I’m Not Raising Saints – I’m Raising Souls.

Parenting is not about perfection or control, nor is youth about rebellion without roots.

It is about growth, transparency, patience, and faith — lived honestly, faced bravely, and navigated together.

We are raising a generation shaped by screens more than streets, where ‘likes’ outweigh lived experience. Children today scroll through pain, rage, joy, and desire in a matter of seconds. They don’t just see the world — the world crashes into them, daily. And in the middle of this chaos, parenting has become more than love; it is a spiritual responsibility, a moral compass, and a daily reminder that resilience is not inherited — it is built.

Parenting is not about raising robots with fixed programming. 

It’s about forming a heart that beats with awareness, a mind that questions with wisdom, and a soul that walks with purpose — even when the lights go out.

Children need to see how we fall and still believe. How we weep and still stand up. How we lose, and still turn back to Allah. That is where true parenting begins — not in perfection, but in presence.

Control is not the same as care. Obedience is not the same as understanding.

We must stop trying to ‘own’ our children’s decisions — and start owning our own maturity in guiding them. We are not raising replicas. We are nurturing souls for a world that is unforgiving, competitive, unjust, and often cruel. And we are doing it with our faith as the foundation.

And to children — freedom is not rebellion, it is responsibility.

Don’t let your ego become your enemy.

Don’t let your wounds become your weapon.

There’s honour in failing gracefully, in returning after a fall, in admitting you don’t know it all. Nobody owes you perfection. But you owe yourself honesty.

It is about growth.

Together — parents and children — must grow.

Grow in understanding. Grow in patience. Grow in the ability to listen, not just hear. Grow in the courage to speak truth, not just follow rules. Grow in mutual respect — not rooted in age or authority, but in human dignity.

It is about transparency.

Let the home not be a theatre — where everyone performs their best selves and hides their worst. Let children see the real stories of their parents. Let parents accept the evolving world their children are navigating. Let there be truth — even if it’s uncomfortable — because that’s where real trust is built.

It is about patience.

Not every mistake needs punishment. Not every argument is rebellion. And not every silence is disrespect. Parenting and growing up both demand patience — to wait, to trust, to come back and try again.

It is about faith.

Faith not just in the Almighty — but in each other. Faith that your child will find their way. Faith that your parent still wants what’s best, even if they’re struggling to say it right. Faith that even when things break, love can rebuild it.

Because the journey from childhood to adulthood, and from parenthood to mentorship, is not a one-way road. It is shared. It is lived. It is learned — not just taught. And when we finally understand this, we stop trying to “raise perfect children” and start preparing resilient souls. We stop expecting blind obedience and start encouraging honest accountability. We stop fearing mistakes and start building the strength to recover from them — with grace, not shame.

This is what families need today: Not authority without love. Not freedom without guidance. But a bridge — built on growth, transparency, patience, and faith — walked together, hand in hand.

People often say, “Be friends with your child.” But friendship is the smallest part of parenting — not the core. You’re not just a friend. You’re a parent. And that is enough.

Friendship might comfort. But parenting? It guides.

It builds values, draws boundaries, and teaches right from wrong — not just to be liked, but to raise someone who can stand tall in front of Allah, not just society.

We don’t say we’re raising saints. We’re raising humans — real, flawed, clumsy, emotional… but grounded. We accept their shortcomings and their best. We accept their rise and fall — because we know life is not linear.

But we raise them with the strength to come back. To return to Allah in silence, not social media in noise. To fail without putting on a show. To struggle without begging for public sympathy. To be seen by Him, even when the world misunderstands.

We live that way — quietly, without explanations. And we hope our children learn the same grace. We don’t perform pain for the world. We heal through sabr, shukr, and sujood.

Today’s children are growing up in a world where their eyes see more than their age can process. Even if they don’t step outside much, the world walks into their life through screens, reels, feeds, and filters. Their adrenaline is high. Their hunger for “something new” is constant. And often, they won’t listen to advice — not because they don’t respect us, but because they think life won’t touch them.

So we don’t aim to control them. We aim to prepare them. Prepare them for the time when life will teach them — in ways we can’t soften. Because no matter how much we shelter them, they will still face heartbreak, betrayal, regret, failure, confusion. They are bound to live their share of life.

And we want them to know: Even then — we are here. And more importantly, so is Allah.

Let them know what justice looks like — at home. Let them know that yes, they did wrong — but still find a family ready to guide them back. Let them know they are accountable, not abandoned. Let them know they are loved, not worshipped. Let them know the difference between consequences and cruelty.

Many parents say, “Our child is good.” And maybe they are. But the real test is — are they honest with us? Because many children wear one face at home and another outside. And parents, even with love and trust, may never fully know what their child is navigating or hiding. There’s always a generational distance. An emotional gap. A world we don’t belong to anymore.

That’s why parenting today is not about being perfect, It’s about being transparent. Let your child witness your joy and sorrow. Let them see your failure and your recovery. Let them learn that pain isn’t shameful — only what you do with pain matters.

We’re not raising flawless people. We’re raising people with flaws who know where to turn. Who remember that the loudest attention is not the highest honour — and the quietest du’a can change their life.

Tell them :

“Whatever shell we give you, life will still touch you. Whatever love we give, you’ll still feel loneliness. But remember — no matter what happens — come back. To yourself. To your Lord. To your values. And know that this home, and this heart, will always have space for your return.”

And one more thing —Let nobody disrespect or dehumanise you. Not for your voice. Not for your faith. Not for your failure. Be smart. Be courageous. Be strong.Hold your head high — with faith in your heart and might in your spine. Keep your body healthy, your spirit sharper, and your will ready —because if the world attacks, you don’t crumble — you rise. With strength, with sabr, with silence — and when needed, with power.

Because we don’t raise children to impress the world. We raise them to withstand it — with dignity and faith.

And to every child — here is a message without filters:

You can blame your parents, your environment, your past — but at some point, life will force you to take ownership. You will fail. You will be wrong. You will hurt others. You will get hurt.But what will define you is not what broke you, but what you do after.

Don’t let the noise of the world become your identity. Don’t let attention become your addiction. Don’t confuse pain with purpose.

Hold on to your faith. Know that your value is not in how loud you are, how perfect your post is, or how many people clap. Your worth is in how you recover, how you reflect, and how you return to truth.

Your family might not be perfect. Your parents might be flawed. But your journey is still yours.Walk it with integrity. Learn. Fail. Rise. Ask. Fall. Rise again. And above all — remember your Creator. Always.

Because you don’t need to be flawless. Just faithful. Not popular. Just purposeful.

And that will always be enough.