How Some Muslims Parents are Contributing to Terrorism

How Muslims Parents are Contributing to Terrorism

     As terrorism dominates the world news many non-Muslims are blaming ordinary everyday Muslims, those who are not extremists, for the actions of these terrorists.  So many Muslims are quick to say, "It's not my fault. Islam doesn't promote terrorism."  While Islam doesn't promote terrorism, the other statement may only be partly true.

    It is no secret that today parenting is much different than it used to be.  More women are working outside the home, men are working longer hours, and many parents are more concerned with their 'me time' than family time.

   When a woman works 8+ hours a day and then comes home to do her house chores and care for her children she becomes drained very quickly, and societies around the world both in the Middle East and America, the children often suffer.  Women give in to the children's desires quickly to avoid a fuss, are trying to give them more freedom, allow them unrestricted access to the internet, and are often just too tired or busy to pay close attention to their children's' lives.

    Fathers, in the Middle East and around the world are working 1-2 jobs for up to 18 hours a day.  Often physical labor or mentally tiring, they come home sleep deprived and lacking patience to deal with their children. They go out and do things with friends to unwind and de-stress from the week of work.

     Where does this leave children?  How many people do you know that know every place their child goes and every person they associate with?  How many parents now days have time to sit and talk to their children about their emotions and things they are hearing on the news?  How many children have smart phones before they even get to highschool and unrestricted access to the internet?

    I can tell you that right now, if I asked 100 Egyptian women with teenage boys where their sons are they would simply answer, "Out with friends."  They wouldn't know exactly where or even the names of all their friends.  Something parents even 10 years ago paid a lot of attention to.  Now they're either just too tired, self absorbed, or busy to know what's going on.

   For teenage boys, they may experience hate or discrimination, in the Middle East they experience war and terrorism themselves.  Who is making sure they know how to cope with these things?  For many of the boys today they are learning to cope with it from their friends, who may be just as confused or even more so.  This is where a 'cleric' or religious fanatic can step in and try to help the boys learn how to deal with their emotions by planting hate and extremist ideologies.

    A man in Islam carries the sins of his minor children and his wife.  As the manager of his family, he should guide his sons and daughters, especially in this time of uncertainty, violence, and hate.  A woman in Islam is the keeper of her house.  She is responsible for carrying for her family.  This isn't saying she can't work outside her home, but if her children are suffering because of it, then she is obviously not fulfilling her duty.

   I'm not saying men and women can't work, but as Muslims it is our OBLIGATION to raise good Muslim children; teaching them right from wrong, monitoring their behavior and friends, and knowing what they are doing online.  It is not an invasion of their privacy, it is protecting them from themselves and the extremists who are looking to exploit scared, lonely, hurting children.

    Yes I know there are a lot of good parents out there, and I'm not trying to attack parent in particular but please, understand how much of an urgent issue this is.  It can happen to any child of any cultural background and any part of Islam; salafi, shia, wahabi, liberal... If you don't talk to your kids about these things who will?

    So parents, I beg you, for our Ummah... Take more time to pay attention to your children.  Know their friends and the families of their friends, know where they are going, what they are reading, what they are watching on Facebook and Youtube.  Talk to them about important issues and if they seem reluctant to talk, don't become angry with them, be kind and reassure them that they can talk to you and come to you with any feelings or concerns.

    It's time to take back our Ummah from the savage beasts who are praying on our children.  It's time to stand up to terrorism not only by saying we condemn their actions, but by launching an offensive against them: keeping our children safe and teaching them that terrorism is clearly haram.