Islamic Story: The Affection for Children


There were two brothers, Ahmad and Ali. Ahmad’s elder brother Ali was rude and short-tempered. One day when Ahmad entered his brother’s room, Ali, while rebuking said to him: ‘Ahmad! Who did you ask permission to enter my room? Ahmad hesitantly replied! ‘Brother I I..’ Upon this, Ali reacted angrily and warned:  Shut up! Get lost and if you enter my room next time without my permission! Ahmad started weeping after receiving the rebukes from his brother and went to his mother to inform her about the unfair attitude of Ali. She was already worried about Ali’s bad attitude and she had also made Ali understand many a time, but the impact of her efforts would no longer last on him, and he would later again start showing anger at his younger brother ‘Ahmad’.

This time, Ali’s mother made him understand through giving the examples of the blessed manners [Akhlaq-e-Hasanah] of blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said: My dear son! You have become mature now. When people grow older they recall the ill-treatment of others that hurt them in their childhood. So you should treat your younger brother, ‘Ahmad’ affectionately so that he may recall your affectionate attitude when he grows older and likes to live with you.
Do you know this fact that that the blessed companion of the Holy Prophet, ‘Sayyiduna Anas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ ‘stated: I remained in the blessed company of Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم for ten years but he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never said even Ugh [a slight sign of resentment] and nor did he say ever: “Why did you do so-and-so task? Or why did you not carry out so-and-so task?”
(Muslim, pg. 972, Hadith 6010)

Our Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would say Salam to the children when he صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would pass by them. (Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 170 Hadith 6247) 
Likewise, when the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would return from a journey and children would welcome Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, upon this, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would make them sit on his riding animal. When the Muslim army returned from the battle of Mautah, and the people of Madinah welcomed it, children of Madinah ran to the brave victors of Islam and met them. Upon seeing the children, Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Make the children sit with you on the riding-animals and fetch Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Ja’far رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ to me.’ Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Ja’far رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was brought to the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and he made him sit on his riding animal ahead of him.
(As-Seerat-un-Nabawiyyah, vol. 2, pg. 324)

Mother gently said to Ali: Did you see my dear son! How excellently our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would show his deep love and affection to the children! Now you should make a promise that you will not show anger to your brother. Thereupon Ali humbly said: Dear Mother! Ahmad enters my room and disarranges my stuff.

Mother: My son! Ahmad is your younger brother and you should treat him gently and affectionately.

Ali: Dear mother! I promise now I will treat Ahmad affectionately in the future, and will not become angry at him. Mother kissed Ali’s forehead and made many Du’as for him.
Dear children! Show affection to the younger children at home because showing affection to children is a Sunnah act and do not become ever a cause of worries for your family but rather please your parents and receive their Du’as.

May Allah grant us the blessings of the great moral conduct of His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.


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