Parenting Perspective 

Children often view the care they receive as something that parents simply ‘have to do,’ such as cooking meals, helping with homework, or driving them to school. If parents only speak about this care in terms of duty or exhaustion, children may begin to feel as though they are a burden. By intentionally linking the act of caring for them to the goal of pleasing Allah Almighty, you can show your children that their very presence in your life brings you closer to your Creator. Words of sincere intention and gratitude can transform ordinary tasks into beautiful acts of worship. 

Use Statements of Intention Daily 

You can use simple phrases like, “I am doing this for you, and I am seeking the pleasure of Allah Almighty.” This reminds your children that the care they receive is tied to your worship, not just to a sense of worldly obligation. 

Connect Your Service to Divine Reward 

During daily chores or tasks, you could say, “When I help you with this, Allah Almighty gives me a reward for it.” This helps your children to view themselves as a source of barakah (blessing) in your life, not as a weight. 

Frame Patience as an Act of Worship 

In moments when you are feeling stretched or tired, you can try to reframe the situation by expressing, “Every time I am patient with you, Allah is pleased with me.” This models a sense of resilience and links the sacrifice inherent in parenting with divine love. 

Express Gratitude in Your Words 

Tell your children directly, “Caring for you is a blessing from Allah. Alhamdulillah, Allah has made this one of my ways to Jannah.” When they hear this, your children learn that the care they receive is part of a sacred trust (amanah), not just a heavy responsibility. 

Show Joy in the Act of Serving Them 

Even the smallest of tasks can be reframed in a beautiful way. For instance, “Giving you this meal makes me feel so thankful to Allah, because I know that it counts as a charity for me.” This attitude can completely transform the spiritual atmosphere of your home. 

These simple phrases can completely reshape how a child sees the act of parenting: not as heavy, burdensome work, but as an honoured and beautiful pathway to earning the pleasure of Allah Almighty. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that every good deed, when done with the right intention, can be a form of worship that earns a divine reward. This is especially true for the act of caring for one’s family. 

The Quran on Good Deeds and Reward 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Zalzalah (99), Verses 7-8: 

‘Thus, everyone’s actions equivalent to the measurement of an atom that is good shall be observed by them (on the Day of Judgment). And everyone’s actions equivalent to the measurement of an atom that is wicked shall be observed by them (on the Day of Judgment).’ 

This powerful verse reminds us that no act of care is too small to be recorded and rewarded by Allah. Even the smallest kindness that is offered to a child becomes a means of earning the pleasure of Allah Almighty. 

The Hadith on Serving Family as Charity 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 4006, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘When a Muslim spends something on his family while seeking Allah’s Reward for it, it is counted as a charity for him.’ 

This Hadith confirms that ordinary acts of care, such as feeding, clothing, and comforting our children, are elevated to the status of worship when they are tied to a sincere intention. Parents who remind their children of this beautiful reality are teaching them that the love and care they receive at home are not just emotional gestures; they are sacred acts that earn the reward of Allah Almighty. This helps to build a profound sense of dignity in the child and strengthens the sacred bond between family and faith.