The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ... - IslamHouse.com

321
The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
status), that they put their efforts, time and money into secular studies
while neglecting their children’s spiritual upbringing and religious
knowledge. If a young person in today’s world does not have the
proper spiritual strength and understanding of the religion, it will be
easy for him to be swayed when he comes face-to-face with the
desires and temptations of this world. Similarly, even if he may have
some love for the truth, he may not have the moral fortitude to adhere
to the truth whenever his faith or way of life is threatened in even the
slightest fashion. This phenomenon of a stress on secular education
and future money-making cannot bode well for a community whose
very religious tenets are being challenged day in and day out. Muslim
parents and Muslim communities must wake up and learn a lesson
from the example set by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) in teaching youngsters and the example of many of the
reformers of the past: the proper spiritual upbringing of one’s youth
greatly aids in adhering to the faith no matter how great the trial.
Finally, one should keep in mind the true purpose behind
education or any of the bounties that he has been blessed with by
Allah. Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab once wrote, “If a people have intelligence
and acumen and they have piety and good behavior, that does not
necessarily imply true happiness unless it is accompanied by belief in
Allah, the One. The strength of intelligence is like the strength of the
body. The people of thought and knowledge are like kings and rulers.
None of any of that is beneficial unless it is accompanied by
worshipping Allah alone, without any partner.” 1
1 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 223.