Confirmation from the Source!

 Assalaamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Many moons ago I wrote a post entitled Raising Good Muslims. It was something very close to my heart as I had dear sisters who were lamenting that they had failed in their mothering. The catch was that I didn't have older children at the time. All my children were very young, or not even born. Now here I am, many moons later, with an 18-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a 9-year-old, alhamdulillah. 

So, when my 18-year-old told me that she felt like a revert as she discovered her faith for herself, I felt that I'd come full circle back to my Raising Good Muslims post. That her journey had begun, and it was one only she could travel on, Allahumma Baarik alayhaa. It was a beautiful feeling, but not because my parenting had been validated in some way. Most certainly it was not validated in any way, as I couldn't put myself into her shoes and travel her path. It was a feeling of absolute joy simply because someone I love so dearly is now tasting the sweetness of Islaam, the comfort of emaan, and finding her identity as an especially blessed creation of Allah. At most, I can simply praise and thank Allah for answering my du'a for her and pray for Him to keep her steadfast.

I can finally confirm, from a personal experience, that most certainly you cannot do what only Allah can do...you cannot put faith in, guidance from, or love of Allah into anyone's heart. You can only model, live Islam, make the connections for your children throughout their lives and pray for them. Aside from the part you play in their journey, the actual journey is theirs alone. 

May Allah guide all our children to His Siraat il Mustaqeem - ameen!

Subhaanaka Allahumma wa bi hamdika wa astaghfirullahu wa attoobu ilayk.