大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Yousra Samir Imran

Good morning.

As a first-time mother, I am fully on board with the concept of gentle parenting. For me, it has a lot to do with trying to break the cycle of generational trauma caused by authoritarian parenting. While some have been cynical or called it the latest social media parenting trend, I would argue that gentle parenting is not a new parenting approach at all.

In fact, there was someone else who practised gentle parenting over 1,400 years ago. The Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, was a major advocate of this parenting style. He was extremely affectionate and gentle with his children, and compassionate and thoughtful towards their feelings.

Anas ibn Malik was raised by the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, like one of his own. Anas said of the Prophet, 鈥渉e never said to me, 鈥楿ff鈥� (a minor harsh word denoting impatience) and never blamed me by saying, 鈥榃hy did you do so or why didn't you do so?鈥�"

The Prophet Muhammed not only set by example, but constantly encouraged his followers to be gentle and compassionate to their children, especially their daughters. In one famous saying, he is narrated to have said whoever is merciful to their daughters will be granted Heaven.

While parenting, the Prophet Muhammed鈥檚 reminders are constantly at the back of my mind 鈥� 鈥渙ur children have the right of receiving equal treatment, as you have the right that they should honour you.鈥�

So, when it comes to gentle parenting, I don鈥檛 need to look on social media. The Prophet Muhammed is a source of inspiration for me.

I ask God the All-Compassionate to enable me to be the patient, compassionate and emotionally intelligent parent that the Prophet Muhammed was.

Ameen.

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