Question I can understand that the raising up of a child so that he or she grows up to be a good Moslem is essentially the responsibility of the parents. Allah will take account of what the parents did to make their child into a good Muslim. However, a lot of children refuse to obey their parents when they reach puberty. Even the best parents have no control over their children when those children become legally adults. However, people have told me that on the Day of Judgment, parents will be held accountable for how obedient their children were to Allah’s commands. Is this true? If it is, then what are parents supposed to do? Answered by Sheikh Sâmî al-Mâjid It is not upon the parents’ souls that their child is rightly guided. This is because ultimately, the heart if the child is the child’s own and outside the parents’ control. Allah says to his Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Surely you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He pleases.” [Sûrah al-Qasus: 56] Nevertheless, as responsible parents, they have to exert their utmost efforts to teach their child and raise that child upon righteousness. After that, the matter of the child’s guidance is up to Allah. If the parents exerted their efforts in raising the child and teaching the child right from wrong, then they have fulfilled their obligation. Their reward is with Allah even if their child chooses misguidance. They will not be punished for what their child decides of his or her own free will. Allah says: “No soul shall bear the burdens of another.” [Sûrah al-An`âm: 164] Had parents any power over their children’s will, the son of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) would not have been misguided, and the father of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) would not have been misguided either. It should be noted that if the parents were negligent in their efforts and did not achieve the desired result, then they will be held accounted for their negligence.

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