Having Children

"In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate"

To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.
He creates what He wills.
He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills,
and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills.
Ash-Shura 42:49

An ex-colleague of mine just gave birth a few days ago just slightly after subuh, to a healthy baby boy. The baby has his father's eyes and his mother's dimples. So young already smiling for the camera! I pray that they raise him to be a good Muslim. Insyaallah.

I was telling Hubtobe how amazing it is that a baby of about the length of your arm could fit inside a woman's body. Not to mention that my ex-colleague has a very very small frame. I remembered how she had fallen sick when her body was stretching her beyond her ability to take the pain. But Hubtobe says that all those are God's secrets. Yes, that's true... and that's why it is marvelous.

Sometimes I am scared of children; the idea of carrying them around and then the pain of delivering them... and then the heartache when you raise them and they talk back to you [and I would know]. But I guess all these are just a part of the trials that Allah has set for us Muslims. Here's a good link.

To quote from that website, it says:

Muslims are frequently tested by Allah s.w.t. Your children are a test or trial for you, and your actions or lack of actions will be judged by Allah swt alone.  Do not raise your child simply based on what your family or peers thinks you should do. Do not fear the judgment of mankind, but of Allah, s.w.t., alone.

My most favourite is perhaps this-

Allah's Messenger said, "The believing man or woman continues to have affliction in person, property and children so that they may finally meet Allah, free from sin." (Tirmidhi)

One can only pray that parents have raised their children to the best of their abilities... but children... when you grow up and begin to learn, do not blame your parents if they have brought you up wrong... but seek to learn more about the truth so that you do not repeat your parents' mistakes.