Instil the habit of performing prayers in atfal from their childhood. Children often offer their prayers by the age of fifteen. Indeed, there should be an emphasis on prayers when they reach this age, and special programmes should also be devised to achieve this purpose so that the children of that age do not go astray. However, if they are accustomed to praying in their childhood, they will continue to do so as they grow older.

Besides, with regard to the moral training of children, it is essential to openly address the immoral tendencies prevalent in this day and age. Children need to be aware of what the vices are, what they need to avoid, what is indoctrinated in schools about these matters, and what the responses should be. A few days ago, a child met me and told me that they were being taught about sex in school. He said, ‘I didn’t know about this. And why do I need to be taught all these things?’ So, children themselves have started to question.

Hence, they need to be trained from their childhood. A child of four, five or six years of age cannot understand these things. These are the ploys of Dajjal (Antichrist). And given these ploys, there is an increased need for the moral training of children.

Parents also should be educated on how to deal with their children when such matters arise and how to address those issues and present them in front of their children. These matters need to be addressed openly now. Otherwise, you will remain shy, and those people will continue teaching indecencies, while Tarbiyyat (moral training) will be lost somewhere in the middle.

Hence, it should be explained to the children that they are not yet of age, and they will gradually learn as they grow older. They should also be taught about the ills as well as the good things that Allah has placed in these things. They should be aware of what Allah has made permissible and what He has made impermissible regarding these matters.

Before these times, when these things were not taught, did the people in the world not have children? In fact, during the early days, people used to have more children. This is a permissible means and, hence, should be done in a permissible manner. By teaching impermissible things, they are creating frustration and lust in the youth, and nothing else. And when these boys reach the age of fifteen, moral training does not have any effect on them. Then Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (Ahmadi Muslim young men’s auxiliary) and Secretary Tarbiyyat also give up, and eventually, the children start to diverge from the right path.

Hence, from the very outset, they should be trained in such a manner that they always remain within the bounds. This is our ultimate purpose. Otherwise, there is no benefit of being an Ahmadi Muslim. One can be a Muslim only when they adhere to the commandments of Allah and His Messenger^sa. And it was to implement those commandments that the Promised Messiah^as appeared.

Therefore, children should be taught, right from childhood, that we are Ahmadi Muslims, and they should know what distinguishes us from others. Otherwise, there is no point in calling ourselves Ahmadi Muslims. Rather, in such a case, it would constitute hypocrisy, which bears no benefit. So, the moral training of children should be given utmost importance.