What Does Real-Life Modelling of Faith Look Like as a Father? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is a powerful step to recognise that faith is not only taught , it is transmitted through who you are, what you prioritise, and how you behave in the ordinary moments of family life. Teaching your child to recite the noble Qur’an gives them access to divine words. But showing them how to live it gives those words soul. 

Do Your Actions Confirm or Contradict? 

A child learns what matters not just from what you say, but from what you return to again and again. If you ask them to respect the Qur’an, but they see you engaging in harsh words or ignoring the rights of their mother, the message becomes blurred. Real-life modelling means asking: do my actions confirm or contradict the meanings I am teaching? 

Start with Small, Consistent Acts 

Start with small, consistent acts. Speak with honesty, even when it costs you. Lower your voice when you feel irritated. Keep your promises. Ask for forgiveness when you fall short. These are not just good habits , they are living expressions of Qur’anic values. When a child sees that the Qur’an is not just a book on the shelf, but the framework for how their father speaks, loves, earns, and apologises , the faith becomes not only respected but trusted. 

Let Them See Your Struggle 

It also means letting your child see your struggle. If you are working on your patience or trying to give more in charity, involve them in that process. Say, ‘This is hard for me, but I am trying because Allah loves it.’ That honesty plants a deeper lesson than any lecture ever could. 

Spiritual Insight 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Saff (61), verses 2–3: 

‘O you who are believers, why do you say (to others) that) which you do not do (yourself)? It is highly detested by Allah (Almighty) that you say (to others) that which you do not do (yourself).’ 

This Verse is not a condemnation of imperfection, but a call to integrity. When you try to align your outer teaching with your inner conduct, even if imperfectly, you protect your child from spiritual confusion and build their respect for the Deen. 

The Prophetic Model: The Standard of Islamic Excellence 

It is recorded in Mishkat al-Masabih that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The best of you is he who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family.’ 

[Mishkat al-Masabih,13:170] 

This Hadith reminds us that the standard of Islamic excellence is not how a man appears in public, but how he behaves at home. Real-life modelling is less about grand gestures and more about your daily presence, the emotional safety you create, and the values you embody when no one else is watching. 

Let your child see a father who tries to live by what he teaches , not flawlessly, but faithfully. That is how the Qur’an becomes not just learned but lived.