What is the best way to remind teens not to multitask with games or chatting while listening to Islamic lectures online? 

Parenting Perspective 

Explain the Value of Full Attention 

Teenagers often treat online lectures as background noise for gaming or chatting. A parent can gently explain the difference: ‘When you listen to something with only half your attention, you miss all the real benefit. But when you give it your full focus, it can truly shape your heart.’ By linking focused attention to personal benefit, a parent can help a teen understand that the quality of listening is what matters. 

Make the Learning Practical and Relevant 

Rather than insisting on long lectures, parents can find shorter, more engaging talks that are better suited to a teenager’s attention span. Afterwards, they could invite their teen to share one interesting point they learned. This creates a sense of accountability without the pressure of an exam. Over time, this practice proves that focused listening provides much richer takeaways than passive, distracted hearing. 

Lead by a Focused Example 

Parents must model this behaviour themselves. When a teen sees their parent sitting with focus during an online talk, perhaps even taking notes, they learn that this is an activity to be taken seriously. A teenager is far more likely to value Islamic learning when they see that their parents do not treat it as a mere background activity. 

Spiritual Insight 

Attentive Listening Invites Mercy 

The Quran instructs believers to listen with full attention when its verses are recited, as this is a means of receiving Allah’s mercy. This principle of respectful, focused listening extends to all forms of sacred knowledge. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Aa’raaf (7), Verse 204: 

‘And when the Quran is recited, so listen to it, and pay attention to it, so that you may receive mercy (from Allah Almighty).’ 

Remembrance Gives Life to the Heart 

The prophetic tradition draws a powerful comparison between one who remembers Allah and one who does not, likening them to the living and the dead. Presence of heart during acts of remembrance gives life to the soul, while distraction robs it of this spiritual benefit. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 6407, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The example of the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not remember Him is like the example of the living and the dead.’ 

Learning as Nourishment for the Soul 

By explaining the value of focus, making the learning material practical, and modelling attentiveness, parents can guide their teens to see Islamic knowledge as true nourishment for the soul. Over time, they can learn that giving their full attention is not just about respect, but is a powerful way to strengthen their iman and draw closer to Allah Almighty.