Children

In Islam, children are not possessions. They are an amanat, a sacred trust from Allah. They are not ours to own, control, or mold according to our fears and unfinished dreams. They are souls temporarily placed in our care, entrusted to us so we may guide them, protect their fitrah, and return them to Allah with hearts that are soft, grounded, and aware.

I am learning, slowly and humbly, that parenting is less about authority and more about responsibility. Less about obedience and more about guidance. We are not meant to dominate our children’s wills, but to gently lead them toward divine wisdom through our own actions, patience, and character.

I am raising my two boys through gentle parenting, and it has reshaped me more than it has reshaped them. It asks for restraint when the ego wants control, and compassion when impatience feels easier. It reminds me that children learn far more from what we model than from what we demand.

And now, I see its quiet fruits.

I see calmness in them. A natural softness. A kindness that is not forced or rehearsed. They say thank you without being reminded. They say sorry without fear. My heart pauses every time I witness these small moments, because they are not small at all. They are signs of emotional safety.

Qasim, without hesitation, shares his favourite ice cream. Not because he is told to, but because generosity feels natural to him. That, to me, is tarbiyah in its truest form. When goodness flows without compulsion, when empathy is instinctive, when the heart remains open.

Islam teaches us that every child is born upon fitrah, pure, trusting, inclined toward good. It is the world, and often adults, that harden them. Our role is not to break their spirit in the name of discipline, but to protect that fitrah while teaching boundaries with mercy and wisdom.

I often remind myself that I will not be questioned about how obedient my children were, but about how just, patient, and compassionate I was toward them. Did I listen? Did I honor their emotions? Did I guide them back to Allah through love rather than fear?

Children are an amanat. A sacred one. We walk beside them for a short while, planting seeds of faith, kindness, and self worth. The rest belongs to Allah.

May we be parents who raise children not afraid of God, but deeply connected to Him. May we return this trust with hearts that are fuller, not wounded.

P.s: These are my two boys.. who are raised not just by me, but by everyone around me,, ba, dada, dado, phupos, khalas, mamu. ♥️😍🥰