Parenting Perspective 

Disciplining a child in public is one of the most difficult challenges a parent can face. We often feel torn between correcting the misbehaviour and the fear of being judged by others. If handled harshly, discipline can humiliate a child, but if ignored, it sends the wrong message. The key is to strike a balance by setting firm limits while wrapping them in compassion, so your child learns respect without losing their trust in you. 

Correct Calmly and Briefly 

Keep your verbal corrections short, quiet, and to the point. For example: ‘We do not shout in here. We will talk about this properly when we get home.’ A calm, low tone communicates authority while preserving the dignity of both you and your child, and it avoids turning the moment into a public scene. 

Separate the Child From the Audience 

If the behaviour continues, it is often best to step aside with your child to a quieter spot. This allows you to address the issue with firmness but also with privacy, which reduces the feeling of embarrassment for them and eases the sense of pressure on you. 

Reconnect With Compassion 

After the event, and once you are back in a private space, you can discuss the behaviour more fully. You could say, ‘Earlier today in the shop, you grabbed that toy from the shelf. That was not a respectful thing to do. Next time, we must wait our turn.’ It is important to follow this correction with a reassurance of your love, so they understand that your discipline comes from a place of care, not anger. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that discipline and compassion are not opposing forces, but complementary ones. The goal of any correction is to guide a child, not to break their spirit. Public correction, in particular, should be handled with mercy and firmness, reflecting a prophetic balance. 

The Power of Leniency and Mercy 

The Quran reminds us that a gentle and merciful approach to correcting others is what preserves connection and mutual respect. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verses 159: 

‘ So, it is by the mercy from Allah (Almighty) that you (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) are lenient with them; and if you had been harsh (in your speech) or restrained (in your heart), they would have dispersed from around you…’ 

The Divine Love for Gentleness 

The prophetic tradition teaches that compassion and gentleness make our actions more effective and more beloved to Allah, a principle that applies perfectly to discipline. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3689, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters. He gives for gentleness what He does not give for harshness or anything else.’ 

By disciplining with calmness and compassion in public, you are reflecting the Islamic values of mercy and fairness. Your child learns that correction is a form of guidance and love, not humiliation, which nurtures both their respect and their trust in you.