Parents must give children meaningful time
“Our time is our most valuable possession.”
Parents and communities can reclaim their children's character and faith by reorienting family life toward elders, scholars, masajid, and intentional parenting marked by listening, affection, and time.
The khutbah in 5 steps
- Qur'an and Sunnah establish parental responsibility to protect and guide the family.
- Modern urbanization, work pressures, technology, and peer culture weaken intergenerational guidance.
- Families should reorient toward elders, scholars, masajid, classes, and communal worship.
- Prophetic parenting includes listening, verbal concern, physical affection, play, teaching, and companionship.
- Parents should prioritize meaningful time with children and pray for righteous homes.
In the khateeb's words
“The matter of their tarbiyah, their upbringing, their character, their adab, their courtesy, their worship, all of this has to be a topic that is always front and center.”
“the quickest solution to changing a person is change their environment. That is the hack of human character and human behavior.”
“He talked to them, he asked them questions, he listened to them.”
“Our time is our most valuable possession. give some of that to our children, not in just how we provide for them.”
For the dinner table
Today’s khutbah reminded us that caring for our children includes nurturing their faith, character, and kindness alongside providing for their needs. The imam encouraged us to make their upbringing an ongoing priority and to build stronger connections with family, elders, scholars, and the masjid. He explained that the people and places around us help shape how we think and behave. He also asked parents to keep learning, drawing on the Prophet’s example of listening carefully, showing concern, and expressing affection. Above all, he reminded us that our time is precious, and that sitting, eating, and spending time together are important ways to care for our families.
- What is something you wish adults understood better about your day?
- Who is an elder you would like to spend time with, and what would you ask them?
- What could we do together this week that would help us feel closer?
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