Home Education

As one who has been educating my own children for close to 15 years, I am praying Insha Allah that I may be able to provide some guidance, ideas and resources for those who may be nearer to the beginning of this path. Over the years my style, methodology and approach has evolved into how I teach today. Education is an ever evolving process that changes not only over time but also between individuals. The needs of each child are different.The needs of one child today may not be the needs of that same child tommorrow. I do not believe in a one size fits all approach to education. Each child is a unique gift from Allah(swt)with unique skills and talent. I believe it is our job as parents to cultivate these gifts given by Allah(swt)so that they may become believing Muslims capable of benifiting society in whatever pursuit they choose to undertake.

There may be times in our journey when it seems hard or almost impossible to accomplish what we wish to do, especially if we have a new baby, a family emergency, or some other blessing or trial. There are times when we may feel like giving up, packing it all in and sending our kids back to school. However we must remember that Allah(swt)tests those that he loves and that the long term benefit we will gain through home education outweighs any temporary hardship we may encounter. It is Allah(swt)that has charged us with the care of our children, and it is us who will be asked about their upbringing. Ultimately it is us who will be rewarded or punished for their shortcomings as adults. Yes, I said adults, because if we fail to raise them correctly today, it will be extremely hard to get them to change their ways tomorrow.If we do not teach our children the values by which we want them to live today,they will not learn them tomorrow. That is why it is so important to have correct tabriyya today,while they are young ,and not wait until those few precious years are gone.I believe the best place for this is at home under the loving care and guidance of the family.

I am seeing this now as my elder children are in their teens. I look around at the condition of the youth in our local community and am so glad I was blessed with the option of home education. I believe it has helped my children to become better Muslims, stronger in themselves and stronger in their beliefs, not having to deal with the many evils and peer pressure our youth are subjected to today.

So for those of you on this home education journey, don't give up, persevere for the rewards will come with time Insha Allah. We may not see them today, but Insha Allah our home educated children will become a blessing for us and the community in their lives and a blessing for us in the afterlife.

I pray that Allah will make it easy for all us who have been blessed with home educating our children.