Parenting Perspective 

Parenting can often feel like a series of endless chores, from preparing meals and helping with homework to navigating discipline and sleepless nights. If children sense that their parents view these duties primarily as burdens, they may begin to believe that they are a problem, rather than a blessing. To transform this, parents can consciously frame the everyday act of caring for their children as an act of worship. When children hear and see that nurturing them is directly tied to the goal of pleasing Allah Almighty, they not only feel valued but also learn that family life itself is sacred. 

State Your Intention Out Loud 

Use simple, clear words to express your intention. For example, “Caring for you is a form of ibadah (worship) for me, and I thank Allah Almighty for giving me this chance.” Saying this openly teaches your children that even the most routine daily tasks can carry immense spiritual weight. 

Frame Sacrifice as a Source of Reward 

When you are feeling tired or stretched, you can reframe the experience by saying, “Even if this is hard for me right now, every effort I make for you can bring a beautiful reward from Allah Almighty.” When they hear this, your children will sense that they are not a burden to you, but are in fact a source of great blessing. 

Connect Daily Tasks to Faith 

At mealtimes, you could say, “Feeding you is a form of sadaqah (charity) for me.” During the bedtime routine, you could add, “Helping you to feel safe and sleep peacefully is part of my amanah (trust) from Allah.” Such words elevate routine tasks into acts of worship in your children’s eyes. 

Model Gratitude in Your Parenting 

Instead of sighing under the weight of stress, you can occasionally say, “Alhamdulillah, being your parent reminds me to be more patient and thankful every day.” This models a sense of resilience and shows your children that their very presence in your life is helping you to deepen your faith. 

Show Joy in Serving Them 

Even while correcting your child’s behaviour, it is important to keep your affection visible. A warm smile or a hug after a moment of discipline shows that your guidance is part of your love for them, not a product of resentment. This turns the act of correction into a form of worshipful care. 

Through these simple but consistent practices, children can internalise the beautiful truth that being raised with love is not just a worldly duty, but a sacred pathway through which their parents are seeking closeness to Allah Almighty. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that our families are a sacred trust, and that caring for them is one of the most beloved forms of worship. 

The Quran on Family as a Trust 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Tahreem (66), Verses 6: 

‘O you who are believers, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire (of Jahannam) whose fuel is people and stones…’ 

This verse shows that the act of raising and guiding our children is a direct responsibility that is tied to our faith. Parenting is therefore not just emotional labour; it is a profound form of worship and a means of spiritual protection for the entire family. 

The Hadith on Serving One’s Family 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 3895, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The best of you is the best to his family, and I am the best to my family.’ 

This Hadith teaches us that a person’s excellence in faith is measured by their conduct at home. When parents raise their children with mercy, patience, and care, they are not only serving their families but are also worshipping Allah Almighty in one of the best possible ways. By expressing this link clearly and consistently, children will come to see the act of parenting as a sacred one that weaves love, sacrifice, and devotion into the beautiful fabric of worship.