Friday, December 20, 2019

Mercy For The Little Ones: How The Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ Treated Children ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ง‍๐Ÿ‘ง


๐Ÿค—๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ง‍๐Ÿ‘ง MERCY FOR THE LITTLE ONES: How The Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ Treated Children ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿฅฐ๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ‘ง‍๐Ÿ‘ง

The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
ู„َูŠْุณَ ู…ِู†َّุง ู…َู†ْ ู„َู…ْ ูŠَุฑْุญَู…ْ ุตَุบِูŠุฑَู†َุง ูˆَูŠُูˆَู‚ِّุฑْ ูƒَุจِูŠุฑَู†َุง
"He is not one of us: the one who does not have mercy towards our young ones,
and does not respect our elders"
(Narrated by At-Tirmidzi and Abu Daud, graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

Reading these Hadith describing how our Prophet ๏ทบ treated children, I was genuinely moved, inspired and at his conduct towards them. It's a tender fatherly side of him showcasing his amazing level of emotional intelligence (EQ) that, unfortunately, is rarely ever spoken about or distributed in mainstream media in our modern times.

Here are a short collection of ahadith beautifully describing them:

1. The manner which he greets his children: Whenever his daughter Fatimah visited and entered his presence, he would stand up for her, kiss her, take her by the hand to bring her to sit by him in his place. 

A'isyah narrated:
ูˆَูƒَุงู†َ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠُّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุฅِุฐَุง ุฑَุขู‡َุง ู‚َุฏْ ุฃَู‚ْุจَู„َุชْ ุฑَุญَّุจَ ุจِู‡َุง، ุซُู…َّ ู‚َุงู…َ ุฅِู„َูŠْู‡َุง ูَู‚َุจَّู„َู‡َุง، ุซُู…َّ ุฃَุฎَุฐَ ุจِูŠَุฏِู‡َุง ูَุฌَุงุกَ ุจِู‡َุง ุญَุชَّู‰ ูŠُุฌْู„ِุณَู‡َุง ูِูŠ ู…َูƒَุงู†ِู‡ِ
When the Prophet ๏ทบ saw that Fatimah had come, he would greet her and then he stood up for her, kissed her, took her hand and brought her forward and made her sit in his place
(Narrated in Adab Al-Mufrad of Al-Bukhari, graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

2. He openly kissed his children in front of others - including rough bedouin men.

ุนَู†ْ ุฃَุจِูŠ ู‡ُุฑَูŠْุฑَุฉَ، ุฃَู†َّ ุงู„ุฃَู‚ْุฑَุนَ ุจْู†َ ุญَุงุจِุณٍ، ุฃَุจْุตَุฑَ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠَّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูŠُู‚َุจِّู„ُ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†َ ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุฅِู†َّ ู„ِูŠ ุนَุดَุฑَุฉً ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ْูˆَู„َุฏِ ู…َุง ู‚َุจَّู„ْุชُ ูˆَุงุญِุฏًุง ู…ِู†ْู‡ُู…ْ ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ‏ "‏ ุฅِู†َّู‡ُ ู…َู†ْ ู„ุงَ ูŠَุฑْุญَู…ْ ู„ุงَ ูŠُุฑْุญَู…ْ ‏"‏
Abu Huraira reported that al-Aqra' b. Habis saw the Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) kissing (his grandchild) Hasan. He said:
I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them, whereupon Allah's Messenger (๏ทบ) said:
"He who does not show mercy, no mercy would be shown to him."
(Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

3. In fact, the Prophet described a person who did not kiss his children as someone who has been deprived from Allah's mercy

ุนَู†ْ ุนَุงุฆِุดَุฉَ، ู‚َุงู„َุชْ ู‚َุฏِู…َ ู†َุงุณٌ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ุฃَุนْุฑَุงุจِ ุนَู„َู‰ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูَู‚َุงู„ُูˆุง ุฃَุชُู‚َุจِّู„ُูˆู†َ ุตِุจْูŠَุงู†َูƒُู…ْ ูَู‚َุงู„ُูˆุง ู†َุนَู…ْ ‏.‏ ูَู‚َุงู„ُูˆุง ู„َูƒِู†َّุง ูˆَุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ู…َุง ู†ُู‚َุจِّู„ُ ‏.‏ ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ‏"‏ ูˆَุฃَู…ْู„ِูƒُ ุฅِู†ْ ูƒَุงู†َ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ُ ู†َุฒَุนَ ู…ِู†ْูƒُู…ُ ุงู„ุฑَّุญْู…َุฉَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ูˆَู‚َุงู„َ ุงุจْู†ُ ู†ُู…َูŠْุฑٍ ‏"‏ ู…ِู†ْ ู‚َู„ْุจِูƒَ ุงู„ุฑَّุญْู…َุฉَ ‏"
A'isha reported that a few desert Arabs came to Allah's Messenger (๏ทบ) and said:
Do you kiss your children?
He said: Yes.
Thereupon they said: By Allah but we do not kiss our children.
Thereupon Allah's Messenger (๏ทบ) said:
"Then what can I do if Allah has deprived you of Mercy?"
(Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

4. His boy-servant served him for 10 years since the toddler age of 4: yet despite always failing to fulfill his duties, never once was the boy ever rebuked, scolded, or reprimanded

ุนَู†ْ ุฃَู†َุณٍ، ู‚َุงู„َ ุฎَุฏَู…ْุชُ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠَّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุนَุดْุฑَ ุณِู†ِูŠู†َ ุจِุงู„ْู…َุฏِูŠู†َุฉِ ูˆَุฃَู†َุง ุบُู„ุงَู…ٌ ู„َูŠْุณَ ูƒُู„ُّ ุฃَู…ْุฑِูŠ ูƒَู…َุง ูŠَุดْุชَู‡ِูŠ ุตَุงุญِุจِูŠ ุฃَู†ْ ุฃَูƒُูˆู†َ ุนَู„َูŠْู‡ِ ู…َุง ู‚َุงู„َ ู„ِูŠ ูِูŠู‡َุง ุฃُูٍّ ู‚َุทُّ ูˆَู…َุง ู‚َุงู„َ ู„ِูŠ ู„ِู…َ ูَุนَู„ْุชَ ู‡َุฐَุง ุฃَูˆْ ุฃَู„ุงَ ูَุนَู„ْุชَ ู‡َุฐَุง
Anas ibn Malik narrated:
I served the Prophet (๏ทบ) in Medina for ten years. I was a boy. Every work that I did was not according to the desire of my master, but he never said to me: "Fie" (an exclamation) , nor did he say to me: Why did you do this? or Why did you not do this?
(Narrated by Abu Daud, graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

5. He took opportunities to praise and elevate his children in front of others
ุนَู†ِ ุงุจْู†ِ ุนَุจَّุงุณٍ، ู‚َุงู„َ ูƒَุงู†َ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุญَุงู…ِู„َ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†ِ ุจْู†ِ ุนَู„ِูŠٍّ ุนَู„َู‰ ุนَุงุชِู‚ِู‡ِ ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุฑَุฌُู„ٌ ู†ِุนْู…َ ุงู„ْู…َุฑْูƒَุจُ ุฑَูƒِุจْุชَ ูŠَุง ุบُู„ุงَู…ُ ‏.‏ ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠُّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ‏ "‏ ูˆَู†ِุนْู…َ ุงู„ุฑَّุงูƒِุจُ ู‡ُูˆَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ ู‚َุงู„َ ู‡َุฐَุง ุญَุฏِูŠุซٌ ุญَุณَู†ٌ ุบَุฑِูŠุจٌ
The Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) was carrying Al-Hasan bin 'Ali upon his shoulder, so a man said:
"What an excellent mount you are riding, O child!" 

So the Prophet (๏ทบ) said:
"And what an excellent rider he is!"
(Narrated by At-Tirmidzi, who graded it Hasan gharib)

6. He would entertain and play with his grandchild on the street, embracing and professing his love for them in public  - and even inspired others to love his grandson too!

ุนَู†ْ ุฃَุจِูŠ ู‡ُุฑَูŠْุฑَุฉَ ู€ ุฑุถู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู†ู‡ ู€ ู‚َุงู„َ ูƒُู†ْุชُ ู…َุนَ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูِูŠ ุณُูˆู‚ٍ ู…ِู†ْ ุฃَุณْูˆَุงู‚ِ ุงู„ْู…َุฏِูŠู†َุฉِ ูَุงู†ْุตَุฑَูَ ูَุงู†ْุตَุฑَูْุชُ ูَู‚َุงู„َ ‏"‏ ุฃَูŠْู†َ ู„ُูƒَุนُ ู€ ุซَู„ุงَุซًุง ู€ ุงุฏْุนُ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†َ ุจْู†َ ุนَู„ِูŠٍّ ‏"‏‏.‏ ูَู‚َุงู…َ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†ُ ุจْู†ُ ุนَู„ِูŠٍّ ูŠَู…ْุดِูŠ ูˆَูِูŠ ุนُู†ُู‚ِู‡ِ ุงู„ุณِّุฎَุงุจُ، ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠُّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุจِูŠَุฏِู‡ِ ู‡َูƒَุฐَุง، ูَู‚َุงู„َ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†ُ ุจِูŠَุฏِู‡ِ، ู‡َูƒَุฐَุง ูَุงู„ْุชَุฒَู…َู‡ُ
Narrated Abu Hurairah: I was with Allah's Messenger (๏ทบ) in one of the Markets of Medina. He left (the market) and so did I. Then he asked thrice, "Where is the little one?"
Then he said, "Call Al-Hasan bin `Ali."
So Al-Hasan bin `Ali got up and started walking with a necklace (of beads) around his neck.
The Prophet (๏ทบ) stretched his hand out like this, and Al-Hasan did the same. The Prophet (๏ทบ) embraced him and then said,
ูَู‚َุงู„َ ‏"‏ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ُู…َّ ุฅِู†ِّูŠ ุฃُุญِุจُّู‡ُ، ูَุฃَุญِุจَّู‡ُ، ูˆَุฃَุญِุจَّ ู…َู†ْ ูŠُุญِุจُّู‡ُ ‏"‏‏.‏ ู‚َุงู„َ ุฃَุจُูˆ ู‡ُุฑَูŠْุฑَุฉَ ูَู…َุง ูƒَุงู†َ ุฃَุญَุฏٌ ุฃَุญَุจَّ ุฅِู„َู‰َّ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†ِ ุจْู†ِ ุนَู„ِูŠٍّ ุจَุนْุฏَ ู…َุง ู‚َุงู„َ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ู…َุง ู‚َุงู„َ
"Oh Allah! l love him, so please love him and love those who love him."
Since Allah's Messenger (๏ทบ) said that, nothing has been more beloved to me (Abu Hurairah) than Al-Hasan.
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

ุนَู†ْ ูŠَุนْู„َู‰ ุจْู†ِ ู…ُุฑَّุฉَ ุฃَู†َّู‡ُ ู‚َุงู„َ‏:‏ ุฎَุฑَุฌْู†َุง ู…َุนَ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠِّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู…، ูˆَุฏُุนِูŠู†َุง ุฅِู„َู‰ ุทَุนَุงู…ٍ ูَุฅِุฐَุง ุญُุณَูŠْู†ٌ ูŠَู„ْุนَุจُ ูِูŠ ุงู„ุทَّุฑِูŠู‚ِ، ูَุฃَุณْุฑَุนَ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠُّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุฃَู…َุงู…َ ุงู„ْู‚َูˆْู…ِ، ุซُู…َّ ุจَุณَุทَ ูŠَุฏَูŠْู‡ِ، ูَุฌَุนَู„َ ูŠَู…ُุฑُّ ู…َุฑَّุฉً ู‡َุง ู‡ُู†َุง ูˆَู…َุฑَّุฉً ู‡َุง ู‡ُู†َุง، ูŠُุถَุงุญِูƒُู‡ُ ุญَุชَّู‰ ุฃَุฎَุฐَู‡ُ، ูَุฌَุนَู„َ ุฅِุญْุฏَู‰ ูŠَุฏَูŠْู‡ِ ูِูŠ ุฐَู‚ْู†ِู‡ِ ูˆَุงู„ุฃُุฎْุฑَู‰ ูِูŠ ุฑَุฃْุณِู‡ِ، ุซُู…َّ ุงุนْุชَู†َู‚َู‡ُ ูَู‚َุจَّู„َู‡ُ، ุซُู…َّ ู‚َุงู„َ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠُّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู…‏:‏ ุญُุณَูŠْู†ٌ ู…ِู†ِّูŠ ูˆَุฃَู†َุง ู…ِู†ْู‡ُ،, ุฃَุญَุจَّ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ُ ู…َู†ْ ุฃَุญَุจَّ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†َ ูˆَุงู„ْุญُุณَูŠْู†َ، ุณَุจِุทَุงู†ِ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ุฃَุณْุจَุงุทِ‏
Ya'la ibn Murra said, "We went out with the Prophet ๏ทบ, and we were invited to eat. Husayn was playing in the road and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raced the people and then spread out his arms.
The boy began to run this way and that and the Prophet made him laugh until he caught hold of him. He put one of his hands under his chin and the other on his head and then embraced him. 

Then the Prophet ๏ทบ said,
"Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. May Allah Love anyone who loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn. They are two of my distinguished descendants.'"
(Narrated by Ibnu Majah and Al-Bukhari in Adab al-Mufrad, graded Hasan by Al-Albani)

It is interesting to note here that these two narrations involve two different companions on two separate occasions, and two different grandsons of the Prophet (the first Hasan, and the second Husayn) - implying that this playful loving attitude is a habitual practice of the Prophet.

7. He would jokingly blow out water at a child's face
ุนَู†ْ ู…َุญْู…ُูˆุฏِ ุจْู†ِ ุงู„ุฑَّุจِูŠุนِ، ู‚َุงู„َ ุนَู‚َู„ْุชُ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ู†َّุจِูŠِّ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ู…َุฌَّุฉً ู…َุฌَّู‡َุง ูِูŠ ูˆَุฌْู‡ِูŠ ูˆَุฃَู†َุง ุงุจْู†ُ ุฎَู…ْุณِ ุณِู†ِูŠู†َ ู…ِู†ْ ุฏَู„ْูˆٍ
Narrated Mahmud bin Rabi`a: When I was a boy of five years of age, I remember, the Prophet (๏ทบ) took water from a bucket (used for getting water out of a well) with his mouth and blew it towards my face.
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari)

8. While delivering his khutbah (sermon), he got so distracted by the sight of his playful grandchildren, he went down, picked them up and placed him on his lap
ุนَู†ِ ุงุจْู†ِ ุจُุฑَูŠْุฏَุฉَ، ุนَู†ْ ุฃَุจِูŠู‡ِ، ู‚َุงู„َ ุจَูŠْู†َุง ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุนَู„َู‰ ุงู„ْู…ِู†ْุจَุฑِ ูŠَุฎْุทُุจُ ุฅِุฐْ ุฃَู‚ْุจَู„َ ุงู„ْุญَุณَู†ُ ูˆَุงู„ْุญُุณَูŠْู†ُ ุนَู„َูŠْู‡ِู…َุง ุงู„ุณَّู„ุงَู…ُ ุนَู„َูŠْู‡ِู…َุง ู‚َู…ِูŠุตَุงู†ِ ุฃَุญْู…َุฑَุงู†ِ ูŠَู…ْุดِูŠَุงู†ِ ูˆَูŠَุนْุซُุฑَุงู†ِ ูَู†َุฒَู„َ ูˆَุญَู…َู„َู‡ُู…َุง ูَู‚َุงู„َ ‏"‏ ุตَุฏَู‚َ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ُ ‏{‏ ุฅِู†َّู…َุง ุฃَู…ْูˆَุงู„ُูƒُู…ْ ูˆَุฃَูˆْู„ุงَุฏُูƒُู…ْ ูِุชْู†َุฉٌ ‏}‏ ุฑَุฃَูŠْุชُ ู‡َุฐَูŠْู†ِ ูŠَู…ْุดِูŠَุงู†ِ ูˆَูŠَุนْุซُุฑَุงู†ِ ูِูŠ ู‚َู…ِูŠุตَูŠْู‡ِู…َุง ูَู„َู…ْ ุฃَุตْุจِุฑْ ุญَุชَّู‰ ู†َุฒَู„ْุชُ ูَุญَู…َู„ْุชُู‡ُู…َุง ‏"‏ ‏.‏
I saw the Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) delivering a sermon, and (his grandchildren) Hasan and Husain came forward, wearing red shirts, stumbling and getting up again. The Prophet (๏ทบ) stepped down, picked them up and put them in his lap. Then he said: 

“Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. ‘Your wealth and your children are only a trial.’ [64:15] 

I saw these two and I could not be patient." Then he resumed his sermon.”
(Narrated by Ibnu Majah, an-Nasa'ee, Abu Daud. Graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

9. He prolonged his sujud (prostration) in prayer: to allow his grandson to continue playing riding his back
ุนَู†ْ ุนَุจْุฏِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุจْู†ِ ุดَุฏَّุงุฏٍ، ุนَู†ْ ุฃَุจِูŠู‡ِ، ู‚َุงู„َ ุฎَุฑَุฌَ ุนَู„َูŠْู†َุง ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูِูŠ ุฅِุญْุฏَู‰ ุตَู„ุงَุชَู‰ِ ุงู„ْุนِุดَุงุกِ ูˆَู‡ُูˆَ ุญَุงู…ِู„ٌ ุญَุณَู†ًุง ุฃَูˆْ ุญُุณَูŠْู†ًุง ูَุชَู‚َุฏَّู…َ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูَูˆَุถَุนَู‡ُ
ุซُู…َّ ูƒَุจَّุฑَ ู„ِู„ุตَّู„ุงَุฉِ ูَุตَู„َّู‰ ูَุณَุฌَุฏَ ุจَูŠْู†َ ุธَู‡ْุฑَุงู†َู‰ْ ุตَู„ุงَุชِู‡ِ ุณَุฌْุฏَุฉً ุฃَุทَุงู„َู‡َุง ‏.‏ ู‚َุงู„َ ุฃَุจِูŠ ูَุฑَูَุนْุชُ ุฑَุฃْุณِูŠ ูˆَุฅِุฐَุง ุงู„ุตَّุจِูŠُّ ุนَู„َู‰ ุธَู‡ْุฑِ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูˆَู‡ُูˆَ ุณَุงุฌِุฏٌ ูَุฑَุฌَุนْุชُ ุฅِู„َู‰ ุณُุฌُูˆุฏِูŠ ูَู„َู…َّุง ู‚َุถَู‰ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุงู„ุตَّู„ุงَุฉَ ู‚َุงู„َ ุงู„ู†َّุงุณُ ูŠَุง ุฑَุณُูˆู„َ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุฅِู†َّูƒَ ุณَุฌَุฏْุชَ ุจَูŠْู†َ ุธَู‡ْุฑَุงู†َู‰ْ ุตَู„ุงَุชِูƒَ ุณَุฌْุฏَุฉً ุฃَุทَู„ْุชَู‡َุง ุญَุชَّู‰ ุธَู†َู†َّุง ุฃَู†َّู‡ُ ู‚َุฏْ ุญَุฏَุซَ ุฃَู…ْุฑٌ ุฃَูˆْ ุฃَู†َّู‡ُ ูŠُูˆุญَู‰ ุฅِู„َูŠْูƒَ ‏.‏ ู‚َุงู„َ ‏ "‏ ูƒُู„ُّ ุฐَู„ِูƒَ ู„َู…ْ ูŠَูƒُู†ْ ูˆَู„َูƒِู†َّ ุงุจْู†ِูŠ ุงุฑْุชَุญَู„َู†ِูŠ ูَูƒَุฑِู‡ْุชُ ุฃَู†ْ ุฃُุนَุฌِّู„َู‡ُ ุญَุชَّู‰ ูŠَู‚ْุถِูŠَ ุญَุงุฌَุชَู‡ُ ‏"‏ ‏
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Shaddad, this his father said:
"The Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) came out to us for one of the nighttime (isha) prayers, and he was carrying Hasan or Husain. The Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) came forward and put him down, then he said the Takbir and started to pray. He prostrated during his prayer, and made the prostration lengthy." My father said: "I raised my head and saw the child on the back of the Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) while he was prostrating so I went back to my prostration. 

When the Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) finished praying, the people said: "O Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ), you prostrated during the prayer for so long that we thought that something had happened or that you were receiving a revelation.'
He said: 'No such thing happened. But my (grand) son was riding on my back and I did not like to disturb him until he had enough.'"
(Narrated by an-Nasa'ee)

10. He would give greetings towards children whilst they were playing
ู‚َุงู„َ ุฃَู†َุณٌ ุฃَุชَู‰ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ُ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ุนَู„َู‰ ุบِู„ْู…َุงู†ٍ ูŠَู„ْุนَุจُูˆู†َ ูَุณَู„َّู…َ ุนَู„َูŠْู‡ِู…ْ
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Messenger of Allah (๏ทบ) came to some children who were playing: He saluted them with salams
(Narrated by Abu Daud)
Imagine the context of a world leader of a nation today: you wouldn't expect the person to greet any random stranger, let alone random children playing on the street.. Perhaps the vast majority of us today would dismiss them as "oh, they are just kids. Ignore them".
But not this great man ๏ทบ.

11. Other children would be riding together with him on his riding animal, and he would treat them with respect and educate them with important advice, even when it comes to "heavy topics" such as creed, monotheism (Tauhid) and predestination (qadr)
ุนَู†ِ ุงุจْู†ِ ุนَุจَّุงุณٍ، ู‚َุงู„َ ูƒُู†ْุชُ ุฎَู„ْูَ ุฑَุณُูˆู„ِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ุตู„ู‰ ุงู„ู„ู‡ ุนู„ูŠู‡ ูˆุณู„ู… ูŠَูˆْู…ًุง ูَู‚َุงู„َ ‏
Ibn 'Abbas narrated:
"I was riding behind the Prophet ๏ทบ one day when he said:
"‏ ูŠَุง ุบُู„ุงَู…ُ ุฅِู†ِّูŠ ุฃُุนَู„ِّู…ُูƒَ ูƒَู„ِู…َุงุชٍ ุงุญْูَุธِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡َ ูŠَุญْูَุธْูƒَ ุงุญْูَุธِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡َ ุชَุฌِุฏْู‡ُ ุชُุฌَุงู‡َูƒَ ุฅِุฐَุง ุณَุฃَู„ْุชَ ูَุงุณْุฃَู„ِ ุงู„ู„َّู‡َ ูˆَุฅِุฐَุง ุงุณْุชَุนَู†ْุชَ ูَุงุณْุชَุนِู†ْ ุจِุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ..."
"Oh, young boy! I will teach you a statement:
Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid."
(Portion of Hadith narrated by At-Tirmidhi who graded it Hasan Sahih)

It is also worth noting that as the leader of his nation, he could afford his own mount, a carriage or even a "driver" - yet in this case he himself was the driver and his passenger was ibn Abbas, who was only 13 years old by the time the Prophet had passed away.

12. He would hasten the prayer when he heard a child crying, out of fear it would make the child's parent feel anxious
ุฅِู†ِّูŠ ู„ุฃَู‚ُูˆู…ُ ูِูŠ ุงู„ุตَّู„ุงَุฉِ ุฃُุฑِูŠุฏُ ุฃَู†ْ ุฃُุทَูˆِّู„َ ูِูŠู‡َุง، ูَุฃَุณْู…َุนُ ุจُูƒَุงุกَ ุงู„ุตَّุจِูŠِّ، ูَุฃَุชَุฌَูˆَّุฒُ ูِูŠ ุตَู„ุงَุชِูŠ ูƒَุฑَุงู‡ِูŠَุฉَ ุฃَู†ْ ุฃَุดُู‚َّ ุนَู„َู‰ ุฃُู…ِّู‡ِ
"When I stood for prayer, I (initially) intended to prolong it, but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut it short, as I dislike to trouble the child's mother."
(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Notice here that the Prophet never considered a crying baby to be a "nuisance" - he in fact willingly adjusted his prayer in empathetic consideration of the mother. Observe here also, his priority was a personalized empathethic consideration towards the mother of child.
He did NOT say that he disliked to trouble the "jemaah" (congregation) as a whole implying that the crying baby was "disturbing others".

This is a complete opposite of the grumpy uncles that we encounter at the masjid today, who become enraged when they hear children's voices - often times to the extent that the parent becomes discouraged from attending the prayer altogether out of feelings of inferiority that he is inflicting inconvenience towards others. In one of our local masjid here in Miri, the Imam is famously known to get so annoyed when he hears children's voices during prayer, that after the prayer he will outwardly scold the congregation (using the mic), imposing that what these "ignorant parents" are doing, bringing the children and disturbing the Jamaah is "Haram". 

Dear Uncle tuan Haji Imam, may Allah have mercy on you, I understand that you are annoyed, but with all due respect, your behavior is not in line with the sunnah of the Prophet. Be patient with them and their parents who show up to the masjid, and actually make an effort to take their little ones. Give them some time, be patient and have mercy on them.

๐Ÿค” Contemplation

While reading these ahadith, it is interesting to also bear in mind the context of who the  Prophet ๏ทบ was, as a person. 

Firstly, he was the leader of an entire nation - in addition to being their mufti, Imam, the head of a large family - plus he himself led and participated in all the major battles (maghazi) during his lifetime. No other person in the world today bore even half of those responsibilities. 

If he chose to ignore children on the pretext of being "too busy", he would be very well justified. But no, he took his time to treat them with such mercy. 

Which is a stark contrast to many of us today who claim to be "too busy", "too stressed", or had too much of a "bad day at work" to be kind to others, especially towards children. More often than not, we hear the dismissive "oh they're just kids. They'll understand sooner of later".

Secondly is his age. Since these actions were mainly recorded during his time in Madinah, the Prophet was between 53-63 years of age - so imagine the age of roughly a retiree uncle: The Prophet behaved in this manner not as a "young" man, so to speak.

When we examine these few narrations in totality, it is clear that the Prophet Muhammad would treat children with a deliberate approach of compassion, gentleness and respect. He (๏ทบ) said:
ุงู„ุฑَّุงุญِู…ُูˆู†َ ูŠَุฑْุญَู…ُู‡ُู…ُ ุงู„ุฑَّุญْู…َู†ُ ุงุฑْุญَู…ُูˆุง ุฃَู‡ْู„َ ุงู„ุฃَุฑْุถِ ูŠَุฑْุญَู…ْูƒُู…ْ ู…َู†ْ ูِูŠ ุงู„ุณَّู…َุงุกِ
"Those who are Merciful and Compassionate: Ar-Rahman (The Most Compassionate One) will have mercy on them.
Show mercy to the inhabitants of the earth, He Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you."
(Narrated by Abu Daud, graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

It is through this kindness and compassion that we establish a trusting relationship to shape and nurture positive values into them as they grow.

Consider this perspective: In a very famous Hadith narrated in the Sahihayn of Imam Al-Bukhari and Muslim, a prostitute from the Children of Israel was granted Paradise, purely because of her kind treatment to provide water to a dog dying with thirst. If this was the reward of treating animals with mercy, imagine the reward of treating other human beings: who will one day grow up to be you and I, or perhaps visionaries who will change the world some day.

This display of the Prophet Prophet ๏ทบ also repeatedly showcased his emphasis on gentleness. He said:
ุฅِู†َّ ุงู„ู„َّู‡َ ุฑَูِูŠู‚ٌ ูŠُุญِุจُّ ุงู„ุฑِّูْู‚َ ูˆَูŠُุนْุทِูŠ ุนَู„َูŠْู‡ِ ู…َุง ู„ุงَ ูŠُุนْุทِูŠ ุนَู„َู‰ ุงู„ْุนُู†ْูِ
"Allah is gentle, He Loves gentleness,
and Gives for gentleness what he does not give for harshness."
(Narrated by Ibnu Majah and Abu Daud, graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

ู…َู†ْ ุฃُุนْุทِูŠَ ุญَุธَّู‡ُ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ุฑِّูْู‚ِ ูَู‚َุฏْ ุฃُุนْุทِูŠَ ุญَุธَّู‡ُ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ْุฎَูŠْุฑِ ูˆَู…َู†ْ ุญُุฑِู…َ ุญَุธَّู‡ُ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ุฑِّูْู‚ِ ูَู‚َุฏْ ุญُุฑِู…َ ุญَุธَّู‡ُ ู…ِู†َ ุงู„ْุฎَูŠْุฑِ
"Whoever was given his share of gentleness, then he has been given a share of good. And whoever has been prevented from his share of gentleness, then he has been prevented from his share of good."
(Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)

In another Hadith, the Prophet ๏ทบ said to his wife A'isyah,
ูŠَุง ุนَุงุฆِุดَุฉُ ุงุฑْูُู‚ِูŠ ูَุฅِู†َّ ุงู„ุฑِّูْู‚َ ู„َู…ْ ูŠَูƒُู†ْ ูِูŠ ุดَู‰ْุกٍ ู‚َุทُّ ุฅِู„ุงَّ ุฒَุงู†َู‡ُ ูˆَู„ุงَ ู†ُุฒِุนَ ู…ِู†ْ ุดَู‰ْุกٍ ู‚َุทُّ ุฅِู„ุงَّ ุดَุงู†َู‡ُ
"O A'isyah.. Be gentle!
For if gentleness is found in anything, it beautifies it,
and when it is removed from anything it makes it deficient."
(Narrated by Abu Daud, graded Sahih by Al-Albani)

This wonderful demeanor of the Prophet would indeed fit the testimony of Allah regarding his conduct towards others, which is a major factor why his companions had strong attachment to him.. And all of that is a form of Mercy from Allah:
ูَุจِู…َุง ุฑَุญْู…َุฉٍ ู…ِّู†َ ุงู„ู„َّู‡ِ ู„ِู†ุชَ ู„َู‡ُู…ْ ูˆَู„َูˆْ ูƒُู†ุชَ ูَุธًّุง ุบَู„ِูŠุธَ ุงู„ْู‚َู„ْุจِ ู„َุงู†ูَุถُّูˆุง ู…ِู†ْ ุญَูˆْู„ِูƒَ
"And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you.."
(Surah Aal-e-Imran, 159)

Having said that, it's very important to highlight that kindness does not mean "weakness". When it comes to serious matters or those which there is no compromise, then there is a time and place to be firm and strict - for example, when it came to commanding and instilling the habit of the 5-daily solat (prayers).

Unfortunately when it comes to highlighting "the sunnah" people have a tendency to only emphasize the "strict" portion, while neglecting these overwhelming evidences of compassion and kindness in the Prophet's day to day conduct towards them.  This is an injustice to the magnanimous character that was Prophet Muhammad ๏ทบ, and perhaps also reflects a deficiency in the way we raise our youth today, devoid of his Prophetic guidance in our day to day conduct in parenting and coaching.

In fact, I can flip the argument around: it actually takes a great deal of strength to be kind and gentle towards others. When kids get your nerves (and boy, do they!), it's easy to just act on impulse, give into our feelings of discomfort and lash out at them. They can't retaliate anyway. Problem solved. Khalas, right?

But consider the alternative: what if we compose ourselves in spite of the annoyance and anger, choose to restrain ourselves and in take the high road of kindness towards them. With the "long term" intent of nurturing and educating them. 

Now that's strength! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ

May Allah grant us the strength to follow in the footsteps of our Prophet and to raise our youth with compassion, gentleness, kindness, firmness and respect.

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