Stories of the Abdullah Family

The Abdullahs are a good practising Muslim family. In this story Hadi, their nine year old son, is worried about all the tests and examinations at school. He loves school, but play and sports seem to him easier and more comfortable than the idea of success and competition in class. He wants his beloved parents to help him in this matter and here is his story:

Hadi: How can I always be successful, dad? Father: I think that the best way to tell you about success is by looking at its definition in the Qur'an.

Mother: Do you remember Surah Al-Shams (The Sun) which you studied last year? In it you read: "By the soul and the proportion and order given to it, and the enlightenment as to its wrong and its right. Truly he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it".

Hadi: I am asking about success at school, mum!

Father: Yes we know. We believe that real success can only be achieved if one controls himself and guides himself to the right path. If you do this you succeed not only at school but in all your life.

Hadi: What do you mean by controlling and guiding myself?

Father: You see, our life is a test . It is like a big school. If we make tazkiah to ourselves as the Qur'an tells us, we pass the test and we are rewarded with Jannah - the paradise. If we fail to do so we are punished and sent to jahanam or hell.

Mother: Certainly, Hadi would like to go to Jannah!

Hadi: Yes mum, but I also would like to succeed in my school and be among the best. Father: I think that if you make tazkiah you will do better at school.

Hadi: What is tazkiah, dad?

Father: Tazkiah in Arabic means two things: it means to purify the self from all bad ideas and deeds and it also means to grow and develop a good faith and a good character.

Hadi: I understand now. If I make tazkiah to myself I will develop myself and become better at school.

Mother: Not only at school but in everything you do. It is for this reason that your dad and I have sent you to an Islamic school. We hope that the school will help us in building in you a good character.

Hadi: Thank you very much mum and dad. I know that you wish me the best in this life and in the hereafter. Now tell me, how can I make tazkiah to myself?

Father: This is a lifelong process Hadi, because all our life is a test as I have just explained to you. You need to study the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet (saws) and follow his example. You need to be a good practising Muslim in all your deeds. You should try all your life to strengthen your faith with good deeds in order to reach the levels of ihsan and that is, as Prophet Muhammad (saws) has explained: "to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you see him not, He sees you".

Hadi: Is there a practical way that helps me in this long journey?

Mother: Yes, try your best to be sincere to Allah in everything you do, in your prayer as well as in your study and work.

Hadi: I shall try my best. I pray to Allah of succeed at school and in all my life.

Mother: May Allah accept you among His good worshippers.

Hadi: I same only worried that I any forget.

Father: Allah will always remind you of Himself. If you like, you can do what my teacher taught me when I was your age.

Hadi: What did he teach you, dad?

Father: He gave me a list which he called Deeds Management. At the end of each day, before I go to sleep, he told me to answer all the questions about my deeds during the day. If I answered 'yes' to all or most of the questions tit mans that I have down many good deed and avoided many bad ones. I should be happy and thank Allah for that. If more No's' are there it means that I have failed in my daily Islamic duties and I have to ask forgiveness from Allah and try my best to do better the next day.

Hadi: and you prepare me a similar list, please?

Father: Yes, of course....

Click here to go to the Deeds Management List that Hadi's parents prepared for him.

This story was written by the staff of the Al-Noori Muslim Primary School, Sydney, Australia.