Greeting Children

Nobody knew this more than Anas ibn Malik (ra). He was ten years old when he went into the service of the Prophet ﷺ  in Madina. So began ten years of great blessings; for his faith, character and knowledge, learnt first-hand in the company of the best of creation. Once the Prophet ﷺ visited his family.

Anas reported: My mother said, “O Messenger of Allah  ﷺ , here is your little servant. Supplicate to Allah for him.” The Prophet ﷺ supplicated for me to have every good and at the end of his supplication, he ﷺ said, “O Allah, increase him in wealth, in children, and bless him in them.”[Muslim]

Such were the blessings in this dua that Anas (ra) lived to a ripe old age of 103, had over 100 offspring in his lifetime and became amongst the wealthiest of Ansar. Anas (ra) would say; I served the Prophetﷺ for ten years. By Allah, he never even said to me, “Uff!” Heﷺ never said harshly for anything, “Why did you do that?” or, “Why did you not do that?”[Bukhari]

In fact it was a relationship at heart built on patience and kindness. Once the wives of the Prophet ﷺ were about to blame him for something, yet the Prophet ﷺ told them: “Leave him alone. If it was predestined, then it would have been done.”[Ahmad]     

The Prophet ﷺ had a wonderful way with children that always left him approachable and friendly in their eyes. Heﷺ understood a child’s nature; their playfulness and sense of humour and often drew upon this to connect, building a healthy relationship gaining their trust, respect and love in return.

The Prophet ﷺ would play with Anas(ra) and affectionately joke with him to say; “Oh, you owner of two ears.” [Abu Dawud]

He ﷺ even gave Anas the nickname ‘Abu Hamzah’ after Anas’s love for a certain type of green leafy vegetable (hamzah) which he grew and ate.

There was never a generational gap that gave rise to an austere, overly formal relationship. Without compromising boundaries of respect that should exist between adult and child the Prophet ﷺ successfully reached out and connected with children making him an inspiring example to follow.

𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)