The Obligation of Parents Raising Their Children in the Manners and Laws of Islam

Question:
The caller, Rashid Ali from al-Qassim, says: Is it obligatory for parents to teach their children the manners of eating and drinking, dealing with people, cleanliness, and so on, as well as reading and writing and the like? Or is it not obligatory? Is there a word on this? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
It is obligatory for parents to raise their children in the manners of Islam, and especially in performing the obligatory acts and avoiding the forbidden ones, and in adhering to good morals and good behavior. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was eating with 'Umar ibn al-Saltan, his foster son, and the boy’s hand was moving around in the dish, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: “O boy, say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.” So he taught this boy the manners of eating, which indicates that it is required to raise children in the manners of eating and drinking and other manners of Islam. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is training in the manners of prayer, and in keeping them away from places of doubt and suspicion where desire might arise between them. For this reason, he ordered that they be separated in their beds so that they would become accustomed to staying away from the means of the forbidden, from the means of committing the forbidden, and other such manners. And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: This indicates that it is upon the parents to raise their young child in noble morals, and that this is part of doing good and kindness to their child. Yes.