بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
يُوصِيكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِىٓ أَوْلَـٰدِكُمْ ۖ لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۚ فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءًۭ فَوْقَ ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثَا مَا تَرَكَ ۖ وَإِن كَانَتْ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَلَهَا ٱلنِّصْفُ ۚ وَلِأَبَوَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَٰحِدٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا ٱلسُّدُسُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ إِن كَانَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌۭ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ وَلَدٌۭ وَوَرِثَهُۥٓ أَبَوَاهُ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلثُّلُثُ ۚ فَإِن كَانَ لَهُۥٓ إِخْوَةٌۭ فَلِأُمِّهِ ٱلسُّدُسُ ۚ مِنۢ بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍۢ يُوصِى بِهَآ أَوْ دَيْنٍ ۗ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ نَفْعًۭا ۚ فَرِيضَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا ١١
Allah commands you regarding your children: the share of the male will be twice that of the female.1 If you leave only two ˹or more˺ females, their share is two-thirds of the estate. But if there is only one female, her share will be one-half. Each parent is entitled to one-sixth if you leave offspring.2 But if you are childless and your parents are the only heirs, then your mother will receive one-third.3 But if you leave siblings, then your mother will receive one-sixth4—after the fulfilment of bequests and debts.5 ˹Be fair to˺ your parents and children, as you do not ˹fully˺ know who is more beneficial to you.6 ˹This is˺ an obligation from Allah. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
[Surat An-Nisa’ : Ayat 11]
In the Name ofAllah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized that educating and guiding children is a sacred responsibility and a divine command from Allah. In Islamic teachings, children are considered an Amanah (a trust) from Allah to their parents.
Core Commands on Education and Guidance
The Responsibility of the Shepherd: The Prophet (ﷺ) famously said, "Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock... A man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock; a woman is the shepherd of her husband's household and is responsible for her flock".
Protection from Harm: The Quran commands believers to protect themselves and their families from spiritual harm (the Fire), which is achieved by showing them the right way and teaching the difference between right and wrong.
Obligatory Knowledge: Seeking knowledge is described as a "divine mandate" and an obligation for every Muslim, male and female, from the cradle to the grave.
Nurturing Faith (Fitrah): The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that every child is born in a state of fitrah (natural belief in God), and it is the parents who then shape their spiritual direction.
Specific Guidance for Parents
Religious Education: Parents are instructed to command their children to pray starting at age seven, providing a gradual, three-year training period before prayer becomes an obligation.
Character and Manners: The Prophet (ﷺ) stated, "The best thing a father provides to his child is good manners and ethical training". This includes teaching kindness, honesty, and respect.
Fairness and Justice: Parents are commanded to treat all their children justly and fairly, without discriminating between sons and daughters.
Leading by Example: Effective guidance is rooted in the parents' own behavior. Children learn more from observation than instruction; thus, parents must model the values they wish to instill.
The Seerah is filled with accounts of the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) gentle, playful, and educational interactions with children. He treated them as significant members of society, prioritizing their emotional needs and using daily moments as opportunities for guidance.
Playfulness and Affection
The "Basil" of the Heart: The Prophet (ﷺ) was often seen carrying his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn, on his shoulders. He called them his "two aromatic flowers" (basil) from this world.
Prolonging Prostration: Once, while leading prayer, the Prophet (ﷺ) stayed in prostration for a very long time. When the companions asked why, he explained that his grandson had climbed on his back, and he did not want to disturb the child until he was ready to get down.
Interrupting Sermons: On another occasion, while delivering a sermon (khutba), he saw Hasan and Husayn walking and tripping in their long garments. He immediately stopped his speech, stepped down from the pulpit, and picked them up to sit with him.
Chasing and Games: He was known to play with children in the streets, running and racing with them. He would open his arms and say, "Whoever touches me first will get a prize!" and then hug and kiss those who reached him.
Gentleness in Education
Dining Etiquette (The Story of Umar ibn Abi Salamah): When young Umar's hand was "wandering" all over the food plate, the Prophet (ﷺ) did not scold him. Instead, he gently instructed: "O young boy, say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is directly in front of you".
Empathy for Loss (The Story of Abu Umair): When a little boy named Abu Umair was sad because his pet bird had died, the Prophet (ﷺ) did not dismiss his feelings. He went to comfort him, jokingly asking, "O Abu Umair, what happened to the little bird?" to acknowledge and soothe his sadness.
Teaching Honesty: He once overheard a mother calling her son, saying, "Come here and I will give you something." He asked what she intended to give; when she said "dates," he warned that if she had nothing to give, it would have been recorded against her as a lie.
Respect and Rights
The Right of the Child: When served a drink, a young boy sat on the Prophet's (ﷺ) right and elders on his left. Following the Sunnah of serving to the right, he asked the boy for permission to give it to the elders first. When the boy insisted on his right to be served first, the Prophet (ﷺ) respected his choice and gave him the drink.
Patience with Mistakes: He forbade scolding children when they made "accidents." When a baby he was holding once urinated on him, he simply asked for water to sprinkle on his clothes and continued to bless and pray for the child, stopping others from reacting harshly.
The relationship between Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his young cousin, Abdullah ibn Abbas, is one of the most beautiful examples of how the Prophet (ﷺ) nurtured the intellectual and spiritual growth of children. Ibn Abbas was only 13 years old when the Prophet (ﷺ) passed away, yet in that short time, he was given some of the most profound advice in Islamic history.
The "Blueprint for a Believer's Heart"
One of the most famous hadiths (Hadith 19 in Imam Nawawi's collection) was given specifically to Ibn Abbas while he was riding behind the Prophet (ﷺ) on a mount.
Mindfulness of Allah: The Prophet (ﷺ) taught him, "Be mindful of Allah, and He will protect you". This lesson taught the young boy that observing Allah's boundaries and commands leads to divine protection of one's health, wealth, and faith.
True Reliance (Tawakkul): He instructed, "If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah". This instilled a sense of independence from creation and total dependence on the Creator.
Divine Decree: The Prophet (ﷺ) explained that even if the whole world gathered to benefit or harm him, they could only do what Allah had already prescribed. He ended with the powerful metaphor: "The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried".
Victory Through Patience: In another narration of this advice, he taught that "victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship".
Lessons Through Daily Interaction
Spiritual Observations: When Ibn Abbas was around 11, his father sent him to spend the night at the home of his aunt Maymunah (the Prophet’s wife) to watch the Prophet (ﷺ) pray. By observing and praying behind him, Ibn Abbas learned and passed on the details of the Tahajjud (night prayer) and the "Dua of Noor" (Supplication for Light) to the Ummah.
Etiquette in Prayer: Once, while praying with the Prophet (ﷺ), young Abdullah stood behind him. The Prophet (ﷺ) tried to pull him to stand at his side, but Abdullah remained behind. When asked why, he replied that the Prophet (ﷺ) was too great in his eyes to stand level with him. This deep respect for his teacher greatly pleased the Prophet (ﷺ).
Encouragement of Intellect: The Prophet (ﷺ) never dismissed him as "too young" for deep theological concepts. He would draw him close, pat his shoulder, and make a special prayer for him: "O Allah, grant him deep knowledge and understanding of the religion and teach him the interpretation (Tafsir) of the Quran".
The Outcome of the Guidance
Due to these specific lessons and the Prophet’s (ﷺ) prayers, Abdullah ibn Abbas grew up to be known as:
Habr al-Ummah: The "Scholar of the Ummah".
Tarjuman al-Quran: The "Interpreter of the Quran".
He became the most respected advisor to the Caliphs who followed, including Umar ibn al-Khattab, who would invite the young Ibn Abbas to sit with the elders of Badr because of his extraordinary insight. Yet in that short time, he was given some of the most profound advice in Islamic history.
The "Blueprint for a Believer's Heart"
One of the most famous hadiths (Hadith 19 in Imam Nawawi's collection) was given specifically to Ibn Abbas while he was riding behind the Prophet (ﷺ) on a mount.
Mindfulness of Allah: The Prophet (ﷺ) taught him, "Be mindful of Allah, and He will protect you". This lesson taught the young boy that observing Allah's boundaries and commands leads to divine protection of one's health, wealth, and faith.
True Reliance (Tawakkul): He instructed, "If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah". This instilled a sense of independence from creation and total dependence on the Creator.
Divine Decree: The Prophet (ﷺ) explained that even if the whole world gathered to benefit or harm him, they could only do what Allah had already prescribed. He ended with the powerful metaphor: "The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried".
Victory Through Patience: In another narration of this advice, he taught that "victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship".
Lessons Through Daily Interaction
Spiritual Observations: When Ibn Abbas was around 11, his father sent him to spend the night at the home of his aunt Maymunah (the Prophet’s wife) to watch the Prophet (ﷺ) pray. By observing and praying behind him, Ibn Abbas learned and passed on the details of the Tahajjud (night prayer) and the "Dua of Noor" (Supplication for Light) to the Ummah.
Etiquette in Prayer: Once, while praying with the Prophet (ﷺ), young Abdullah stood behind him. The Prophet (ﷺ) tried to pull him to stand at his side, but Abdullah remained behind. When asked why, he replied that the Prophet (ﷺ) was too great in his eyes to stand level with him. This deep respect for his teacher greatly pleased the Prophet (ﷺ).
Encouragement of Intellect: The Prophet (ﷺ) never dismissed him as "too young" for deep theological concepts. He would draw him close, pat his shoulder, and make a special prayer for him: "O Allah, grant him deep knowledge and understanding of the religion and teach him the interpretation (Tafsir) of the Quran".
The Outcome of the Guidance
Due to these specific lessons and the Prophet’s (ﷺ) prayers, Abdullah ibn Abbas grew up to be known as:
Habr al-Ummah: The "Scholar of the Ummah".
Tarjuman al-Quran: The "Interpreter of the Quran".
He became the most respected advisor to the Caliphs who followed, including Umar ibn al-Khattab, who would invite the young Ibn Abbas to sit with the elders of Badr because of his extraordinary insight.Anas ibn Malik’s experience was unique because he didn’t just visit the Prophet (ﷺ); he lived with him. When the Prophet (ﷺ) arrived in Madinah, Anas’s mother, Umm Sulaym, brought her 10-year-old son to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, this is Anas, a young boy who can serve you."
Anas (ra) served the Prophet (ﷺ) for ten years, and his accounts give us the most intimate look at the Prophet’s (ﷺ) gentle parenting and teaching style.
1. The "No-Scolding" Rule
Anas ibn Malik famously reported: "I served the Prophet (ﷺ) for ten years. By Allah, he never even said 'Uff' (an expression of frustration) to me. He never said about anything I did, 'Why did you do that?' or about anything I didn't do, 'Why didn't you do that?'"
This is perhaps the greatest lesson in patience. The Prophet (ﷺ) understood that children are naturally forgetful or easily distracted, and he chose to overlook their small mistakes to maintain a relationship of love and trust.
2. Gentleness with Playfulness
One day, the Prophet (ﷺ) sent Anas on an errand. On his way, Anas saw some children playing in the street and got distracted, joining them. After a while, he felt someone standing behind him. It was the Prophet (ﷺ), who had come looking for him. Instead of being angry, the Prophet (ﷺ) smiled, caught him by the back of his neck playfully, and said: "O Unays (a sweet diminutive of Anas), did you go where I ordered you to go?" Anas quickly apologized and finished the task.
3. Entrusting Him with Secrets
To build Anas’s character and sense of responsibility, the Prophet (ﷺ) would sometimes entrust him with private errands. Once, Anas was late returning home. His mother asked what had delayed him, and he replied that he was on a secret mission for the Prophet (ﷺ). When she asked what the secret was, Anas refused to tell her. His mother, instead of being upset, encouraged him, saying: "Keep the secret of Allah's Messenger." This taught Anas loyalty and the weight of a person's word from a very young age.
4. Direct Supplication (Dua)
Anas’s mother once asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to pray specifically for her son. The Prophet (ﷺ) made a beautiful, comprehensive Dua: "O Allah, increase his wealth and his children, and bless him in what You give him."
The Result: Anas lived to be over 100 years old, had over 100 descendants in his lifetime, and had a garden that famously bore fruit twice a year.
5. Teaching through Affection
Anas noted that the Prophet (ﷺ) would always be the first to offer a greeting (Salam) to children when he passed them. He would pat their heads and speak to them at their eye level. This gave Anas and other children a sense of dignity and belonging in the community.
Anas ibn Malik later became one of the top narrators of Hadith, preserving the "internal" life of the Prophet (ﷺ) for all of us.
In a society where daughters were often seen as a burden or even met with cruelty, the Prophet (ﷺ) revolutionized their status, elevating them to a means of entering Paradise.
1. A Shield from the Fire
The Prophet (ﷺ) transformed the perception of raising girls from a social "shame" to a spiritual "honor." He said:
"Whoever has three daughters and is patient with them, and gives them food and drink and clothes from his wealth, they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection."
He even specified that this applies to those with two daughters or even one, emphasizing that the quality of care and love determines the reward.
2. Close Proximity in Paradise
One of the most touching promises the Prophet (ﷺ) gave was regarding the upbringing of girls. He held his index and middle fingers together and said:
"Whoever raises two girls until they reach adulthood, he and I will come on the Day of Resurrection like this."
This taught parents that their daughters were their direct path to being close to the Messenger of Allah in the afterlife.
3. The Right to Education and Choice
The Prophet (ﷺ) made education an obligation for every Muslim, regardless of gender.
Knowledge is Equal: He encouraged women to attend the mosque and learn. When women felt the men were taking up too much of his time, he dedicated a specific day every week just for women's education.
Marriage Consent: He strictly forbade forcing daughters into marriage. He taught that a father must seek his daughter's permission, and her silence or verbal consent is necessary. If a girl was married against her will, the Prophet (ﷺ) would give her the legal right to annul the marriage.
4. Public Displays of Affection (The Example of Fatimah)
The Prophet’s (ﷺ) relationship with his daughter, Fatimah (ra), served as the ultimate model for the Ummah:
The Stand of Respect: Whenever Fatimah entered the room, the Prophet (ﷺ) would stand up for her, kiss her on the forehead, take her hand, and seat her in his own place.
"Part of Me": He famously said, "Fatimah is a part of me, and whoever upsets her upsets me."
By showing this extreme level of public respect, he taught the men of Arabia that daughters are to be honored, not hidden or ignored.
5. Justice in Gifting
He strictly commanded parents to be fair. He said: "Fear Allah and treat your children justly." Scholars note that in the context of the time, this was a direct command to stop the practice of giving everything to sons while leaving daughters with nothing.
6. Kindness to the "Aromatic Flowers"
He referred to daughters as al-Mu'nisat al-Ghaliyat (the dear, comforting companions). This shifted the language from seeing girls as "weak" to seeing them as the emotional heart and comfort of the home.
The Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) emphasis on the education of girls led to the emergence of thousands of women who became the intellectual and spiritual pillars of Islamic civilization. These women did not just follow tradition; they pioneered fields ranging from law and medicine to university founding.
Aisha bint Abi Bakr (ra): The Scholar of the Ummah
Aisha (ra) is the foremost example of the success of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) educational mission. She is one of the most significant figures in Islamic intellectual history.
Hadith Authority: She narrated over 2,200 hadiths, covering intimate personal conduct, justice, and complex legal matters.
Legal Expertise: Eminent scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani noted that approximately one-fourth of Shari'ah laws are based on her narrations and legal insights.
Teacher of Leaders: After the Prophet’s (ﷺ) death, her home became a premier educational institute. Senior companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) would visit her to seek clarification on difficult questions of inheritance and Quranic interpretation.
Multi-talented Intellectual: Beyond religious sciences, she was highly proficient in medicine, poetry, and Arab history.
Praise be to Allah. We ask His forgiveness and seek refuge in Him from the evils of our souls and the mischief of our deeds. Whomever Allah guides will never be misled by anyone else, and whomever Allah misleads will never be guided by anyone else. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah the One and that Muhammad is His Messenger and Servant.
The truest words are those of Allah’s Book, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). This book presents some of the Prophet’s words of advice to the Muslim child. It contains his advice, commands and instructions. Our children are bounties from Allah. He entrusted us to protect them and bring them up in an Islamic manner that is directed by both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Whenever our noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) learned that any of his Companions had been blessed with a baby, his face would shine with joy and he' would pray for that baby. Also, whenever he passed by any children sitting or playing, he would offer them his salutation: salaam.
Our children are dear to us and they are always in need of our care and guidance. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), whom Allah sent to be an instructor for people, offers our children in this book his words of advice that are
full of light.
For Allah suffices us. and He is the best guardian.
Abdul Aziz Al-Shinnawy
Posted By: Albakr Allatifi
