0:56 The only reason they…4:45 This is an opportunity…14:45 The parents hold high…15:37 we as parents, our…
Family & marriageFrom the masjid's own video, Sep 3, 2025.

Raise children who choose faith

ISNA Canada (ICC) · Usman Qamar

“Our goal is to ensure that our children develop a relationship with Allah.”

The khateeb, at 15:37

Watch the khutbahFamily kit
In one sentence

Parents should raise children through warm, explanatory guidance so they develop an independent relationship with Allah and can choose faith beyond parental supervision.

The khutbah in 5 steps

  1. Warns that externally enforced religious practice can collapse when children leave home.
  2. Uses a university student who prayed only under parental reminders as an example.
  3. Compares permissive and neglectful parenting with authoritarian and authoritative parenting.
  4. Advocates boundaries, dialogue, explanations, warmth, and gradual decision-making autonomy.
  5. Explores how parents’ image of Allah shapes children and previews the next khutbah’s topic.
Try this week
Teach children why prayer and worship matter instead of relying only on reminders or enforcement.
Set clear, age-appropriate boundaries and consequences with warmth, explanations, listening, and dialogue.
Gradually let older children make decisions while guiding them through the reasoning and consequences.
Reflect on whether your own image of Allah is distant or punishment-centered, and address how that image reaches your children.
Sources the khateeb cited
Surah 2
Quotes

In the khateeb's words

“The only reason they were obeying Allah was because we were policing them.”
ISNA Canada (ICC) · Sheridan, ON
Play from 0:56
“This is an opportunity for you to finally develop your own independent relationship with Allah.”
ISNA Canada (ICC) · Sheridan, ON
Play from 4:45
“The parents hold high expectations, but they are flexible. They're assertive. But there's emotional connection and warmth.”
ISNA Canada (ICC) · Sheridan, ON
Play from 14:45
“we as parents, our goal is to ensure that our children develop a relationship with Allah.”
ISNA Canada (ICC) · Sheridan, ON
Play from 15:37
Talk about it at home

For the dinner table

The khutbah says children need more than reminders and rules; they need to understand why they worship Allah and gradually learn to choose faith for themselves. Parents should combine loving authority with clear boundaries, explanations, listening, and chances to make age-appropriate decisions. The speaker warns that permissiveness, neglect, or fear-based control can leave children unprepared to guide themselves. He also asks parents to examine the image of Allah they pass on, so children do not learn a relationship based only on fear of punishment.

  1. What helps someone pray because they love Allah, not only because someone reminds them?
  2. How can parents set rules while still listening to their children?
  3. What do our words about Allah teach younger people about Him?
Where it was given

The masjid

ISNA Canada, Islamic Centre of Canada2200 South Sheridan Way, Mississauga, ON L5J 2M4Jumu'ah Two services · 1:00 PM, 3:00 PMKhateebUsman QamarMore khutbahsArchiveAll khutbahs at ISNA Canada (ICC)124 khutbahs
Keep listening

More on Family & marriage

All on this topic
Don't let a moment of disagreement turn into conflict where years of good are forgotten like that.14:45IAR Atwater · Southwest Raleigh, NC · Oct 31, 2026Protect relationships when disagreements ariseEPIC · Plano, TX · Oct 30, 2026Honor your mother while you still can“Call sometimes just because you want to hear her voice.”We cannot have disrespectful parents disrespecting each other in the presence of their kids.22:41UMMA · Southfield, MI · Sep 19, 2026Faith shows in how we treat family