Indeed...

Indeed, in a narration of Zakariyya bin Ibrahim - a Christian who converted to Islam- there are lessons and teachings. He requested of Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.) to stay with his parents who were Christians, because his mother was a half-blind woman.

Then, the Imam (a.s.) answered him saying: "There is no problem, look after your mum and obey her, if she dies do not assign anybody to her, take care of her burial procedures yourself." Zakariyya did what the Imam (a.s.) told him to do; he used to take care of her with kindness even more than before. Then, one day she asked him: "Oh my son! Why are you doing such good things to me now more than the way you used to do when we are in the same religion (Christianity).

What am I seeing from you since you left our religion and accepted Islam?" Then he narrated to her the advice given to him by Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.). She said: "Your religion is the best religion, give it to me.

He told her about Islam and she accepted it…and she died that night." And it is also narrated in one Prophetic narration that: 'Obedience to parents is among the best impression on the mind', and it is said in another that: 'Obey your parents, your children will obey you.'" 2- Determination and Strictness Some parents are very strict and hard in their treatment with their children to the extent of restriction and harassment.

And if you ask one of them: "Why are you doing so?" He/she will say: "It is necessary for a father to be determined…or it is necessary for a mother to be hard, if not, the children will not be under their control." Yes, we agreed that control should not be out of the hand and that the family affairs should be arranged in a wise way, but there is a great difference between 'strictness' and 'determination'.

We will underline it based on the psychological point of view, under the following points: A- It is said that perceptive determination is the one attesting to the condition of the children and their environment, as well as, their psychological being, thus, it is moving under certain limits. But strictness is ignorance, which doesn't have any regard, that is why it doesn't have any limit.

B- Determination is the echo of wisdom and intellect, as well as, gives much consideration to the interest of youth, but strictness is the echo of emotion, which has the scent of anger and going out of hand. C- Determination is meant for helping the youth to reform himself.