What can I do to help my child admire companies that give back to society? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children naturally admire success, fame, and wealth because these are the stories most loudly told. Yet behind quiet acts of generosity and responsibility are examples far more worthy of admiration. Helping your child look up to companies that give back to society teaches them that real success is measured not by profit, but by purpose. It shifts their focus from image to impact, from ‘What do they have?’ to ‘What do they give?’ 

Redefine Success in Their Eyes 

Start with simple language. Say, ‘A great company is not just one that makes nice things or lots of money, but one that helps people.’ Explain that giving back can mean helping workers, supporting schools, protecting the environment, or donating to the needy. 

You can add examples that resonate with their world: ‘Some companies use their profits to plant trees or help children who cannot afford education. They earn respect because they care.’ When you speak in practical examples, children see compassion as something tangible, not abstract. 

Tell Stories of Companies that Care 

Children love stories, so use that to your advantage. Share real examples of businesses or individuals who serve others through their work. Describe how an ethical company helped a community rebuild after a disaster or created jobs for people in need. 

You can say, ‘That company could have kept all the money for itself, but it chose to share. That is what makes them truly successful.’ This storytelling helps your child associate greatness with generosity, not greed. 

Model Appreciation for Ethical Businesses 

When you make purchases, let your child see your reasoning. Say, ‘I like this brand because they support fair wages,’ or ‘We are buying from this company because they use eco-friendly materials.’ Speaking these thoughts aloud shows that admiration can be grounded in moral choices. 

You might also encourage your child to thank such companies. For example, if they love a toy brand that donates to children’s hospitals, say, ‘Let us send them a thank-you message or mention them in a school project.’ This transforms passive approval into active appreciation. 

Encourage Action and Reflection 

Once your child starts admiring such companies, guide them to emulate the same values in small ways. Suggest, ‘What can we do to help others too?’ Perhaps they can donate part of their pocket money, reuse items, or participate in community projects. Explain, ‘You do not need to be big or rich to make a difference. Every act of kindness counts.’ 

By connecting admiration to action, you teach that true respect is shown through imitation, not just words. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that wealth and success are trusts (amanah) from Allah Almighty, meant to benefit not just oneself but society at large. Helping your child admire those who give back is a way of instilling ihsan: excellence that seeks goodness beyond obligation. It reminds them that real prosperity is not about accumulation, but about sharing blessings. 

The Blessing of Charity and Responsibility 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 267: 

‘O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth, and do not aim toward the defective therefrom to spend [in charity] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes…’ 

This verse reminds us that giving should come from the best of what we have, not what we discard. You can tell your child, ‘Allah loves those who share their blessings generously and with sincerity.’ Connect this to the idea of ethical companies: those that give good from their best earnings, not leftovers. 

This lesson turns admiration into faith-based understanding: generosity is not a trend but an act of obedience and love for Allah Almighty. 

Wealth as a Test and a Tool for Good 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2343, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The upper hand (the giving hand) is better than the lower hand (the receiving hand).’ 

Explain to your child, ‘The Prophet ﷺ said that the hand that gives is better than the one that only takes. That means helping others makes us truly successful.’ 

When you link generosity to honour, you shift your child’s admiration from fame to virtue, from companies that show off wealth to those that use it for goodness. It helps them see that power and privilege carry responsibility, not pride. 

As your child begins to admire companies that give back to society, their values will deepen from wanting to have to wanting to help. They will start to measure greatness not by luxury, but by contribution. 

Over time, this awareness will ripple into their daily life, in how they spend, how they speak, and how they dream. They will learn that every blessing, whether a coin or a career, carries an opportunity to uplift others. 

Through your examples, stories, and faith-based guidance, your child will come to see that real success is never selfish. It is compassionate, generous, and guided by the remembrance of Allah Almighty, who blesses those who use their gifts to bless others.