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Page 1 The Islamic Bulletin
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 flabber-
gasted 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 Nether-
lands 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 ful-
filled; thus ensuring that they grow up to be fine exam-
ples 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, Neth-
erlands I turn to parents, grandparents, and all those jeal-
ous 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 responsi-
ble 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 per-
haps 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.”