1.1 Principles and Bases

The principles of having confidence in the child, of educating him according to flexible and accurate methods, of controlling him so as to protect him from bad company, of helping act morally according to the standards of appropriate social life, which mainly consists in justice, truthfulness, uprightness, fairness and the distinction between what is harmful and beneficial, bad and good, forbidden and permissible, as well as teaching him the rites and conventions of social interaction - particularly the techniques of dealing with the other, the rules of dialogue, the skill and decorum of life, along with enabling him achieve his representation of his self and the constitution of his identity on firm grounds, all constitute the major fundamentals that any standard parental education should rest on, as it is stressed by the majority of modern psychological studies (Lautrey 1989, Kellerhals and Mantandon 1990-91, Allès-Jardel 1997). It is a fact, however, that these principles and bases are not new to our parental education that heavily draws on the Islamic teachings. For educating a child, training and guiding him so as to enable him fulfil his duties and play his role, taking full care of the moral, emotional and mental sides of his personality, and providing him with the adequate environment for the satisfaction of his needs, desires and hopes are all principles and teachings the Islamic educational heritage stresses. In addition to the educational trends and theories which this heritage abounds in and which put too much emphasis on the importance of bringing up a child, for there are a series of researches on education written by Muslim scholars among whom are Ibn Sahnoun, Ibn-Hazm, Abi Hamid Al-Ghazali, Ibn Sina, Nassir Ad-Dîne At-Tusi, Ibn Jamaâ and As-Samâni*†(Ahrchaou 1998), we should stress the fact that, since the days of the Prophet (PBUH), this heritage has kept the Islamic teachings related to educating a child, taking care of him and giving him enough attention. This is a fact corroborated by many Koranic Verses, among which we may mention the following ones as a way of example : “Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world : But the things that endure, good deeds are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes." (Al-Kahf 46). “Kill not your children for fear of want : We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the Killing of them is a great sin.” (Al-Isra 31)

The Hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) contain wise counsels and indications which stress that a child has just claims on his parents who should be kind to him, educate him well and give him a good name, as is shown in the following Hadiths : "Be generous to your offspring and educate them well" (Ibn Mâjja, Kitabu al-Adab, n° 3661), and "One of the rights of the child the father should respect is to give him a good name and educate him well" and "The best present a father can give his child is to educate him well" (Al-Tarmizi, Al-Birr wa al-Silah, n° 1875 Ahmed, Musnad al-Makkiyyin, n° 14856).

* Here are some examples of the writings of these scholars :

- Tauq Al-Hamâma Fi Al-Ulfa wa Al-Alâf and Risalat Al-Akhlaq by Ibn Hazm.

- Ihyâ Ulûm Ad-Dîne wa Mizane Al-'Amal by Al-Ghazali.

- Achifâ wa Al-Ichârat wa An-Najat by Ibn Sina.

- Âdâb Al-Muta'allimine by At-Tusi.

- Kitâb Tadkirat As-Samî wa Al-Mutakalim Fi Âdâb Al-Alam wa Al-Mutâlim by Ibn Jama'a.

- Adâb Al-Imlâ wa Al-Istimlâ by As-Samâni.