UAE Friday sermon warns of online threats to children’s minds

In the Friday sermon, it was emphasized that Allah has bestowed children as a blessing upon us and entrusted their minds to our care. The sermon began by invoking Allah's peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and his family, as well as his companions and followers. The sermon advised Muslims to remain mindful of Allah, as He says, "O you who have believed, fear Allah.

And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow" (Qur'an 59:18). It was highlighted that the intellect is a tremendous blessing and a precious treasure, enabling a person to remain upright in religion and succeed in worldly life. The minds of our children are particularly precious, and it is crucial for parents to safeguard them from online threats that could rob them of sound judgment and change their views on religion and country.

The Prophet Muhammad cautioned that Allah will question every guardian about what they were entrusted with, whether they protected it or neglected it. Parents are advised to spend time with their children, understand their development, and notice changes in their thinking and relationships. They must pay attention to their children's friends and ensure they are protected from exploitation.

The sermon stressed the importance of teaching children to question, verify, and not be deceived by slogans, as extremism may begin with a misleading idea and escalate to aggression. Parents should instill in their children the values of upright conduct, tolerance, and justice, as prescribed in Islam.