Parenting Perspective 

Advertisements are often designed to convince children that happiness is found in having ‘more’ and getting it ‘now’. Through flashy visuals and catchy slogans, they encourage a desire for instant gratification over virtues like patience and contentment. If this influence is not managed, it can normalise greed, leaving children feeling restless and perpetually dissatisfied. 

Understanding the Influence of Advertising 

Advertisements are created to generate desire, not to foster healthy values. Children who are frequently exposed to this type of messaging may begin to: 

• Constantly ask for new toys, clothes, or gadgets. 

• Lose interest in their current possessions very quickly. 

• Believe that satisfaction comes from buying things, not from relationships or personal effort. 

Practical Steps to Teach Resistance 

Parents can empower their children to see through these persuasive messages. 

• Explain the purpose of ads, clarifying that they are made to sell products and do not always present the truth. 

• Encourage critical thinking by asking questions like, ‘Do you truly need this, or do you want it because the advert made it look exciting?’ 

• Praise patience and effort, such as saving up for something, rather than giving in to every immediate request. 

• Offer fulfilling alternatives like family activities, creative projects, or acts of charity to shift their focus away from materialism. 

The Importance of Modelling Contentment 

Children naturally absorb the attitudes they witness at home. Parents who demonstrate gratitude, live without unnecessary extravagance, and find joy in simplicity will instinctively teach their children that true happiness is not dependent on constant consumption. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam provides a strong caution against greed, instead promoting patience, gratitude, and moderation. The messages in modern advertising often conflict directly with these principles, which makes parental guidance so important. 

The Islamic Warning Against Greed 

True and lasting success, as taught in the Quran, comes from purifying the soul from selfish desires, not from accumulating possessions. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hashar (59), Verse 9: 

‘…And whoever is salvaged from (the inherent state of) being miserly for himself, then they are the victorious.’ 

This verse teaches that overcoming our own greed is a fundamental component of achieving success in the sight of Allah. 

Prophetic Wisdom on True Wealth 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught his followers that the most valuable richness is not material but spiritual. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1051, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Riches is not the abundance of worldly goods, but richness is the richness of the soul.’ 

This beautiful hadith reminds us that inner peace and contentment are the real treasures to seek, not the endless acquisition of worldly goods. 

Raising Spiritually Grounded Children 

By framing conversations about advertising within the context of Islamic teachings on patience and gratitude, parents give their children the spiritual tools to resist consumer pressure. Over time, children can learn that joy comes not from instant gratification but from appreciating what Allah Almighty has already given them. This perspective protects them from greed and helps them develop resilience, humility, and inner peace.