Author: Hafiz Sher Muhammad
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that Aqra' bin Habis (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing his grandson Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). Aqra' said: "I have ten sons and I have never kissed any of them." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied:
"Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5997 and Sahih Muslim: 65/2318)
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took his son Ibrahim (in his lap) and kissed him, and smelled him (with love).
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 303 and Sahih Muslim: 2315)
A Bedouin once came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: "Do you kiss your children? We do not kiss them!" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
"What can I do if Allah has taken away mercy from your hearts?"
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5998 and Sahih Muslim: 2317)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ya'la bin Murra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was going to a meal invitation with the Prophet (peace be upon him). They saw (in the street) Sayyiduna Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) playing. The Prophet (peace be upon him) went ahead among the people with his arms outstretched. Sayyiduna Husain started running here and there. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was laughing as he caught hold of him. He placed one hand under Husain's chin and the other on his head. He then kissed him and said:
"Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May Allah love him who loves Husain. Husain is a significant grandson among the grandsons."
(Sunan Ibn Majah: 144 and its chain is Hasan. Al-Tirmidhi: 3775 has rated it Hasan. Ibn Hibban has authenticated it in Mawarid al-Zam'an: 2240. Al-Hakim: 3/277 and Al-Dhahabi have mentioned it. Al-Busiri has stated: "This chain is Hasan and its narrators are trustworthy" in Tasheel al-Hajjah fi Ta'liq 'ala Sunan Ibn Majah by our teacher Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai, may Allah protect him, p. 10, and it was also rated Hasan by Sheikh Albani, may Allah have mercy on him.)
It is narrated from Ummul Mu'minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that whenever (the Prophet's daughter) Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) would visit the Prophet (peace be upon him), he would stand up to her, take her hand, kiss her, and make her sit in his place.
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 5217 and its chain is Hasan. Al-Tirmidhi: 3872 has rated it Hasan.)
In a Sahih Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He is not from us who does not respect our elders, show mercy to our young ones, and recognize the rights of our scholars."
(Mushkil al-Athar: 2/133, Hadith: 185, Al-Hadith: 4 p. 45)
These Hadiths and other evidence prove that parents should love their children. It should be noted that the requirement of love is that along with providing worldly comforts, parents should also give proper upbringing to their children. They should teach them the Quran, Hadith, and all the best manners. They should invite them to Tawheed and Sunnah and order them to pray according to the Sunnah.
Allah Almighty says:
يا يھا الذين آمنو اقوا انفسكم و اھلیكم نارا
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire."
(Surah At-Tahrim: 6)
"Each one of you is a shepherd and each one of you is responsible for his flock. Every person will be questioned about his dependents (on the Day of Judgment)."
(al-Bukhari: 893 and Muslim: 1829)
Therefore, every person will be questioned about his family and children.
May Allah make both parents and their children followers of the Book and the Sunnah and pious. Ameen.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that Aqra' bin Habis (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing his grandson Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him). Aqra' said: "I have ten sons and I have never kissed any of them." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied:
"Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5997 and Sahih Muslim: 65/2318)
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took his son Ibrahim (in his lap) and kissed him, and smelled him (with love).
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 303 and Sahih Muslim: 2315)
A Bedouin once came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: "Do you kiss your children? We do not kiss them!" The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
"What can I do if Allah has taken away mercy from your hearts?"
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5998 and Sahih Muslim: 2317)
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ya'la bin Murra (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was going to a meal invitation with the Prophet (peace be upon him). They saw (in the street) Sayyiduna Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) playing. The Prophet (peace be upon him) went ahead among the people with his arms outstretched. Sayyiduna Husain started running here and there. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was laughing as he caught hold of him. He placed one hand under Husain's chin and the other on his head. He then kissed him and said:
"Husain is from me and I am from Husain. May Allah love him who loves Husain. Husain is a significant grandson among the grandsons."
(Sunan Ibn Majah: 144 and its chain is Hasan. Al-Tirmidhi: 3775 has rated it Hasan. Ibn Hibban has authenticated it in Mawarid al-Zam'an: 2240. Al-Hakim: 3/277 and Al-Dhahabi have mentioned it. Al-Busiri has stated: "This chain is Hasan and its narrators are trustworthy" in Tasheel al-Hajjah fi Ta'liq 'ala Sunan Ibn Majah by our teacher Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai, may Allah protect him, p. 10, and it was also rated Hasan by Sheikh Albani, may Allah have mercy on him.)
It is narrated from Ummul Mu'minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that whenever (the Prophet's daughter) Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) would visit the Prophet (peace be upon him), he would stand up to her, take her hand, kiss her, and make her sit in his place.
(Sunan Abi Dawood: 5217 and its chain is Hasan. Al-Tirmidhi: 3872 has rated it Hasan.)
In a Sahih Hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He is not from us who does not respect our elders, show mercy to our young ones, and recognize the rights of our scholars."
(Mushkil al-Athar: 2/133, Hadith: 185, Al-Hadith: 4 p. 45)
These Hadiths and other evidence prove that parents should love their children. It should be noted that the requirement of love is that along with providing worldly comforts, parents should also give proper upbringing to their children. They should teach them the Quran, Hadith, and all the best manners. They should invite them to Tawheed and Sunnah and order them to pray according to the Sunnah.
Allah Almighty says:
يا يھا الذين آمنو اقوا انفسكم و اھلیكم نارا
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire."
(Surah At-Tahrim: 6)
"Each one of you is a shepherd and each one of you is responsible for his flock. Every person will be questioned about his dependents (on the Day of Judgment)."
(al-Bukhari: 893 and Muslim: 1829)
Therefore, every person will be questioned about his family and children.
May Allah make both parents and their children followers of the Book and the Sunnah and pious. Ameen.