​Dear friends, 

Today is the last article for Topic 6: Relationship with grandparents and we will discuss their rights. Just like parents have rights, grandparents also have rights that must be fulfilled. Many scholars have mentioned that righteousness is obligatory for parents and grandparents. 

Grandchildren should take care and serve their grandparents with love, affection and mercy for their grandmother and grandfather, especially in their old age. Grandparents need the presence of the family around them and exchange conversations with kindness and generosity without anger nor sadness. They should not feel alone nor have feelings of emptiness. Grandparents are a blessing and the light of every home and time must be devoted to them.

If a grandchild has lost one or both grandparents, let them give kindness to their graves, give alms in favour of ongoing charity and perform pilgrimage (Hajj/Umrah) for them. If he is unable to do so, then making supplication (dua) asking for forgiveness for their grandparents. This shows the rights of grandparents for Islam is a religion that provides a basis of the family and the establishment of a good society. Grandparents are the chain that holds together the children, siblings, parents, aunties, uncles, cousins and other relations in a close-knit. 

Overall, we have come to close with our Chemical Bonding project whose aim is to discuss different types of relationships over the last 6 months. In this short article series, we have covered the relationship with Allah, parents, siblings, spouses and grandparents that have a covalent bonding. There are other relationships, for instance, friends, neighbours and colleagues that are important too in anyone's life. However, happiness is homemade with love. When we go to work, when we go out with friends, when we go to study, we always come back home to our family.

Topic 1: Relationship with Allah (The Most High) which is the most important relationship where we discussed its importance and how to strengthen our relationship with Him. If our relationship with Allah (The Most High) is reconciled; He reconciles everything in life to what He thinks is best because He alone knows the Unseen.

​Please click here to access Topic 1

In Topic 2: Relationship with Father and in Topic 3: Relationship with Mother; we discussed their important roles in developing a good generation with good principles and positive ideas for the sake of an integrated family and society.

Please click here to access Topic 2

Please click here to access Topic 3

In Topic 4: Relationship with spouses where we discussed the relationship between them based upon values of love, affection, patience, mutual respect, concern and sharing all that matters to build a cohesive home. In Topic 5: Relationship with siblings where there needs to be understanding and strong bonds between siblings and is justified by the parents.

Please click here to access Topic 4

Please click here to access Topic 5

Now, in our current and last topic: Topic 6 on the relationship with grandparents with grandchildren, we discussed how the experience and advice in life from grandparents exceeds that of parents. Their importance must be preserved because we will also reach a point of old age where spending time with grandchildren is vital. Righteousness and care must be provided in showing the honour of our parents and grandparents. Not only from a moral perspective but also our beautiful religion Islam.

Please click here to access Topic 6

We hope this journey on the relationship with the Divine and family have reinforced your understanding. As we rise, we will look forward to the renaissance of an advanced society with a bright light rising in the sky with happiness and comfort. These beautiful values refresh and develop our lives for the better with peace and mercy from the Almighty.

​Dear friends, 

Today, we are going to discuss an interesting and beautiful example of the relationship with grandparents. It is the relationship between Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the seal of the prophets with his beloved grandfather Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him).

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not meet his father, Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), as he was still a foetus in the womb of his beloved mother Amnah bint Wahab (may Allah be pleased with her) when he passed away. 

He was raised by Halima Al-Saadia (may Allah be pleased with her) who resided in Bani Saad tribe and cared for him. His beloved mother; Amnah (may Allah be pleased with her) wanted to visit Madinah to see the graves of several loved ones: her husband Abdullah and other relatives (may Allah have mercy upon them all). On her way back, she felt unwell passed away in Abwa. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) became lonely and an orphan at the age of six according to most narrations.

After the death of his mother, he lived under the care of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him). Abdul Muttalib also lost his father Hashim at a very young age so, there was a further sentiment in their relationship besides losing his son, Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) too.

This great man looked after the Prophet (peace be upon him) with the best of care and did not eat unless he attended. He did not let anyone enter him whilst he was asleep; he did not leave the house except with him, he let him sit in a place no one else sat and many other examples. This presents the close relationship between them and shows how Abdul Mutallib (may Allah be pleased with him) was very fond and loved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

Also, he saw the characteristics of Prophethood in his grandson. Abdul Muttallib (may Allah be pleased with him) used to take Prophet (peace be upon him) seven times around the Kaaba. He was afraid of the enemies and anyone who would cause him harm.

Prophet (peace be upon him) was very upset when he passed away and was left under the care of his uncle, Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). This presents the love grandparents give to their grandchildren, their tenderness and how they guide them to the right path. 

Next week, we will discuss the rights of grandparents and a summary of our project: Chemical bonding of different types of relationships discussed.

Dear friends, 

Last Sunday, we discussed the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. Today, we continue with our discussion where will focus further on the importance of grandparents in the family.

Grandfathers and grandmothers have a fundamental role in the family in particular; the lives of their grandchildren. They are an important source of happiness for their children and grandchildren, by being around them, listening to their news, stories and giving advice. 

In many cases,  grandparents are responsible for the caring of their grandchildren, due to parents being at work. This highlights the diplomatic role grandparents have in the family and act as a mediator in raising children. They give unconditional love to their grandchildren, providing emotional support to children (young and the old) as well as affection and satisfaction. Besides, just like how parents motivate their children and put an emphasis on education, health and well-being, hobbies, responsibility and job -- Grandparents also do the same. This shows how grandparents are a bridge between the parents and children and their importance in the family.

Grandparents also help make an effort in developing the children's behaviour besides their parents to take into account of their actions and not make the same mistakes and improve their behaviour. 

Grandchildren bring back the meaning of life to their grandparents where they conduct activities and children keep their grandparents in touch with changes that occur around the world and in their society. This shows a major role in development.

Respecting the elderly is also a duty of care from a religious perspective to ensure their comfort, attention and needs are met and giving grandparents happiness. This holds great significance in many religions and beliefs between grandparents and their grandchildren, between family members and even friends to maintain strong relationships and improve social interactions.

In conclusion, the importance of grandparents in the family is a blessing and should be kept up. Next week, we will discuss the relationship between one of our role models: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his grandfather Abdulmuttalib (may Allah have mercy upon him).

Dear friends, 

I am now back to start Topic 6 'Relationship with Grandparents' of the weekly short 'Chemical Bonding' series after a short break. The loving relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is beyond words could ever describe because of the privileged position grandchildren have with them.  

Grandparents are the pillar of the family that convey emotional security to grandchildren giving them protection as if they are a wall they can lean on. Although in some relationships there can be misunderstandings between the grandfather and their grandchildren like any human relationship. This is known as generational conflicts, where they differ in ideas and temperaments.

The importance of the relationship between grandfather and grandchildren stems for the following several reasons:

A) Most grandchildren find a warm embrace in their grandparents. A range of feelings and emotions also arises such as trust, love, security, affection, acceptance and understanding. They also have less power; however, some grandchildren play an active role in the life of their grandchildren.

B) Grandparents help their grandchildren to understand others, get to know them and trust them. It is also possible to understand the behaviour of some family members towards them, as grandchildren can learn that other members of the family can be comfortable just as their parents are. Therefore, the child or children discover that the grandfather's house is safe and happy where they learn how to adapt and respect rules other than those considered important by their parents. This experience helps the grandchildren to be flexible and adaptive to the behaviour of others.

From this, we conclude, my dear friends, grandparents have a great and effective role in the social life of the family because they are the basis or foundation of building social and family ties. They are a symbolic model of history, traditions and values, and with them the cohesion of social identity that cannot be dispensed with. Moreover, grandparents represent the role of educators, guides, advisors, and the main reference for family stability for grandchildren to adapt to cultural characteristics and the environment in which they live. Grandparents are parental images who complete the image of the father and mother, correct it of any defects and spring love between the family. 

Next week inshaAllah, I will further look into the importance of the grandparents.