We recommend kindness, but we ourselves quarrel in others' presence.

We recommend kindness, but we ourselves quarrel in others' presence. We warn our children against eating sweets or seeing films full of fight, but secretly indulge in them ourselves until the child finds out our secret one day. We teach mildness by way of coarseness, and politeness through rudeness. We expect humility from a child, but wish to show ourselves invincible like the gods.

However, children learn our ways and deeds, not our words, and their worry and rebelliousness are due to the fact they imitate our past acts. Show me your children, and then I can say what kind of a fellow you are. If you expect good manners from your children, be polite yourself, and if you expect cleanness, be clean yourself. Nothing else is necessary. Even if in violent anger you show intensity and use rude words, you will keep alive in his mind those rude words through imitation.

Good behaviour can be taught only through models and examples, and by means of constant forbearance. This is, of course, a hard task which requires a new self-education. This is how our children educate us."[^3] Islam explicitly declares that one of the main causes of deviation in children is the devia­ tion of parents themselves.

The prophet of Islam asserts that every child enters the world with a chaste nature which is ready to accept mono­ theism and moral virtues, but it is the parents who drag their children with adverse education towards perversion and corruption and sometimes towards infidelity and dualism.[^4] It is on account of this undeniable influence of the parents on the spirit of children that the exalted leaders of Islam have made many recommendations to parents, and have greatly valued their efforts.

The Holy Prophet of Islam says: "Respect your children and teach them proper manners so that you may receive divine favour and salvation."[^5] Elsewhere he says: "If you train your children in good manners and proper education, it is better than offering a part of your wealth every day in the way of God."[^6] Another narration quoted from the Seal of the prophet, says: "When someone departs this world, his record of deeds is sealed, and he cannot have access to the world except for three things: 1- If he has performed good deeds in life and has always brought benefit to people.

2- If he has left behind some knowledge for people to benefit from.