Question:

How can I keep my kids out of trouble and sins during the vacation according to the Quran?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Muslim youth should know that the free time is a grace bestowed on him by Allah. He should also know that he will be asked about it on the Day of Resurrection. Our Prophet Muhammad said: “Many people are prejudiced by two blessings: Health and Free-time.” [Al-Bukhari]

Our Prophet also said: “Every person will remain standing on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about four (things); of which he told: 'How he spent his life'.” And in another narration he said: “On what he frayed his youth.”

Furthermore, the Prophet said: “Take advantage of five before five; of which He told: One's free-time before getting busy, one's youthhood before getting old.” [Al-Haakim] He also said: “Allah will shelter in His shade seven (types of people) on the Day of Resurrection" (of which he counted:) “A youth who grew up worshipping Allah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

A Muslim youth should know that time is his capital and if he does not make good use of it he will regret that. It is not good for a Muslim youth to have leisure time in his life. Instead, he should utilize his time on what benefits him in this world as well as in the Hereafter. And of these the benefits we cite: to learn Quran by heart, to attend lessons of Quran, to memorize the Prophet's Ahadeeth, to learn more of the religious knowledge, to visit the good scholars, to benefit (read) from the Islamic newspapers and from the Islamic cassettes, to participate in religious activities, such as summer camps, picnics, etc. The youth should organize his time and make a program for himself that he follows.

As for children, the best thing on which they should spend their time during holidays is attending circles of memorization of the Quran. The Prophet said: "The best of you are those who learn Quran and teach it." [Al-Bukhari]

Moreover, giving recreation to children by letting them do permissible entertainment is something needed, as this renews their motivation, urges them to be energetic, and makes them welcome studies with a high interest and motivation. So there is no harm in taking them to parks and children play areas provided that these places are free from prohibitions, like music and the like; this is something possible if a person chooses the right time of taking them.

The parents could also advise their children to practice any type of sport which will make them fit and healthy, or teach them a craft that suits their age and bodily strength. If children organize their time well, they would be able to grasp much of what is mentioned, the most important of which is attending circles of memorization of the Quran.

Allah knows best.