Admissions and Akhirah: Parent’s Dual Responsibility

By Manzar Quasim

As parents, we dream of seeing our children succeed.

We imagine graduation gowns, stable careers, safe homes, and respected lives.

The journey toward those dreams often begins with the admission process, whether into a school, college, university, or professional program.

It is a phase filled with pressure, uncertainty, financial calculations, and prayers.

We compare institutions, evaluate courses, analyze job prospects, and we believe the decision will shape our children’s futures.

This effort is love in its purest form.

I still remember my parents walking tirelessly from institution to institution, gathering brochures, speaking with principals and counsellors, and weighing every possible option.

They were not just choosing a building or a campus, they were choosing safety, dignity, and hope for my future.

As a child, I did not understand their exhaustion.

Today, It’s my turn; my child is graduating from school and now applying for the better options.

As a parent, I feel that same weight and concern.

As a parent, we become cautious.

We ask teachers, consult former students, observe trends, check job markets, and plan financial resources.

We shortlist institutions, review entrance requirements, and rank preferences.

Before accepting an offer, we repeatedly ask ourselves: “Is this the right place?

Will this environment guide or misguide my child? Will this decision secure their future?”

It reminds us that parenting is far greater than guiding our children toward admission success.

It is about nurturing hearts connected to the Creator, minds that choose halal over haram, and souls conscious of their purpose.

Teaching a child to pray on time, to speak the truth, to respect elders, and to seek knowledge with sincerity is a success far beyond any certificate or degree.

Believers have been commanded: “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.” (Qur’an 66:6)

This verse should make a parent pause.

While we work hard to protect our children from world failure, we must work even harder to protect them from eternal loss. 

The question we must ask ourselves as a parent is:

• Are we preparing our children for the Akhirah with the same effort we put into preparing them for their careers?
• We schedule tutoring; do we schedule Qur’an time?
• We track report cards; do we track prayers?
• We focus on confidence; do we focus on modesty, honesty, and humility?
• We prepare them for interviews; do we prepare them for standing before Allah?

Before sending them into universities and workplaces, have we taught them to recognize right from wrong? Have we helped them build a relationship with God, that will protect them when we are not present to guide them?

In reality, no offer letter or degrees can protect our children in the grave, and no career can save them on the Day of Judgment.

Only Iman, good character, and sincere deeds will stand with them when the world falls silent.

A Practical To-Do List for Parents

To balance both admissions and Akhirah, here are meaningful steps a parent can take:

1. Strengthen their Connection with Allah, the Creator:

• Encourage daily Salah without pressure or anger.
• Read Qur’an together, even one page or verse a day.
• Teach simple du’as for guidance, protection, and gratitude.

2. Build Good Character (Akhlaq)

• Model honesty, patience, and kindness through your own behavior.
• Discuss real-life scenarios about truthfulness, humility, and modesty.
• Praise good character more than academic achievements.

3. Create an Islamic Environment at Home

• Limit harmful content while promoting beneficial Islamic media/books.
• Share stories of Prophets and Sahabah to inspire values.
• Make Islamic identity a source of pride, not pressure.

4. Choose Institutions with Wisdom

• Evaluate not only academics but also environment, peer influence, and safety.
• Check if the campus offers prayer spaces, halal options, and supportive communities.
• Prefer institutions that respect diversity and allow practicing faith comfortably.

5. Stay Connected and Communicate

• Talk with your child regularly about their challenges and temptations.
• Teach them how to say “no” confidently to what displeases Allah.
• Maintain a relationship where your child trusts you more than the outside.

6. Make Du’a Daily

• Pray for their success in both the world - Dunya and Akhirah.
• Ask Allah to protect their Iman, honor, and future.
• Never underestimate the du’a of a parent; it is powerful and accepted.

As we submit applications and anxiously wait for responses, let us remember that we are preparing our children for akhirah as well.

Academic qualifications may open doors in this world, but only Iman opens the doors of Jannah.

Let us fill our homes with du’a, our routines with Salah, and our children’s hearts with the love of Allah.

Because the most important admission is not into a prestigious institution, it is into the mercy of Allah and the gates of Paradise.

Author Bio:

Manzar Quasim is a Mechanical Engineer, P.Eng., M.Eng., CEC, PMP® and community contributor based in Mississauga, Ontario. A proud father and newcomer to Canada, he writes about faith, education, and the immigrant experience.