How to spend holidays?

 

Through the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Allah Most High has made this Ummah the leader of all other Ummah and has honored it with being the best of all nations.  This crown of excellence and superiority has not been placed on the Ummah for any other reason, but only because of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Allah Most High says:

 

You are the best community brought forth for (the guidance of) mankind: you command righteousness, forbid evil and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book also embraced faith that would certainly have been in their favor. There are some among them who believe, while the majority of them are disobedient.  Surah Al-Imran (3:110)

 

The very existence of Muslims is to benefit the whole humanity.  They have been created to benefit all humanity without any discrimination of caste, creed, color or religion.  No nation or organization/mission can achieve its aim unless and until they realize their responsibility and a plan for future action is not placed before it.  For this reason, when Allah Most High made this Ummah an embodiment of peace and granted them guidance on the right path, He expressed their high status, made clear their aim and objective and also acquainted them with the method to be used.  Their status is that they are the “Khair Ul Ummah” i.e. the best of all peoples, its objective is to guide other people and its method is to enjoin good and forbid evil while remaining on the true beliefs of Islam. 

 

The mark of a Muslim is that he/she only does not perform good deeds, but also invites others to good.  A Muslim does not stay away from evil himself/herself but also advises others to stay away from them.  A Muslim faces the toughest difficulties, but under no circumstances does he/she abandon the faith and Islam.

 

Youth are the future of the nation.  If they understand their responsibilities and enter into the fray, then a revolution of piety can occur.  The youth are the assets of the nation.  They are considered to be the backbone for the progress of the community and the nation.  For this reason, numerous times, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) especially addressed the youth with the words:  “Ya Ma’ashir Ash Shabaab” (lit. O youth!) and invited them towards good.

 

Today's youth waste their valuable time.  They spend their night in revelry.  Making efficient use of time and appropriate use of one's knowledge ensures a bright future and success.

 

Human beings do get some leisure time from their daily engagements.  They have nothing to do in those times.  Naturally, everyone desires to spend it in the best possible manner.  Most people end up spending their time in frivolous activities.  It satisfies them temporarily but their health and their intellect are all adversely affected due to them.  They end up spending their valuable time in movies, joking and watching indecent things.  Those things which are prohibited by the Shariah are anyhow prohibited, but indulging beyond moderation in those things that are permissible, to the extent that it makes a person heedless is also wrong.  Every Muslim should try to avoid such activities.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: The best Muslim is the one who leaves useless things.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2487)

 

Keeping oneself busy by acquiring knowledge is the best way to value time.  While education is going on, one should make the best use of time by engaging in educational activities.  One may join any Holy Quran course, short-term Islamic studies course, Spoken Arabic course, Spoken English course, any computer course or so on.

 

Islam doesn’t prohibit anyone from acquiring the worldly sciences.  Through the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has ordered us to acquire all kinds of knowledge, regardless of the discipline and subject.

 

Muslims should acquire all kinds of knowledge and should be at the forefront of every field.  Wherever proper knowledge and education is being imparted, be it schools, etc. or Madarsa, Muslims should consider it as a golden chance and draw benefit from it.  There are various issues that we, as Muslims, have to learn them.  Like basics of our faith, rules of Salaat, fasting, marriage, etc.  Knowledge of these basic things is very important for us and it also propels us towards eternal success.  It is our responsibility that we should learn the basics of our religion.  For those who are learning the worldly sciences, there are 2 ways of acquiring basic Islamic education, either take out some time every day and learn something or at least in holidays, one should pay attention to this and acquire basic Islamic knowledge.

 

Muslim youth should stay away from immodesty that is getting dumped in our houses through TV and Internet.  The parents and guardians should also keep an eye on their children both in the house and out of it, especially those who are attending schools/colleges, etc.

 

It is the responsibility of the parents that apart from arranging for their education, parents should also give proper upbringing to their children.  Islam has given this such importance that if parents fail to fulfill their responsibility in this regard, they will be held accountable for it.  If the children/youth go down the wrong path and adversely affect the community and the nation, then the burden of this sin will rest on the parents as well.

 

Another very important aspect in upbringing of children is the company of the pious elders.  The Holy Quran says: O Believers! Fear Allah persistently and remain in the (company) of those who uphold the Truth (Surah Taubah-119).  This is the means of gaining the blessings of this world and the hereafter.  This is the best possible way of proper upbringing not only for children and youth, but also for elders as well.

 

It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to watch over their children, their daily activities, their friends, etc. so that the children/young people stay on the right path.