Hadith Of The Week – Volume 03 Issue 35
The Best Legacy: Raising Children with Good Character
Occasion of reflecting on this hadith: 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal: The blessed anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
Introduction
It is a valuable opportunity to reflect on Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) teachings and to bring our daily lives closer to them. Among his beautiful teachings is a powerful reminder about raising children:
حضرت محمد مصطفی (ص): مَا وَرَّثَ وَالِدٌ وَلَدًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَدَبٍ حَسَنٍ
“No parent has given a child anything better than good manners and good character.” (Al-Mu’jam al-Awsat, Vol. 4, p. 77)
Educational messages of this hadith for teenagers and youth
- Seek Character, Not Wealth
Do not look to your parents mainly for money or possessions; seek good moral and religious upbringing from them.
Practical Challenge: This week, ask your parents to teach you one important lesson from their life experience.
- Make Your Parents Proud
Show good manners and follow sound religious values to bring joy and peace to your parents’ hearts.
Practical Challenge: Every day this week, do one act of kindness or respect for your parents without being asked.
- Do Not Let Bad Influences Change You
Do not allow negative social influences or peer pressure to take you away from respect, humility and good manners towards your parents.
Practical Challenge: Identify one negative influence in your life and take one clear step to reduce its effect on you.
- Your Character Is Your Real Reputation
People may forget what you own or what you achieve, but they often remember how you treat them.
Practical Challenge: For one week, before posting, speaking or reacting, ask yourself: “Would I be proud if this became part of my reputation?”
- Respect Is Not Old-Fashioned
Speaking respectfully to parents, teachers, friends and even people you disagree with shows strength of character.
Practical Challenge: Today, choose one difficult conversation and make a special effort to speak calmly and respectfully.
- Your Choices Build Your Future Self
Good character is not built in one big and sudden moment; it grows through the small choices you make every day.
Practical Challenge: Choose one daily habit to improve this week, such as keeping promises, arriving on time or telling the truth.
- Be Someone People Feel Safe Around
Calmness, kindness, trustworthiness and loyalty make you the kind of friend and family member people can depend on.
Practical Challenge: This week, do one helpful thing for someone without expecting praise, thanks or anything in return.
Educational messages of this hadith for parents
- Raising Good Children Is Your Main Responsibility
Your role as a parent is not only to provide financially, but also to raise children with strong moral and religious character.
Practical Challenge: This week, spend some focused time with your child on their personal and moral development, not just their schoolwork or daily needs.
- Do Not Outsource Your Child’s Upbringing
Do not leave your children’s moral and religious upbringing entirely to schools or other institutions.
Practical Challenge: Set aside one regular time each week to talk with your children about faith, character or good behaviour.
- Have a Plan for Their Upbringing
Make a clear and practical plan for developing your children’s moral and religious character.
Practical Challenge: Choose one character quality, such as honesty, patience or gratitude, and make it your family’s focus for the next month.
- Invest in Their Character
Be willing to give your time, energy, money and resources to your children’s moral and religious upbringing.
Practical Challenge: This month, invest in one useful activity, book, course or experience that can help strengthen your child’s character and faith.
- Start Early
Do not delay your children’s upbringing; begin from an early age before harmful influences and environment take a strong hold.
Practical Challenge: Identify one important value you have not yet actively taught your child and begin introducing it through simple daily conversations and actions.
- Be the Best Example
Practise good moral and religious values yourself, because your children learn greatly from what they see in you.
Practical Challenge: Choose one behaviour you want your child to develop and make a special effort to model it consistently for one week
- Do Your Best and Pray for Them
Make every effort to raise your children well, but also ask Allah to guide and protect them.
Practical Challenge: Add a short, sincere prayer for your children’s guidance and good character to your daily prayers.
- Choose Good Company
Choose righteous and good companions for yourself and your family, and avoid harmful company that may negatively affect their character.
Practical Challenge: Review the people your family spends the most time with and take one step to strengthen a positive relationship or reduce a harmful influence.
- Correct with Respect
Discipline is more effective when children understand what they did wrong and are treated with dignity.
Practical Challenge: The next time your child makes a mistake, explain the lesson before focusing on punishment or blame.
- Praise Good Behaviour, Not Only Good Results
When parents notice honesty, effort, patience and kindness, children learn that character matters as much as success.
Practical Challenge: Every day this week, praise your child for one positive behaviour or character trait.
- Give Your Children a Moral Compass
Children need clear values to help them make wise decisions when parents are not present.
Practical Challenge: When your child faces a decision, do not immediately give the answer; ask, “What would be the right and respectful thing to do?”
Educational messages of this hadith for imams and teachers
- Teach Different Areas of Upbringing
Help your audience understand the different aspects of moral and religious upbringing.
Practical Challenge: In your next sermon or lesson, introduce one area of upbringing – such as faith, manners, family life or social responsibility – and give one practical example.
- Warn About the Obstacles
Explain the dangers and barriers that can weaken moral and religious character.
Practical Challenge: Identify one common negative influence affecting your community and discuss one practical way to avoid or overcome it.
- See Upbringing as Your Mission
Consider the moral and religious development of your community as part of your responsibility – a mission inherited from the Prophets (pbut) and righteous servants of Allah.
Practical Challenge: This week, personally encourage or guide one young person, family or community member in an area of moral or religious development.
- Teach Character, Not Only Knowledge
Knowledge is most beneficial when it helps people become more honest, kind, faithful, responsible and respectful.
Practical Challenge: In your next lesson or sermon, connect one piece of knowledge directly to a practical behaviour that people can practise.
- Be the Example Before Giving the Lesson
Students and community members learn from the behaviour of their teachers and leaders as well as from their words.
Practical Challenge: Choose one area of personal conduct, such as patience, punctuality or listening, and make it your focus for the coming week.
- Make Good Manners Practical
Young people understand character better when they can see how it applies to school, work, family, friendships and social media.
Practical Challenge: Give your audience one simple real-life situation and ask them how good character could guide their decision.
- Create Space for Reflection
People need opportunities to think about their behaviour, recognise mistakes and plan how to improve.
Practical Challenge: At the end of a lesson or gathering, ask one question such as: “What is one character habit you will work on this week?”
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