What should they do when friends copy their ideas but take the credit? 

Parenting Perspective 

When your child’s idea is taken and presented as the original thought of someone else, the sting of that injustice is very real. They may be left feeling overlooked, embarrassed, or angry. It is important to begin by acknowledging that hurt. ‘That must have felt very unfair. You worked so hard on that idea, and it did not feel right when someone else received the credit for it.’ This sense of validation can help to soothe their initial wound and can open the door for them to be able to learn from the experience. Once they have had a chance to calm down, you can gently explain to them, ‘Sometimes, people may copy another person because they admire what they have done, but they do not know how to create their own ideas.’ 

Encourage Calm and Assertive Expression 

You can help your child to learn how to use their own voice in these situations, without having to resort to aggression. They can learn to respond with both honesty and grace. 

• ‘That is actually the idea that I mentioned earlier. Perhaps we could share the credit for it?’ 

• ‘I do not mind you using that idea, but please could you mention that it was my idea too?’ 

If the copying has happened in a public way, you can encourage your child to address it privately at a later time: ‘I felt a bit left out when you said that was your own idea. I would appreciate being included next time.’ 

Teach Them Healthy Boundaries and Emotional Strength 

If this behaviour from a friend continues, you can help your child to learn the delicate balance between having patience and having self-respect. They could choose to limit how much they share with that person in the future, or to speak to a teacher if it is affecting their group work at school. It is important to reassure them that standing up for a sense of fairness is not being rude; it is a way of protecting their own sense of honesty and of integrity. 

Model Integrity in Your Own Everyday Life 

Children learn what fairness is by watching it in action. When someone praises you for a piece of work that was shared, you can model a sense of honesty for them: ‘Thank you so much, but that part of the idea was actually from my colleague.’ Such moments can show your child that giving credit to another person does not diminish you in any way; it elevates your character. Over time, your child will come to see for themselves that truthfulness has its own quiet power, and that the recognition of other people is never more valuable than our own self-respect. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, the qualities of honesty and fairness are considered to be the cornerstones of a good character. When someone takes credit from us in an unjust way, it can be a test, not only of our commitment to the truth, but also of our own self-restraint. Teaching your child how to defend a sense of fairness with a sense of calmness is a way of mirroring the beautiful balance that our faith teaches between ‘adl (justice) and rahmah (mercy). 

Upholding a Sense of Fairness and Integrity 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Nahal (16), Verse 90: 

‘Indeed, Allah (Almighty) orders you to promote justice and benevolence; and to be generous towards (positively developing) those that are within your jurisdiction; and to prevent that which is immoral, acts of irrationality, and cruelty; and He (Allah Almighty) offers this enlightened direction so that you continue to realise (the true pathway of Islam).’ 

This verse reminds us that our sense of justice must always be paired with a sense of goodness in our own conduct. When your child is able to stand up for what is fair in a respectful way, they are embodying a divine form of justice, a truth that is spoken without pride, and a form of correction that is made without any cruelty. 

The Prophetic Example of Honesty 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1209, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The honest and trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.’ 

Although it was originally said in the context of trade, this hadith can be beautifully extended to all other forms of integrity. It shows us that the quality of truthfulness, even in small and everyday matters like the giving of credit, is a mark of true spiritual excellence. When your child is able to choose a sense of honesty over their own pride or their feelings of resentment, they are walking in the company of those who are most honoured by Allah. 

A child who learns how to remain calm when other people take credit for their work can grow into a person who values a sense of fairness more than they value their own fame. With your support, they will be able to realise for themselves that a sense of integrity does not need to be recognised by others; it is something that is able to shine quietly on its own. 

Each time they are able to respond to a situation with a sense of truth and of composure, they are building not just their character, but also their faith. Although other people may overlook them in the moment, Allah Almighty never does. He sees every act of patience, every moment of restraint, and every heart that is able to remain honest when it would have been so much easier to retaliate.