Source: “Wālidayn aur Aulād ke Ḥuqūq” by Shaykh Jāwīd Iqbāl Sīālkotī
◈ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
جاء أعرابي إلى النبى فقال: تقبلون الصبيان فما نقبلهم. فقال النبي: أو أملك لك إن نزع الله من قلبك الرحمة
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih: 5998
A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked:
“Do you kiss your children? We do not kiss them.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“What can I do for you if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?”
◈ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported:
قبل رسول الله الحسن بن على وعنده الأقرع بن حابس التميمي جالسا فقال الأقرع : إن لي عشرة من الولد ما قبلت منهم أحدا فنظر إليه رسول الله ثم قال: من لا يرحم لا يرحم.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih: 5997
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissed Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī while al-Aqraʿ ibn Ḥābis 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.”
◈ Yaʿlā al-ʿĀmirī narrated:
جاء الحسن والحسين يسعيان إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فضمهما إليه وقال: إن الولد مبخلة مجبنة
Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Birr al-Wālid wa al-Iḥsān ilā al-Banāt: 3666
Ḥasan and Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما came running to the Prophet ﷺ.
He embraced them and said:
“Children are a cause of miserliness and cowardice.”
(i.e., they stir deep attachment and protectiveness in a parent’s heart.)
◈ Also narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ used to carry his granddaughter Umāmah bint Abī al-ʿĀṣ during the obligatory prayer.
When he went into rukūʿ or sujūd, he would gently place her down.
When he stood up again, he would pick her up once more.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih: 5996
These narrations clearly prove that:
✔ Showing love, kindness, and affection to children — including kissing and embracing them — is from the Sunnah.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself was deeply affectionate towards children, especially orphans and grandchildren.
✔ Mercy toward children is a sign of faith and humanity.
✔ Those who lack compassion are themselves deprived of Allah’s mercy.
① Loving and kissing children is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
② Harshness or emotional neglect is contrary to the character of the Prophet ﷺ.
③ Raising children with mercy brings about Allah’s mercy in return.
④ Every parent should adopt the Prophetic model of love in their parenting.
❖ Show Love and Affection to Your Children
◈ ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
جاء أعرابي إلى النبى فقال: تقبلون الصبيان فما نقبلهم. فقال النبي: أو أملك لك إن نزع الله من قلبك الرحمة
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih: 5998A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked:
“Do you kiss your children? We do not kiss them.”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“What can I do for you if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?”
◈ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported:
قبل رسول الله الحسن بن على وعنده الأقرع بن حابس التميمي جالسا فقال الأقرع : إن لي عشرة من الولد ما قبلت منهم أحدا فنظر إليه رسول الله ثم قال: من لا يرحم لا يرحم.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih: 5997The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kissed Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī while al-Aqraʿ ibn Ḥābis 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.”
◈ Yaʿlā al-ʿĀmirī narrated:
جاء الحسن والحسين يسعيان إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فضمهما إليه وقال: إن الولد مبخلة مجبنة
Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Birr al-Wālid wa al-Iḥsān ilā al-Banāt: 3666Ḥasan and Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما came running to the Prophet ﷺ.
He embraced them and said:
“Children are a cause of miserliness and cowardice.”
(i.e., they stir deep attachment and protectiveness in a parent’s heart.)
◈ Also narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ used to carry his granddaughter Umāmah bint Abī al-ʿĀṣ during the obligatory prayer.
When he went into rukūʿ or sujūd, he would gently place her down.
When he stood up again, he would pick her up once more.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb Raḥmat al-Walad wa Taqbīlih: 5996✦ Reflection:
These narrations clearly prove that:
✔ Showing love, kindness, and affection to children — including kissing and embracing them — is from the Sunnah.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself was deeply affectionate towards children, especially orphans and grandchildren.
✔ Mercy toward children is a sign of faith and humanity.
✔ Those who lack compassion are themselves deprived of Allah’s mercy.
✔ Summary:
① Loving and kissing children is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
② Harshness or emotional neglect is contrary to the character of the Prophet ﷺ.
③ Raising children with mercy brings about Allah’s mercy in return.
④ Every parent should adopt the Prophetic model of love in their parenting.
