19. Children

19. Children

chapter 168. Fruits are given to the youngest of children

362. Abu Hurayra said, “When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was brought new dates, he said, ‘O Allah! Bless us in our city and in our mudd and sa’, blessing upon blessing.’ Then he would give one to the youngest of the children with him.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: A Sa’ = 4 Mudds; and 1 Mudd = 1/2 Bushel or two handfuls. The hadeeth indicates the Prophet’s humility, generousity and care for children. It teaches that one should always seek the blessings of Allah for himself, his time, knowledge, children, wealth, food etc.

chapter 169. Mercy towards children

363. ‘Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Anyone who does not show mercy to our children nor acknowledge the right of our old people is not one of us.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Children due to their young ages may show lack of knowledge and say a thing or perform an action which will be considered by the adult as irritatingly silly or time-wasting; and so, the adult should show mercy to them by teaching them and guiding them with gentlenss and affection. As for the elderly, they have spent many years on the earth and have thereby, acquired a wide-range of experience; thus they deserve to be shown honor and high regard. With respect to the expression, “…is not one of us…” Haafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee (الله رحمه (said, “that is, from those upon our lines of conduct and path; it does not mean his been disconnected from the religion. However, it is mentioned with this wording to emphasize the seriousness of falling into a thing like that…”

chapter 170. Embracing children

364. Ya’la ibn Murra said, “We went out with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and we were invited to eat. Husayn was playing in the road and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raced the people and then spread out his arms. The boy began to run this way and that and the Prophet made him laugh until he caught hold of him. He put one of his hands under his chin and the other on his head and then embraced him. Then the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. Allah loves anyone who loves Husayn. Al-Husayn is one of my distinguished descendants.'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: The Prophetﷺ was so merciful to children; the duties of teaching the grown-ups, meeting with delegations, preparing for military assignments amongst other obligations did not prevent him from paying attention to the young. Here, heﷺ even raced the people to meet Husayn who, as is typical of children who are shown love, raced here and there before falling into the arms of the best of menﷺ who hugged him affectionately. “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow…” (Q 33: 21).

chapter 171. A man kissing a small girl

365. Bukayr reported that he saw ‘Abdullah ibn Ja’far kissing Zaynab, the daughter of ‘Umar ibn Abi Salama when she was about two years old.
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Abdullah bin Ja’afar bin Abee Taalib is one of the companions of the Prophetﷺ as his father, Ja’far (عنهام الله ريض .(After his father was matyred in the battle of Mu’tah, Abdullah grew up in the household of the Prophetﷺ under his sponsorship. He was highly respected amongst the companions (RA)and their students generation after generation. Thus, such an action from this companion and scholar is far from being out of desire and lust. Therefore, a person whose impiety is known or who could easily become indecent as a result should not be allowed to relate with children in such a manner. Allah knows best.

366. Al-Hasan said, “If you avoid looking at the hair of anyone in your family except your wife or a little girl, then do so.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The females in our households here refers to those who are our Mahaarim; that is, those with whom we are permanently prohibited marriage. Otherwise, it is basically prohibited to look at the hair of nonMahaarim even when they are our relatives and are a part of our household. Still, the narration demonstrates playing with baby girls from which is kissing them if doing so is not feared to stir desire or lust.

chapter 172. Stroking a child’s head

367. Yusuf ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Sallam said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, named me Yusuf and let me sit in his room and stroked my head.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: The hadeeth shows that an adult could sit a child on his laps. It also encourages the scholars and true students of knowledge and the pious to stroke the head of children.

368. ‘A’isha said, “I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and my friends would play with me. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, entered, they would hide from him and he would call them to join me and they would play with me.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)
Commentary: Young people may play with dolls and other playthings as is evinced in this hadeeth; moreover, when play with such toys is beneficial in their tutelage. The permissibility of a wife having friends and playmates could also be drawn from the narration.

chapter 173. A man saying, “My son” to a child

369. Abu’l-‘Ajlan al-Muharibi said, “While I was in the army of Ibn az-Zubayr, a cousin of mine died and bequeathed one of his camels to be used in the Cause of Allah. I told his son, ‘Give me the camel since I was in the army of Ibn az-Zubayr.’ He replied, ‘Let us go to Ibn ‘Umar and ask him about the matter.’ We went to Ibn ‘Umar and he said, ‘Abu ‘Abdu’r-Rahman, my father died and bequeathed one of his camels to be used in the Cause of Allah. This is my cousin who is in the army of Ibn az-Zubayr. Shall I give him the camel?’ Ibn ‘Umar replied, ‘My son, the Cause of Allah includes every good action. if you father left his camel to be devoted to the Cause of Allah, I see that there are Muslim people who are carrying out expeditions against the idolaters, so give the camel to them. This man (Abu’l-‘Ajlan) and his companions are sons of a people who wish to use the seal (i.e. the seal authority, meaning to rule the people.).'”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Fighting is in the way of Allah the Mighty and Exalted, if its purpose is to make Allah’s word supreme, such as fighting the idolaters and dissident or rebellious group of Muslims as is established in the Qur’an, the Sunnah and the way of the pious predecessors. But when the rebelling group cannot be specified, such as when it is a mere mutual contest for authority, then fighting is a Fitnah (tribulation) that the Muslim should eschew. The narration shows that one should seek clarification on matters before embarking on them. It also shows that the scholars should not flatter the people. However, the point of reference in this hadeeth with respect to the chapter heading is that Ibn Umar (عنهام الله ريض (referred to the questioner, saying, “My son!”

370. Jarir reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah Almighty will not show mercy to the person who does not show mercy to other people.”
Grade: Saheeh (Authentic)

371. ‘Umar was heard to say, “Anyone who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy. Anyone who does not forgive will not be forgiven. Anyone who does not pardon will not be pardoned or protected.”
Grade: Hasan (Sound)
Commentary: Each of the phrases regarding showing mercy, forgiving, pardoning and being cautious mentioned above from the statements of ‘Umar , is established in authentic hadeeths from the Prophetﷺ.