AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): One of the common behaviors of AhlulBayt (a.s.) was to respect children and give them personality. Weakness of character not only hurts adults and makes them behave abnormally, but also causes problems for children.
That’s why Imam Hadi (a.s.), the 10th Shiite Imam, said, “If someone’s personality is insulted, you are not safe from his evil.” (1)
When his young daughter, Fatimah (a.s.) came to him, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) always stood and respected her. (2) Sometimes, out of respect and due to the youth of his grandchildren, he prolonged the prostration of his prayers or finished the prayer quickly to fulfill their wishes. He patted his children and grandchildren every morning. Kindness and affection towards children were his constant disposition.
While narrating a hadith, Allameh Majlesi writes, “The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) played with his grandson Hussain every day. One day he played with him so much that Ayesha protesting him said, “How much do you play with him?!” The Prophet replied: “Woe unto you! How can I not love him while he is the fruit of my heart and the light of my eyes!?” (3)
A man complained to Imam Musa bin Jafar (a.s.) about his son’s bad behavior and asked him for guidance. Imam said to him, “Do not beat your child, rather sulk with him to punish and discipline him, but be careful not to prolong your sulk.” (4)
Spiritual growth and moral education necessitate the healthy development of a child’s emotions. In this regard, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Indeed, the God Almighty forgives the sins of his servant if He sees the abundance of the servant’s kindness towards his child.” (5)
Also, in a hadith, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said: “Whoever kisses his child, God will write a reward for him, and whoever makes his child’s heart happy, God will make him happy on the Day of Resurrection.” (6)
Lady Zahra (a.s.) used to call her children “the light of my eyes” and “the fruit of my heart” in her verbal and loving relationships (7), and she prioritized care and love for her children before anything else. She believed a mother deserves more than anyone else to care for a child.
Children’s play and excitement were also considered in the educational method of AhlulBayt (a.s.). To the extent that the AhlulBayt (a.s.) played with their children, for their better growth and strive! In an eloquent speech, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever has a child should become like a child and play with him or her.” (8)
One day, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) was walking with his hands and feet, and Imam Hassan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) were riding on his back, and he would say to them: “The best mount is your mount, and you are the best rider.” (9)
Lady Zahra (a.s.) also played with her children, and while playing, she tried to build the character of her children by using appropriate words and sentences and showing them a good example in life.
She used to play with his son Imam Hassan Mojtaba (a.s.) and would throw him up and say: “My son Hassan, be like your father; remove the thread of oppression from the truth; worship God who has many blessings, and never be friends with the oppressors and aggressors.” (10)
References:
(1) Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 75, p. 365, Hadith No. 1
(2) Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 40
(3) Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 260
(4) Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 16, p. 444
(5) Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 23, p. 114
(6) Wasa'il al-Shia, vol. 21, p. 483
(7) Wasa'il al-Shia, vol. 21, p. 475
(8) Hadith Kisa
(9) Wasa'il al-Shia, vol. 21, p. 286
(10) Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 286