Many doubts are raised regarding the Prophetic Sunna, including those that question its authenticity, misinterpret its texts, or challenge the recording process and the delay in its documentation, as well as how it was compiled.
Steps
Here are some key steps to protect your children from these doubts:
Encourage your children to seek knowledge: Doubts, regardless of their source or nature, will dissipate in the face of a knowledgeable person.
Present these doubts to your children and refute them: Alternatively, guide them to attend lessons or lectures that address and refute such doubts.
Provide your children with accurate information about the Sunna: Teach them the methods scholars use to distinguish between authentic and weak hadiths, which is known as the science of hadith or the principles of hadith criticism.
Explain the stages of the history of the Sunna’s documentation: Walk your children through the timeline of the Sunna, from the time of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) to the era of the Companions and the Tabi‘in (Successors), up until the hadith collections were completed.
Choose a righteous environment for your children: Ensure that their friends are virtuous, and create a positive environment that supports Islamic values.
Strengthen your children’s bond with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace): Foster their love for him by discussing his noble character and blessed biography, and remind them that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is the role model for every Muslim in all aspects of life.
