Loving children, showing them affection and giving them time reflects the warmth of the sunnah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) loved children dearly, gave them his time and cared for them. He kissed his grandchildren and held them close. He also embraced orphaned children and personally looked after them. Loving a child is the purest form of valuing a life entrusted to us by Allah.
What does the hadith say?
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَبَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَعِنْدَهُ الأَقْرَعُ بْنُ حَابِسٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ جَالِسًا. فَقَالَ الأَقْرَعُ إِنَّ لِي عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْوَلَدِ مَا قَبَّلْتُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا. فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ لاَ يُرْحَمُ ".
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kissed Al-Hasan bin `Ali while Al-Aqra' bin H`Abis at-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them," Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully
Text: Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 5997. Grade: sahih (hadiths in al-Bukhari and Muslim are accepted as sahih).
What is the hadith source of this sunnah?
This sunnah rests on the following hadiths. The reference gives the collection, chapter and number where the hadith appears.
- al-Bukhari, Book of Good Manners, 18 (hadith no. 5997)
- al-Bukhari, Book of Good Manners, 22 (hadith no. 6003)
- Ibn Hajar, al-Isabah, 1/302
- an-Nasa'i, Book of Adornment, 57 (hadith no. 5229)
How this page was prepared: sources and verification method.
More sunnahs in Family & Visiting
As a table with references: Family & Visiting sunnahs.
- Treating One's Spouse Well: Treating one's spouse well and putting love into words is a sunnah the Prophet valued.
- Visiting Relatives: Visiting relatives regularly — silat ar-rahim — brings great reward.
- Kindness to Parents: Being kind to one's mother and father is among the most virtuous deeds.