Teaching Children the Religious Rulings Along With Their Relevant Proofs – An Important Point of Benefit

الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، أما بعد

 

Al-‘Allaamah Muhammad bin Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said:

 

“It befits to inculcate the offspring/sons with the rulings along with their proofs…

So for example; if you intended to say to you son: ‘pronounce the name of Allaah over the food; and praise Allaah when you have finished’ – for if you say that; then by way of that the desired objective is attained. However; if you were to say:

‘Mention the name of Allaah over the food; and praise Allaah when you have finished – because the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) commanded with the mention of the name (of Allaah) upon eating; and so he said:

 

((Allaah is indeed pleased with the servant who eats some food – and so he praises Him for it; and drinks some drink – and so praises Him for it.))’[1]

 

If you do that; then you benefit by way of two points of benefit:

The first: is that you accustom your son upon following the proofs.

The second: is that you cultivate him upon loving the Messenger (‘alaihis salaatu was salaam); and that the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) – he is the Imaam who is to be followed, the one whom it is obligatory in taking his directives.

This is in reality something which is neglected greatly, for most of the people direct their offspring to the ruling only, however – one does not bind these directives with the source – which is the Book and the Sunnah.”

 

 

(Taken from: Al-Qawl al-Mufeed ‘alaa Kitaab at-Tawheed vol 2 p.423)

 

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[1] Reported by Muslim in the book of Dhikr and Du’aa, chapter: the recommendation of praising Allaah after eating and drinking (4/2095) from Anas (radhiyallaahu ‘anhu).

Point of benefit: Shaikh ‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said in explanation of the above hadeeth: “In this is a proof that the pleasure of Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic, can be attained due to the most slightest reason, so it can be attained due to this simple reason – and for Allaah is all praise. Allaah is pleased with the person when he finishes eating and says: ‘Alhamdulillaah’ (all praise is for Allaah) and when he finishes drinking he says: ‘Alhamdulillaah’. That is because eating and drinking has etiquette that is physical as well as etiquette that is verbal.

As for the physical etiquette; then it is that one should eat with the right hand and drink with the right hand, and it is impermissible for him to eat with his left hand or to drink with his left hand – for this is forbidden based upon the predominant opinion/view.

As for the verbal etiquette; then it is that one should pronounce (the Name of Allaah) upon eating, so he says: ‘bismillaah’ (in the Name of Allaah), and that which is correct is that pronouncement at the time of eating and drinking is obligatory and that the person is sinful if he does not pronounce the Name of Allaah upon his eating or his drinking. Since if he does not do so; if he does not pronounce (His Name) upon eating and drinking; then Satan eats along with him and drinks along with him.” Abridged from: Sharh Riyaadh us Saaliheen (vol 2 p.204-205)