The Loss of Pampering

PARENTING: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE When a person is born, he initially experiences the care and presence of his parents. However, this period is fleeting, and the rest of his life is spent outside the protective cocoon of his parents, interacting with others. Parents tend to shower their children with affectionate pampering. The consequence of this excessive pampering is that the child consciously or subconsciously perceives that love is equated with being pampered. Yet, as the children step out into the world beyond their homes, they do not receive the same level of indulgence from others. They suddenly feel insignificant in the eyes of the world. They get disillusioned with the whole world. This situation has made all women and men suffer from the psychology of complaint when the right thing was to develop a psychology of love for other human beings. There is a narration mentioned in various Hadith books that states, “The Messenger of God said, ‘No gift from a father to his child is better than teaching him good manners.’” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1952) Although this hadith mentions only the father, it implies both the father and the mother. The word ‘adab’ used here encompasses all aspects of education and upbringing, whether religious or worldly. Naturally, both men and women have immense love for their children. This Hadith elucidates the best way