Before citing the Ayahs about the "righteous child," we want to point out that parenthood is not a subjective matter for self-realization. It is an issue of responsibility. It is the responsibility of raising a new generation. This generation should achieve for humanity what raises its intellectual, practical, and spiritual levels. We see this in the prophets' supplications. They prayed to Allah, the Most Exalted for children. Prophet Ibrahim, for example, asks Allah to grant him a righteous child.
Being righteous involves the mind. It adopts rightful thought. It involves the heart that loves Allah and all people. It involves work that abides by moral values like good and justice. One should be righteous in relations with God, oneself, life, and people. Asking Allah for a righteous child includes asking for His help and guidance in the upbringing process. This turns the child into the righteous human being he is asking for. We see this in the Quranic story about Ibrahim’s child, Ismail. He was destined to be slaughtered, were it not for God’s Mercy. The proof that it was Ismail and not Isaac is that the story of Isaac follows the story of Ismail's near-sacrifice in the Holy Quran. After narrating the story of Ismail, God says: "And We gave him good tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous." Surah As-Saffat (37:112). Then Ibrahim raised his child on the love of Allah and Islam. "When his Lord said to him, 'Submit', he said 'I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.' And Abraham instructed his sons [to do] the same and [so did] Jacob, [saying], 'O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims.'" Surah Al-Baqarah (2:131-132).
This was the will Prophet Ibrahim left for his sons. They submitted themselves to the wish of Allah and the Divine Message of Islam. "And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. He named you 'Muslims' before and in this." Surah Al-Hajj (22:78).
This is probably what Allah refers to when He says: "Indeed, Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists." Surah Ali 'Imran (3:67), and: "And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend." Surah An-Nisa (4:125).
"And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, 'O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.' He said, 'O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.' So when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, 'O Abraham, You have fulfilled the vision.' Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: 'Peace upon Abraham.'" Surah As-Saffat (37:102-109).
We also read in the story of Zakariya. He was one of God’s prophets and had no children. "He said, 'My Lord, how will I have a boy when I have reached old age and my wife is barren?'" Surah Maryam (19:8). He knew he was naturally unable to have a child. But when he saw Lady Mary and her spirituality, he yearned for a similar child. "Whenever Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, 'O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?' She said, 'It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without measure.' So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner... At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, 'My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.'" Surah Ali 'Imran (3:37-38).
Zakariya asked for a righteous child, just like Prophet Ibrahim did. Another Ayah shows Zakariya’s supplication. "Who should inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]." Surah Maryam (19:6). So, Allah gave him the glad tidings of Yahya. "So the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the chamber, 'Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of John, confirming a word from Allah and [who will be] honorable, abstaining [from women], and a prophet from among the righteous.'" Surah Ali 'Imran (3:39). Abstaining means he was chaste. Then, Allah addressed Yahya saying: "O John, take the Scripture with determination.' And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy." Surah Maryam (19:12). So, Allah gave Prophet Zakariya a righteous child. He made him a Prophet who held the Book with strength and responsibility.
The Wishes of the Righteous
What are the wishes of the righteous? Allah says: "And those who say, 'Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.' Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace." Surah Al-Furqan (25:74-75). They wish for righteous wives. They want to live in a house that adopts spiritual, moral, and humanistic values. They ask Allah to give them comfort to their eyes, not only physically but also spiritually. They also wish for righteous children who will be a comfort by their obedience to Allah. Then they ask for themselves: "and make us an example for the righteous." Surah Al-Furqan (25:74). This means to act piously in a way that they would be emulated. Those pious people will have Paradise as their abode. They have been patient in committing to Allah’s Shariah.
As we read the Ayah about Heaven, we point out that Allah extends the meaning of family. It is not just parents with children, but also children with parents. Just as a man must educate his children, he must also educate his parents as much as he can. We see that Ibrahim tried to convince his father to choose the path that earns Allah's satisfaction. Allah says: "[Mention] when he said to his father, 'O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all? O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path. O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hell].'" Surah Maryam (19:42-45).
This dialogue is a model for believing sons. They wish to live in a house of piety and uprightness. This is what the Quran told us: "Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], 'Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.'" Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:23-24).
The Dynamic Life
It is narrated that Jesus passed by a grave whose occupant was being chastised. The following year, he passed by and the punishment had stopped. He said, "O Lord! I passed through this town last year and he was being chastised, and I passed through it this year and he is not being chastised." He was asking what lifted the punishment. Allah revealed to him, "O Spirit of God! Verily one of his children matured and removed obstacles from a road and sheltered an orphan. Then I forgave him for the deeds of his child." The father raised his son to feel the need to satisfy Allah through social service. When Allah differentiated between truth and falsehood, He said: "So as for the foam, it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which benefits the people remains on the earth." Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:17).
Thus, the truth is what benefits mankind. It encompasses everything one does. If you want to be righteous, you must employ your capabilities in what benefits people. It is narrated in a famous Hadith: "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him." Another Hadith states: "Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam will have its reward and the reward of those who follow it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. Whoever introduces an evil practice in Islam will bear its sin and the sin of those who follow it, without their sins being diminished in any respect." When you embark on a good deed, your life extends.
It is mentioned in a Hadith: "All creatures are Allah's dependents, and the most beloved to Allah are those who benefit His dependents the most." What makes man close to Allah is measured by how he benefits all mankind. Thus, man must employ all his abilities in the service of those in need. This is what Imam As-Sadiq explained when he said: "Allah did not bestow a grace upon someone without asking him to do something to thank Him for this grace. The strong are supposed to help the weak, and the rich have to give to the poor."
Our abilities are our responsibilities. Whoever does not employ them in the service of the people is stealing them. This is how we understand the following Hadith: "Allah does not obligate the ignorant to learn until He obligates the knowledgeable to teach." The Messenger also says: "If heresy appears in my nation, the religious scholar should show his knowledge. If he does not, then may Allah curse him." Therefore, if you have a righteous son and you helped raise him, his work will be an extension of yours. You will be rewarded for it even after you die.