Abu Hanifa and the Boy Who Liked Honey

One day a young boy was brought to the great scholar Abu Hanifa. His father reported that so much honey was harmful for his boy. He said; “This child continues to eat honey, even though we tell him not to.” The father had hoped that Abu Hanifa would succeed in persuading him to stop. Abu Hanifa asked them to take the child away and come back forty days later. 

The father brought the child back to Abu Hanifa forty days later. Abu Hanifa then talked to the boy and told him that he should not eat honey. When departing, the child kissed his father’s hand and promised not to eat honey again. 

The people who are present asked Abu Hanifa: “Why didn’t you tell him this when we brought him the first time; why did you make him wait for forty days?“ Abu Hanifa answered them thus: “The day you brought the child to me I had eaten honey. If I had told him not to do something that I was doing, my advice would probably not have had any effect. I wanted a forty day period in order to cleanse my body from the honey; only then could I give the child same advice.“ 

Pious predecessors were extra careful, even in matters that are permissible and so often went the extra mile.

It’s not surprising, because sometimes truthful words by themselves are not always enough. Allah (swt) reminds us “Oh you who have believed, why do you say that which you do not do.” [As-Saf 61:2]. 

Any contradiction between our words and our behaviour (especially in matters of halal and haram) may shake our children’s confidence in us, as well as those who observe us. May Allah (swt) always guide us to set a good example for our children. Ameen. 🌙