Respect Your Elders

Children’s Hadith

Respect your Elders

Mawlana Javed Attari Madani

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا وَيُوَقِّرْ كَبِيرَنَا

He is not one of us who does not have mercy on our young and does not respect our elders.^[1]

Mufti Ahmad Yār Khan NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه explains this type of Hadith:

This does not mean he is not from the nation of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, rather it means not from our group, not from our methods, not from the people we love, not from our accepted people, and we are displeased with him.^[2]

Dear children! Our beautiful religion of Islam guides us in every aspect of life, including how to treat people in our society. Without doubt, everyone desires to be treated respectfully and to be spoken to in a pleasant manner. Dear children, whenever you interact with someone who is older or more knowledgeable than you, be kind and respectful. Do not be impolite and rude with anyone. Likewise, be loving, compassionate and merciful to children who are younger than you, and never hit, frighten, or threaten them.  

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to act upon this Hadith.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ