Friday sermon: how to protect your children against drug abuse

Worshippers will be told that fostering a safe and loving environment for children and encouraging an open dialogue will help steer young people clear of drug abuse

God created people with intellect to make good decisions that we will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment.

Our minds must be preserved and protected from external, negative influences that may sully our judgment, the sermon will tell worshipper on Friday.

It is for this reason that anything that harms the intellect is deemed impermissible — or haram — in Sharia.

“Oh you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. [Quran: 5: 90]

Prophet Mohammed too said “every intoxicant is unlawful.”

Intoxicants include any substances that, when consumed, causes a person to lose their intellect or affects their consciousness in a way that they can no longer makes rational decisions.

These substances include all types of drugs and alcohol. The most dangerous of these are addictive drugs that lead to substance abuse. With widespread drug abuse and trade worldwide the sermon will seek to advise parents how to protect their children from this epidemic.

The Prophet said that men and women are each responsible for their homes and those who live in them. The family should be a refuge for children where they are protects, nourished and cared for.

Developing a sense of religious faith and spirituality among children is one of the primary ways they can be protected from societal evils, the sermon will say.

Instilling a sense of self-governance by reminding them of God’s omnipresence also builds responsibility and maturity among children.

Parents will be told to provide a safe educational environment for their children, where they can have a degree of spiritual, psychological and physical protection, steering them away from all forms of negative behaviour, shunning all distrust and suspicion, all in accordance with the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) who said: “leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”

Parents should maintain a good relationship with their children whereby they can speak honestly with each other. This develops a true communication from which empathy and understanding is developed.

Getting to know your children’s friends is also key to knowing if they are surrounding themselves with good influences.

Teaching children to have high aspirations, to invest their energy and time in developing skills to the best of their potential will keep them engaged in positive activities., the sermon will say.