Parenting Perspective 

Begin with Meaning, Not Fear 

Children develop genuine respect for sacred or cultural items when they truly understand why they matter. Instead of harshly restricting them (“Do not touch that!”), invite curiosity and connection: “This Qur’an holds Allah Almighty’s words, so we must keep it high and clean,” or “This prayer mat is where we talk to Allah Almighty.” When a child feels the purpose behind the item, reverence grows naturally, nurturing understanding rather than mere compliance. 

• Tell the Story Behind the Symbol: Share how your elders treated Islamic items with care—your grandmother folding the prayer mat gently after Salah, or your father dusting the Qur’an shelf every Friday. Explain that these are not just habits but acts of love. Say: “When we treat sacred things gently, we are showing our love for Allah Almighty.” Stories turn respect into a living tradition. 

Model Before You Instruct 

Children copy what they see adults do far more than they follow verbal instructions. Let them observe you handling religious items respectfully: 

• Washing your hands before touching the Qur’an. 

• Storing it high and in a clean place. 

• Reciting Bismillah (In the name of Allah) before opening it. 

Narrate your actions: “I am keeping the Qur’an here because it deserves a clean and high place.” Invite them to participate in age-appropriate ways, such as carrying the prayer mat or helping to arrange the books gently. Modelling calm reverence builds intuitive respect. 

Turn Reverence into Responsibility 

As children mature, assign them small, supervised roles of care. This turns reverence into a habit rather than a rule, strengthening their sense of stewardship. 

• Carefully rolling the prayer mats after Salah. 

• Arranging the Qur’an shelf neatly. 

• Checking that Islamic books are clean and undamaged. 

Praise their efforts specifically: “You handled that tasbeeh (prayer beads) with such care. That shows real respect for the act of remembrance.” 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam lays a profound foundation for respecting boundaries and symbols of faith. This concept is captured in the Qur’anic term Sha’air Allah (symbols of God). 

Qur’anic Guidance: Honouring the Symbols of Faith 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hajj (22), Verse 32: 

‘These (are the commandments), and whoever pays tribute to the Symbols of Allah (Almighty) (i.e. all those places and people who are connected with Allah Almighty), then indeed, (such actions are the best depiction of the) piety of the hearts.’ 

This verse establishes that reverence for religious items—the Qur’an, the masjid, the call to prayer, or any sign connected to Allah Almighty—reflects the purity and taqwa (God-consciousness) of one’s heart. Explain that the care we show to what reminds us of Allah is actually an investment in our own spiritual state. Respect, therefore, is not an external formality but an internal reflection of love for the Divine. 

Prophetic Guidance: Beauty and Respect in Action 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 91, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Indeed, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means rejecting the truth and looking down on people.’ 

This Hadith teaches that Allah Almighty loves beauty that is expressed with humility and sincerity. When you guide your child to handle religious items beautifully—keeping them clean, folding the prayer mat neatly, or returning the Qur’an to its proper place—they are living this Hadith in action. 

• Tell your child: “We show beauty in how we care for what reminds us of Allah Almighty.” 

They learn that respect is not about showing off holiness but about reflecting inner humility and devotion. Every small act of careful handling becomes a silent form of worship. 

Integrating Faith and Everyday Practice 

Encourage small household rituals that join gratitude with reverence: 

• Whispering Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) after tidying a prayer space. 

• Helping to prepare the area for Salah with mindful care. 

• Explaining that respecting what others hold sacred (including other faiths) is part of Islamic courtesy (Adab). 

When a child learns to treat the symbols of Islam with mindful respect, they grow into an adult whose faith is defined by living love, where every act of care becomes a reflection of the beauty Allah loves.