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I have a little boy who is five months old. How can I raise him to become one of the people of the Quran? How can I make him love the Quran? Should I start by making him listen to the Quran? What is best, to recite to myself or to play a recording of one of the reciters?
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
One of the ways in which a person may be blessed is when Allah enables him to do righteous deeds, and one of the best of righteous deeds is for a person to invest in his children. “When a person dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who offers supplication for him.” Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (1376).
Bringing up children to memorize the Quran is one of the noblest acts of worship and one of the best of good deeds.
Your keenness to do this from this early age is a good sign that is indicative of righteousness and blessing, in sha Allah. Raising children, disciplining them in accordance with Islamic principles, and teaching them that which will benefit them in their religious and worldly affairs form a trust (amanah) that is borne by parents.
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
{O you who believe, guard yourselves and your families against a fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are [appointed] angels harsh and stern, who do not disobey Allah in whatever He commands them, and they do whatever they are commanded to do}
[at-Tahrim 66:6].
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [That is:] discipline them and teach them.
Ibn ‘Abbas said: [That is:] teach them to obey Allah and to avoid disobeying Allah, and instruct your families to remember Allah, and Allah will save them from the fire.
Mujahid said: [That is:] be mindful of Allah and advise your families to be mindful of Allah.
Qatadah said: He should instruct them to obey Allah and forbid them to disobey Allah, and he should take care of them as Allah has commanded, instruct them to follow His commands and help them to do that. So if you see any act of disobedience towards Allah, then stop them from doing that and rebuke them. See: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (8/167).
See also the answers to questions no. 162787 and 10016 .
Secondly:
You should obey Allah so that the child will grow up righteous from the beginning. So let his food, drink and clothing be halal, for in that case blessing (barakah) will come down.
Thirdly:
You should make the child get used to hearing the Quran from an early age, so that from the beginning he will be aware of hearing its sound around him and recognize it as Quran. So you can play a recording of the Quran recited by one of the proficient reciters, such as Shaykh al-Husari, throughout the day, near the child.
You can also recite the Quran near him, so that the child can hear it.
Fourthly:
When the child reaches an age where he is able to memorize, you should bring him to a proficient teacher who can teach him to memorize the Quran by hearing it, until he reaches an age when he will be able to learn how to recite properly.
Fifthly:
After that, you can use various means to encourage him, such as organizing a family party with the aim of honouring the child when he memorizes a juz’ of the Holy Quran.
For more information, please see the answers to questions no. 10016 and 101752 .
And Allah knows best.