How does a mother instill God-consciousness in her children?

Mothers should train their children to be mindful of God. The most effective methods for mothers are instruction and awakening in the child a consciousness of God’s watchfulness and reverence for Him, combined with approaches that encourage and deter. Children should be raised from an early age to understand that God sees them, knows what they say and do, holds them accountable for their actions, and that nothing they do escapes His sight. God Almighty mentioned in the story of Luqman’s advice to his son: “O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [be anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.”

Among the translations of the early generations: Sahl al-Tustari, may God have mercy on him, reported: My uncle, Muhammad ibn Suwar, used to say to me when I was three years old: “Say: God is with me, God is watching me, God is witnessing over me,” and he commanded me to repeat this. Mothers should also tell their children the touching story of the milk vendor during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him. When she said, “If Umar does not see me, then the Lord of Umar sees me,” it profoundly impacted children. God Almighty says: “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are appointed angels, harsh and severe, who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.”

Thus, mothers and fathers are responsible for nurturing the child’s religious conscience and strengthening the bond between the child and God Almighty, so that his life is shaped according to Islamic teachings. Faith-based upbringing forms a strong defensive mechanism for preserving and safeguarding the innate human disposition (for every child is born upon the fitrah).