6:09 Worship is not…11:09 Children learn more…
Family & marriageFrom the masjid's own video, Aug 29, 2025.

Raise children through love and example

ICNVT · Safi Kaskas

“Children learn more from what we do than what we say.”

The khateeb, at 11:09

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In one sentence

Raising righteous children requires parents to cultivate love of Allah and Islam through mercy, example, friendship, wise discipline, and nurturing homes before emphasizing rules.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Children are both a blessing and a responsibility entrusted by Allah.
  2. Parents should establish faith, purpose, character, mercy, and values before emphasizing halal and haram rules.
  3. Islam should be introduced through love and gentleness rather than fear and harshness.
  4. Effective parenting combines thoughtful discipline, friendship, presence, example, and a nurturing environment.
  5. The khutbah closes with prayers for children’s guidance and righteous family life.
Try this week
Model truthfulness instead of merely instructing children to be truthful.
Show patience and respect toward people who disagree with you.
Be generous to needy people regardless of their religion.
Use gentleness in teaching and reserve punishment for rare, thoughtful, last-resort situations.
Spend time with children and create a relationship where they feel safe sharing their thoughts.
Align personal behavior with the teachings given to children.
Build a physically, emotionally, and spiritually nurturing home.
Praise virtue, critique wrongdoing, and reinforce mosque and youth-program learning at home.
Turn ordinary activities into worship through sincere intention.
Sources the khateeb cited
Quran 2:128
Sahih al-BukhariTrue faith includes loving for one’s brother what one loves for oneself.
Sahih al-BukhariAllah loves gentleness in all things.
Sahih MuslimBeing deprived of gentleness means being deprived of goodness.
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“Worship is not confined to rituals. It's a way of life. Your whole life from early in the morning to the time you go to sleep can be ibadah.”
ICNVT · Fairfax, VA
Play from 6:09
“Children learn more from what we do than what we say.”
ICNVT · Fairfax, VA
Play from 11:09
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

Dr. Safi Kaskas reminded us that children are both a blessing and a trust from Allah, and that daughters and sons have spiritual worth. He urged us to begin teaching Islam with love for Allah, mercy, and good character, while still teaching halal and haram. Children learn from our actions, including how honestly we speak, how patiently we disagree, and how generously we treat people of every faith. He encouraged gentleness, time together, and trusting relationships, with punishment used rarely and thoughtfully as a last resort. He also reminded us that everyday activities can become worship through our intentions, and prayed that Allah guide our children and surround them with mercy.

  1. What good intention could you bring to school or a chore this week?
  2. What helps you feel comfortable sharing a difficult thought or question with our family?
Where it was given

The masjid

Islamic Center of Northern Virginia Trust4420 Shirley Gate Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030Jumu'ah 11:30 AM · 1:15 PM · 2:15 PMKhateebSafi KaskasMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ICNVT108 khutbahs
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