Parenting Perspective 

Children often think of love in terms of words, gifts, or fun moments, but true and lasting love grows most deeply when we serve each other with care and consistency. The act of service, whether it is preparing a meal, helping with chores, or offering comfort, is what makes love tangible and enduring. To teach this, parents can use daily routines and conversations to show that family bonds are strengthened not by what we receive, but by what we give. The more that service is framed as an act of love rather than an obligation, the more children will come to see it as a privilege that deepens affection. 

Speak Love Into Your Acts of Service 

You can say, “When I cook for you or help you with your shoes, this is my way of showing you that I love you.” Pairing the act of service with clear words of intention helps your children to connect the concepts of care and affection in their minds. 

Highlight Their Small Acts of Care 

When your child helps you in small ways, make sure to acknowledge it. For example, “That small act of service just now made me feel so loved. Thank you.” This reinforces the idea that giving care helps the bond to grow just as much as receiving it does. 

Build Service Into Family Rituals 

You can create shared chores, such as clearing the table together after a meal or preparing snacks for one another. When family members serve each other as a team, the act of service becomes a natural part of the home’s love language. 

Reframe Sacrifice as an Act of Closeness 

In moments when you are feeling tired, you can reframe the situation out loud by saying, “Even though I am feeling exhausted, Alhamdulillah, serving you in this way makes my love for you grow.” Such transparency teaches your child that sacrifice can increase closeness, not resentment. 

Model Service Across All Relationships 

Let your children see you serving your spouse, your elders, or your guests with respect and honour. Children who witness service across the entire family will come to associate it with dignity and a deeper form of love. 

By weaving these habits into the fabric of your daily life, your children will learn that love is not weakened by effort but is in fact enriched through service that comes from the heart. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, serving one’s family is not just a worldly duty but a profound spiritual act. The mercy and affection that are the bedrock of family life are considered signs of Allah’s existence and blessings. 

The Quran on Love Through Goodness 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Rome (30), Verses 21: 

‘And amongst His Signs (of the infinite truth) are that He (Allah Almighty) created for you, your (matrimonial) partners from your species so that you may find tranquillity from them; and designed between you love, tolerance and kindness…’ 

This verse shows that affection and mercy are the foundations of our closest relationships. The act of service is one of the most direct and powerful ways to express both of these qualities, turning our love into meaningful action. 

The Hadith on Serving Family as an Expression of Care 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 55, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whatever you spend is charity, even the morsel that you lift to your wife’s mouth.’ 

This Hadith highlights that even the most routine acts of service, such as providing food, helping, or supporting our family members, are treated as acts of charity when they are done with a sincere intention. Parents can use this beautiful teaching to show their children that love is not just a feeling to be felt, but a quality to be proven through service. They learn from this that every act of care deepens their bonds while also earning the reward of Allah Almighty.