The Islamic Bulletin www.islamicbulletin.org Children are quite used to us parents always lecturing them on how to become better people. We often get the feeling that we are really not getting through to them and that all our nagging and preaching is to no avail. Surprisingly though, our young children can often leave us flabbergasted when they point out something so true, that they literally hit the nail on the head. They do after all have more insight than we often give them credit for. Islam is the second largest religion in the Netherlands and is practiced by 4% of the population. The small city of Bergen op Zoom is in the south of the Netherlands and has a population of about 65 000 of which a small percentage is Muslim. The Muslim community organized an event to raise funds for the erection of a Mosque. This speech was presented by a ten year old boy on behalf of all the children of the city. He reverses the roles that we are traditionally used to when he implores that everyone give a donation toward the improvement of their community. How else are the children to learn? Providing food and entertainment is not enough. Children, like sheep, need their shepherd so that their spiritual needs can be fulfilled; thus ensuring that they grow up to be fine examples in their community. In order for them to learn Arabic, the Qur’an and the correct way to practice Islam, things that cannot be provided by the education system or by the internet, they need to be provided with a Mosque to see to these spiritual needs. This is his speech: To Parents And Grand-Parents In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Most Merciful. Dear Brothers and Sisters, On behalf of Muslim children in Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands I turn to parents, grandparents, and all those jealous about Islam, and to all Islam-Channel TV viewers, and to those present “I say to you: Thank you to our parents and grandparents because you were the reason why we came into this world. You celebrated our birth, you feed and clothed us, and you sheltered us. You spent sleepless nights for the health of our bodies. In return for all of that, you want us to have a prosperous future to return the good that you have done for us. But I fear that what you ask is too much in return for what you have given us so far. I ask you, on behalf of these friendly faces, are We, children, like animals who only need to eat and play? You will then ask us, what do you lack? I say on behalf of all your children: We do not want to be those on whom The Quran says: “But those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.” (Quran 47:12) (We seek refuge in Allah). We want to be protected from the Fire of Hell We want you to obey Allah, The Exalted, Who says in His Book (The Quran): “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire...” (Quran 66:6). And, we are from your family! We need your protection against the Fire (of Hell). Are you not responsible for us? The Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, said: “You are all shepherds and every shepherd is responsible for his flock.” You are responsible for your children, in particular, and responsible for the children of Muslims in this country, in general. And I say: Oh fathers, mothers, and grandparents, Yes, you have taken much care of our bodies, but many of you have ignored the spiritual aspect in us, and, as a result, we exhausted you with our bad behavior, and perhaps some of you hated the day you had children. What is the cause? Does the Quran not say: “Wealth and children are but an adornment of the life of this world” (Quran 18:46). “You are all shepherds and every shepherd is responsible for his flock.”
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