Parenting Perspective 

It is natural for children to notice differences, whether in language, food, clothing, or customs, and they may sometimes feel unsure about whether these differences are a good thing or a bad thing. As a parent, it is our role to help frame diversity in a positive light, so that our children can grow up seeing it as a beautiful gift from Allah, not as something to be feared. This important lesson begins with the way that we ourselves talk about different people, cultures, and family backgrounds within our own home. 

Celebrate Everyday Differences 

You can use daily life to highlight the beauty in diversity. For example, ‘Your father’s family loves to cook spicy food, while my family prefers milder dishes. Is it not wonderful that you get to enjoy both?’ Framing these differences with a sense of excitement and positivity helps your child to experience them as enriching. 

Encourage Respectful Curiosity 

When your child notices someone who looks or speaks differently from them, it is a good opportunity to encourage their questions and to answer them with warmth. You can explain that every difference is a part of the beautiful design of Allah and is therefore worthy of our respect. 

Model Positive and Respectful Language 

It is important to avoid making critical comparisons between different cultures or people. Instead, you can use phrases like, ‘Allah made every single one of us unique, and that is what makes the world so colourful and interesting.’ Your own words will help to shape your child’s worldview. 

Anchor Their Understanding of Diversity in Faith 

Remind your child that while our cultures may vary, our shared faith is what unites us. You could say, ‘We may eat different kinds of food or speak different languages, but we all bow down to Allah in our prayers.’ This helps to protect their core Islamic identity while still allowing them to honour and appreciate diversity. 

By consistently presenting differences as opportunities to learn, to share, and to connect, you can help your child to see that diversity is a true blessing that will broaden and enrich their world. 

Spiritual Insight 

Diversity as a Sign of Divine Wisdom 

Islam teaches that diversity is one of the great signs of Allah and is a beautiful reminder of His wisdom. True worth is not found in our race, our tribe, or our culture, but in our righteousness. Showing our children this truth helps to ground them in a sense of humility, respect, and gratitude. 

Diversity as a Means of Knowing One Another 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verses 13: 

‘O mankind, indeed, We (Allah Almighty) have created you all from one man and one woman; and placed you amongst various nations and tribes for your introduction to each other; indeed, the best of you in the judgement of Allah (Almighty) is the one who is most virtuous…’ 

This verse reminds us that our cultural diversity is not intended to be a source of conflict, but is a divine opportunity for us to learn, connect, and grow with one another, with our righteousness being the only true measure of our worth. 

Honouring Differences with Humility 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 3955, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Indeed Allah has removed from you the pride of the pre-Islamic era and its boasting over forefathers. You are either a pious believer or a wretched sinner. All mankind are the children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust.’ 

This hadith teaches us that any pride we may feel in our ancestry or our culture is ultimately meaningless in the sight of Allah. What truly matters is our piety and our humility before Him. By teaching your child that diversity is a part of the beautiful creation of Allah, and that it is piety that gives us our true honour, you can nurture in them a sense of gratitude, respect, and openness. They can then grow up seeing the differences between people not as threats, but as blessings that will enrich both their faith and their life.