The instinct for superiority and the love of perfection are innate in every person. The desire for progress and excellence are natural branches of self-love. Conscious guardians should utilize this psychological wealth, building sound educational methods upon this foundation to guide the child toward superiority.
In this respect, a discourse from Imam Hassan (a.s.) is reported: "He called his children and his nephews and said to them: 'Today you are children, and tomorrow you will be the leaders of your people. So, learn today. And he who cannot memorize, let him write it down and keep it at his home.'" In this saying, we see that Imam Hassan (a.s.) employed the children's self-love and innate desire for development to encourage them to learn. He did not resort to intimidation. Instead, he made them understand that acquiring knowledge now is the path to future dignity and leadership.
The method used in this discourse is regarded as one of the greatest in the field of child-rearing and education. By following it, every family can encourage its children to acquire knowledge, guiding them from the beginning toward excellence. Eventually, children will become self-motivated in seeking knowledge and will no longer need external pressure.
There is a similarity between the atmosphere of the family and that of an ideal Islamic society, where social discipline is built on the principles of freedom and justice. Consequently, education in Islam is based on justice, freedom, and nurturing children's innate desires for superiority and perfection.
Imam Ali (a.s.) said to his son, Imam Hassan (a.s.): "Do not be a slave to others, for Allah has created you free." With this brief statement, the great father planted in his son the greatest wealth of personality: the habit of mental freedom. Regarding education, he (a.s.) also said: "He who does not learn in childhood will not advance in adulthood." A qualified teacher is one who utilizes the child's instinct for perfection and superiority, building his educational methods upon this basis.
The family in which a child grows up plays a crucial role in his education. It is a school that develops his hidden talents and teaches him great human values.
Imam Ali (a.s.) was a perfect man with an ideal personality. All human virtues and noble manners were manifest in him. He frankly spoke of the education he received in childhood, telling us about the great spiritual wealth he acquired during that honorable stage of his life.
He also spoke of his great teacher, the Prophet of Islam (p.), saying: "You know my close kinship with the Messenger of Allah (p.) and the special rank he gave me. He would seat me in his lap, hold me to his breast, let me sleep in his bed, and I would smell his fragrance. He (a.s.) would teach me a new aspect of his manners each day and command me to follow it."
All of Imam Ali's (a.s.) mental and emotional tendencies were nurtured during his childhood in the Prophet's (p.) tender care. On one hand, the Prophet (p.) quenched his emotions with affection and sympathy; on the other, he gave him lessons in character and commanded him to embody them.
The profound and wise educational methods that the Prophet (p.) followed in raising Imam Ali (a.s.) revived all his hidden talents. They led him, in a short time, to the highest levels of perfection. He embraced Islam at the age of ten with full awareness and understanding, propagated its creed, and followed the Prophet's (p.) way of life, never deviating from the right path.
A characteristic that gives the family immense value is its role in reviving the child's individual traits. Individuals differ not only in physical appearance but also in spirit and psychology. This difference is a feature of divine might, as mentioned in the Quran:
"And why do you not believe in Allah while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord?" (Surah al-Hadid, 57:8)
The Messenger (p.) said: "People are minerals like gold and silver." For this reason, some children are born with qualities that ordinary children do not possess. Some individuals may possess extraordinary reason, perception, intelligence, wit, memory, acuteness, generosity, and self-control.
A child's upbringing should be based on natural perception and innate tendencies. Methods built on this foundation are sound and represent the realistic path to human happiness.
The Most Important Foundation of Education
In the course of a sound education, the first thing a child must be taught is to feel the existence of God and to believe in Him through an easily understandable approach.
The need to believe in God is inborn and exists within every person's nature. When a child's perception develops and he begins to inquire about the reasons for things, his pure self becomes ready to receive belief in God. This is a very natural process. The teacher should utilize this innate wealth, helping the child understand that God created humans, plants, animals, objects, and the entire universe. He is the Maker of day and night. He watches our deeds at every moment; He rewards us for good actions and punishes us for ill ones.
Speaking to the child in this way is simple and effective, leading to his submission. He becomes a believer in God in a short time. By following this approach, we can instill in the child a love for discipline, commitment, integrity, and virtue. Furthermore, belief in God is not only the greatest refuge for humanity but also the most significant source of inner tranquility. It is the most important foundation for happiness and a central element in the call of all prophets.