insignificant in relation to the long term benefits in this world and the hereafter.
The Tarbiah and nurturing of the child starts when the child is still in the womb of the mother. This is through the thoughts that she carries in those days, by the feelings that she has, by the kind of books that she reads, by the kind of company that she keeps and by the kind of things that she hears.
Also during pregnancy reading evil books, having evil thoughts, bad intentions, practising of bad habits and doing sinful deeds should be avoided or else there is a fear that these evils may affect the unborn child later on. All these may have an effect on the unborn child because the mother’s nervous system affects all the systems of the baby.
Remember it is the mother’s womb that is carrying the baby and that the baby is being affected by whatever she is thinking, feeling, reading and listening to. It advisable for the mother to be to keep good company, to read good books (the Quraan should be read in abundance) and to be at such places where she hears the words of Allah and about Deen. One should always remain calm and happy and should not be allowed to be over concerned and allow oneself to be overtaken by grief. The thoughts that you generate within yourself will affect the kind of disposition the child will have. If you are sad and miserable the child will be equally affected. So remember the environment prior to the child’s birth is as important as the environment he is born into.
During pregnancy exercise extreme precaution in eating Halal. The food converted to blood becomes the food for the child. Halal food generates Noor and Barakah, while Haram food generates darkness and evil with evil consequences.
During the days of pregnancy, Ibadaah, Nawafil and duas for the protection from calamities should be read in abundance. The following duas and Surahs may be read in abundance during pregnancy:[2]
أَعـوذُ بِكَلِمـاتِ اللّهِ التّـامّـاتِ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما خَلَـق
“A‘udhu bi kalimat Allaah al-taammaat min sharri ma khalaq
“I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.”
حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل
“Hasbuna allahu wa N’ima alwakeel”
Allah suffices us and He is the best guardian
Aayatul Kursi, Surah Yaseen, Surah Maryam, Surah Yusuf.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
[1] الموطأ – رواية محمد بن الحسن (2/ 81)
والمرأة تموت بجمع شهيد
قوله : والمرأة تموت بجمع قال ابن عبد البر : هي التي تموت من الولادة ألقت ولدها أم لا . وقيل : هي التي تموت في النفاس وولدها في بطنها لم تلد وقيل : هي التي تموت عذراء لم تفتض قال : والقول الثاني أكثر وأشهر وقال في ” النهاية ” : تموت بجمع أي وفي بطنها ولد
[2] Upbringing Of Children By Moulana Moosa Ahmad Olgar
