Practical steps to building a strong generation!

A Three-Part Roadmap for Raising a New Generation

I'm going to give you a three-part roadmap for the preparation of a new generation.

Stage One: Ages Zero to Seven — Building Love

Between the age of zero and seven, oh parents and all young people, there are two things to focus on. Building the love of Allah Azza wa Jal through going out into nature, through learning about who is Allah, talking about Allah at home.

Not only when you want to scare your child — "Allah is going to come and shout at you, put you in Jahannam, ya basha!" — no. What about the Rahmah of Allah, the Lutf, the Mawaddah of Allah? What about the Izzah? Who is going to talk to your children about Allah except you? Oh parents and all young people, learn about Allah — everything will change. Learning about Allah and the stories of the Prophets, Companions, and the Prophets before.

That's it. This is the focus. Not Ahkam, not Tajweed, not Hifth — no.

Hubbullah, wa hubbu Rasulillah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, wa hubbu Sahaba. This is the focus — zero to seven. Build love.

Stage Two: Ages Seven to Fourteen — Building Purpose

Seven to fourteen — now they're thinking, now they're giving you answers, now they have opinions, MashaAllah. They have role models: football players, celebrities they love. At age 7 to 14, this is the time for them to learn.

And young people, this is the time for you to build your purpose. What am I here for? To learn who you are and what you will contribute to this world.

In this stage, Salah is very, very important. If in this stage you don't learn to love Salah, it will be very difficult afterwards. In this stage, it's very important to understand the Quran — not just to memorize. If you don't understand and love the Quran, it's very hard to recover it afterwards.

Parenting in age 7 to 14 is about modeling to your children. They will not listen to you. They will copy you. So be who you want them to be. Take them with you where you want them to go.

Stage Three: Ages Fourteen to Twenty-One — Your Last Opportunity

Age 14 to 21 — if we didn't do the work for those 14 years, it's too late now. Age 14 to 21 is when we get the phone calls: "My son is this, my daughter is there. She's gone and done this, he's gone and done that. Can you save them?"

We can't at this stage — it's too late. At this point in time, it is your last opportunity to befriend them before you let go of them.