Parenting Perspective 

When a lie damages a friendship, the aftermath can be painful for a child. They may feel ashamed or believe the relationship is broken forever. Your role is not to fix it for them, but to empower them with the tools of accountability and sincerity, showing them that an honest apology is the first step towards healing and rebuilding trust. 

Guide Them in Making a Sincere Apology 

Help them move beyond a simple ‘sorry’. A sincere apology names the wrong and acknowledges the other person’s feelings. You can help them practice saying something like, ‘I am truly sorry that I lied. I know it hurt you, and I was wrong.’ This shows true remorse. 

Teach the Virtue of Patience 

Explain to your child that trust is like a garden; it needs time to grow back after being damaged. Reassure them by saying, ‘Your friend might need some time to see that you have changed. Be patient, and keep being a good, honest friend.’ 

Emphasise Repair Through Action 

Teach them that words must be backed by actions. Encourage them to be demonstrably reliable in small but consistent ways, such as keeping their promises and being truthful in everyday interactions. Consistent honesty is the most powerful way to rebuild a broken trust. 

Frame It as a Learning Opportunity 

Help them see this painful experience not as a final judgment on their character, but as a chance to become a better person. You can say, ‘Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is that you are learning from this and trying to make it right.’ 

By guiding your child to face their mistakes with accountability, you give them the invaluable skill of restoring relationships rather than retreating from them. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places immense value on both truthfulness and the sacred act of reconciliation. When a child seeks to repair a friendship they have damaged, they are not just fixing a social problem; they are engaging in a noble deed that earns the pleasure and blessings of Allah. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verse 10: 

‘ Indeed, the believers are brothers (to each other); so, make peace with your brothers…’ 

This verse establishes that the bond between believers is like that of a family. It frames the act of making peace and repairing relationships not just as a good idea, but as a fundamental duty of faith. 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4919, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Shall I not tell you what is better in degree than fasting, prayer, and charity?’ They said: ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Reconciling between people, for grudges and disputes are the shaver (of religion).’ 

This incredible hadith elevates the act of reconciliation to a status higher than some of the core pillars of worship. It teaches us that mending broken bonds is so important that it protects the very foundation of one’s faith. 

By grounding the act of reconciliation in faith, you help your child see that repairing friendships is more than a social skill; it is an act of worship. Over time, they will learn that honesty not only prevents damage but also has the power to heal bonds when mistakes are made.