Some Ethical (Akhlaq) Points on Interacting with your Child (Part 1)

1. Give gifts to your daughter(s) first.

2. Play with your children. This has an important effect in the training and nurturing of your child. Our leaders in Islam have stressed the importance of this issue, and recommended it highly to Muslims.

3. Kiss your child. It has been narrated from one of the Imams that: “Kiss your children a great deal because for every kiss, you will be granted a Divine heavenly rank which would otherwise take 500 years to achieve!”‌

4. By saying Salam to your child, build their sense of personality and character. If youngsters say Salam, it is obligatory for elders to reply; however, it was a characteristic of the Prophet (PBUH) to say Salam first, whether to elders or youngsters.

5. Do not ridicule the actions of your child, nor call them silly.

6. Do not order or forbid your child too much, as this emboldens them and leads to rebellious behaviour when older.

7. Build your children’s characters by respecting them. We read in traditions that the Prophet (PBUH) prolonged his sajdah until his grandson came down from his shoulders, and at other times he recited Salat al-Jama’at faster as he heard children of praying mothers crying. Likewise, Imam ‘Ali(A.S) used to ask his children questions about religious matters in the presence of others, and even passed on people’s questions to them to answer.

When parents don’t satisfy the natural urges and desires of the child, the child then resorts to wrong ways and means (often linked to sin) to try and give himself the necessary push to build his sense of self and importance. Personality, independence, will, self-trust, and likewise, weakness, baseness and lack of self-trust are all characteristics the foundations of which are in the lap of the father and bosom of the mother. A child who has not been treated like another human being or a valuable member of the family cannot be expected to have a well formed personality in adulthood.

8. Keep your promises. Keeping promises in Islam is a sign of one’s faith, and Allah mentions it in the Qur’an.

“And fulfil the covenants; indeed all covenants are accountable.”‌

“And those who keep their trusts and covenants.”‌

9. For the sexual training of children, the parents must first teach their children not to enter their bedroom without asking permission. Allah has pointed to this important point in Surat Nur, Verse 58:

“O you who have faith! Let your permission be sought by your slaves and those of you who have not reached puberty three times: before the dawn prayer, and when you put off your garments at noon, and after the night prayer. These are three times of privacy for you.”‌

It is also recommended to keep a close watch and control over their actions with others and prevent those actions that increase one’s sexual instinct (e.g. going out in mixed gatherings). It is important to mention that their curiosity is very high in childhood. In addition, they are very sensitive to what they watch and see, and fearlessly want to put it into action and try it out for themselves, without knowing or thinking that what they are doing may not be right.

Some useful points to be noted

a. Mothers should be careful that when tending to the cleanliness of their children (e.g. giving them baths), even newborns, other children are not present, especially those who are of a different gender.

b. Never leave children alone or in private for long periods of time and when they are going through an inquisitive phase. It is also not recommended to leave them unattended with someone else during this time.

c. Create love for Salat in your child, as Allah clearly states in the Noble Qur’an that Salat makes one far from ugly acts. 

“Indeed the prayer prevents indecencies and wrongs.”‌

Source: imamreza.net

Other links:

Some Islamic Directives for parents (Part 1)

Some Islamic Directives for parents (Part 2)

Methods of raising children

How to Raise Religious Children