Kissing and Showing Affection to Children is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
Written by: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
The practice of kissing and showing affection to children is not merely a cultural gesture but a noble Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, teaching us the importance of compassion, mercy, and emotional connection with our children.
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissed al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنهما while al-Aqraʿ ibn Ḥābis al-Tamīmī was sitting beside him.
Al-Aqraʿ said: 'I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them.'
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked at him and said:
'Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5997 – Kitāb al-Adab: Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih wa Muʿānaqatih]
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrates:
"Some Bedouins came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'You kiss your children?'
The Prophet ﷺ replied: 'Yes.'
They said: 'By Allah, we do not kiss them.'
The Prophet ﷺ responded: 'What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your hearts?'"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5998 – Kitāb al-Adab: Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih wa Muʿānaqatih]
[Al-Adab al-Mufrad: 31/90 – Bāb Qublat al-Ṣibyān]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 15/5 – Kitāb al-Faḍā’il: Bāb Raḥmatih wa Tawāḍuʿih]
[Shuʿab al-Īmān by al-Bayhaqī: 11013]
✔ Kissing and showing affection to children is from the beautiful Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ It reflects mercy, love, and a nurturing heart, which are qualities highly praised in Islam.
✔ Depriving children of affection is a sign of hard-heartedness, and the Prophet ﷺ disapproved of such
Written by: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī❖ Expressing Love to Children is Mustaḥabb (Recommended)
The practice of kissing and showing affection to children is not merely a cultural gesture but a noble Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, teaching us the importance of compassion, mercy, and emotional connection with our children.
➊ Ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissed al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنهما while al-Aqraʿ ibn Ḥābis al-Tamīmī was sitting beside him.
Al-Aqraʿ said: 'I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them.'
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked at him and said:
'Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5997 – Kitāb al-Adab: Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih wa Muʿānaqatih]➋ Ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrates:
"Some Bedouins came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'You kiss your children?'
The Prophet ﷺ replied: 'Yes.'
They said: 'By Allah, we do not kiss them.'
The Prophet ﷺ responded: 'What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your hearts?'"
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5998 – Kitāb al-Adab: Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih wa Muʿānaqatih] [Al-Adab al-Mufrad: 31/90 – Bāb Qublat al-Ṣibyān] [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 15/5 – Kitāb al-Faḍā’il: Bāb Raḥmatih wa Tawāḍuʿih] [Shuʿab al-Īmān by al-Bayhaqī: 11013]
Conclusion:
✔ Kissing and showing affection to children is from the beautiful Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ It reflects mercy, love, and a nurturing heart, which are qualities highly praised in Islam.
✔ Depriving children of affection is a sign of hard-heartedness, and the Prophet ﷺ disapproved of such
