Religious upbringing should be accompanied by love and mercy to be more effective and bring children closer to God.
Religious upbringing is one of the essential pillars of human growth and development. The Holy Quran clearly emphasizes the importance of love and mercy in upbringing. A religious upbringing cannot be effective without love, and conversely, love without religious principles may lead an individual towards deviation. Surah Ar-Rum, verse 21 mentions that one of the signs of Allah is love and tranquility in hearts: 'And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.' This verse indicates that the family should be a space filled with love and kindness. To impart a religious upbringing to children, a loving language must be employed, leading them closer to God. Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 177 also emphasizes that belief in God should be accompanied by good deeds and love for others: 'Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true righteousness] is in one who believes in Allah and the Last Day.’ When parents can utilize love and affection in religious education, their children will be more inclined towards religious principles and will themselves help cultivate love within the community. Thus, by creating a loving and merciful environment, religious principles can be effectively ingrained in the daily lives of students and children.
And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true righteousness] is in one who believes in Allah and the Last Day.
Once upon a time, a boy named Ali was speaking to his parents and asking them to help him learn the Quran. His parents, with kindness and patience, explained the verses to him and shared stories about love and friendship with God. With this affection and interest, Ali turned towards studying the Quran and became closer to God day by day. He also tried to learn the affectionate behaviors from his parents and spread them among his friends.