So yesterday we discussed the love that Nabi ﷺ had for his own children and grandchildren. But his love was not limited to his own children!

Throughout his noble life, the Prophet ﷺ had emphasized the significance of the youth. He empowered the young men and women of his time and left behind an extraordinary legacy that continues to inspire young people till this very day. The Prophet ﷺ was a genius in dealing with the youth. Love was the underlining factor behind his relationship with the youth. His charisma and personality attracted children, teenagers, and young adults to his message in droves.

The Prophetic approach in interacting with the youth was that of anchoring the soul to its innate nature: the fiṭrah. With love and empathy, the Prophet nourished the youth; he instructed them, advised them, empowered them, and developed them.

So, the Prophet ﷺ developed them emotionally and spiritually. He demonstrated to the world the incredible heights that could be reached with young people marching in the frontlines.

This is not an exaggeration in any way, but in fact, a reality that had manifested itself in seventh century Arabia under the leadership, mentorship, and guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ knew very well the greatness and potential of the youth. For this reason, he was extremely keen on engaging them. Added to this, the youth possessed a profound love for the Prophet ﷺ. The bond was such that they were ready to sacrifice their own lives for him.

When we study the Prophet ﷺ`s life, we find various incidents in which the Prophet ﷺ displayed his sincere love and care for all children.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ الأَقْرَعَ بْنَ حَابِسٍ، أَبْصَرَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَبِّلُ الْحَسَنَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِي عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْوَلَدِ مَا قَبَّلْتُ وَاحِدًا مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ إِنَّهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمْ لاَ يُرْحَمْ

Hadhrat Abu Huraira RA reported that Aqra’ bin Habis RA saw Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) kissing Hasan RA. He said: I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: He who does not show mercy (towards his children), no mercy would be shown to him. [Muslim 2318a]

Hadhrat Anas ibn Malik RA was a young boy when he had the honour of serving the Prophet ﷺ. It is narrated from him that during his ten years of service, the Prophet ﷺ never said a word of impatience or rebuked him. Narrated by Hadhrat Anas RA himself:

خَدَمْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَشْرَ سِنِينَ، فَمَا قَالَ لِي أُفٍّ‏.‏ وَلاَ لِمَ صَنَعْتَ وَلاَ أَلاَّ صَنَعْتَ‏

“I served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years, and he never said to me, ‘Uff’ (a minor harsh word denoting impatience) and never blamed me by saying, “Why did you do so or why didn’t you do so?” [Bukhari]

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would also take an active interest in their lives, despite his busy schedule. For example, when the pet bird of a young child, Abu Umair RA, died, he went out of his way to try and console the young boy.

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا وَلِي أَخٌ صَغِيرٌ يُكْنَى أَبَا عُمَيْرٍ وَكَانَ لَهُ نُغَرٌ يَلْعَبُ بِهِ فَمَاتَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَرَآهُ حَزِينًا فَقَالَ مَا شَأْنُهُ‏.‏ قَالُوا مَاتَ نُغَرُهُ فَقَالَ ‏يَا أَبَا عُمَيْرٍ مَا فَعَلَ النُّغَيْرُ ‏

Hadhrat Anas bin Malik RA said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to come to visit us. I had a younger brother who was called Abu ‘Umair by nickname (kunyah). He had a sparrow which he played with, but it died. So one day the Prophet ﷺ came to see him and saw him grieving. He asked: ‘What is the matter with him?’ The people replied: ‘His sparrow has died.’ He (the Prophet) then said: ‘Oh Abu ‘Umair! What has happened to the little sparrow?'” [Abu Dawud]

Not only did the Prophet ﷺ take time to console a young boy, but he ﷺ would even shorten the Salah when he heard a young child crying during the Salaah.

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ وَأَنَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَأُخَفِّفُ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تُفْتَتَنَ أُمُّهُ

Hadhrat Anas bin Malik RA narrated that: Allah’s Messenger said: “Indeed I hear the crying of a small boy while I am in Salat, so I shorten it in fear that his mother may be tormented.” [Tirmidhi]

The Prophet ﷺ also encouraged parents to treat their children equally.

Sadly, a common problem amongst parents is to favour one child over the other. The Prophet ﷺ commanded fairness in the treatment of one’s children.

أنَّ أباهُ أتى بِهِ النَّبيَّ صلَّى اللَّهُ علَيهِ وسلَّمَ يشهَدُ علَى نحلٍ نحلَهُ إيَّاهُ فقالَ : أَكُلَّ ولدِكَ نحَلتَ مثلَ ما نحلتَهُ قالَ : لا قالَ : فلا أشهَدُ على شَيءٍ أليسَ يَسرُّكَ أن يَكونوا إليكَ في البِرِّ سَواءً قالَ : بلَى قالَ : فلا إذًا

It was narrated from An-Nu’man that his father brought him to the Prophet ﷺ to bear witness to a present that he gave to him. He said: “Have you given all your children a present like that which you have given to him?” He said: “No.” He said: “I will not bear witness to anything. Will it not please you if they were all to treat you with equal respect?” He said: “Of course.” He said: “Then no (I will not do it).” [Nasa’i]