Are Children a Blessing or a Calamity?

Question:
Are children and offspring a blessing when they are righteous, but a calamity when they are corrupt?

Answer:
Answer: Without a doubt, children are a blessing from Allah if they are righteous. However, their righteousness has a cause, which is their upbringing, the upbringing of their parents for them, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Order your children to pray at the age of seven, and beat them for it at the age of ten, and separate them in their beds.” Righteousness does not come on its own; excuse me, the cause is necessary, which is upbringing. And because poor upbringing leads children astray from the sound fitrah (the innate natural disposition) (“Every child is born on the fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew, or a Christian, or a Magian”), the upbringing of the parents plays a major role in their righteousness or corruption, and they are accountable for them before Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).