What family phrases can keep intention clean when we praise success? 

Parenting Perspective 

When celebrating a child’s achievements, the words we choose can either build humility or unintentionally foster pride. By establishing family phrases that ground success in gratitude and effort, parents can guide their children to develop pure intentions and a healthy perspective on their accomplishments. 

Avoiding Pride and Comparison 

Praise can sometimes push a child towards arrogance or comparing themselves to others. Parents can use this moment to shape their child’s perspective by choosing phrases that keep their hearts grounded. Instead of saying, ‘You are the smartest’ or ‘You beat everyone’, you can use language that highlights effort and Divine blessing. This reframes success as a product of hard work and Allah’s favour, rather than a mark of superiority. 

Phrasing that Connects to Core Values 

Families can adopt simple, repeated phrases that serve as spiritual anchors during moments of success. These phrases help embed core Islamic values into a child’s understanding of achievement. Consider integrating phrases such as: 

• ‘Alhamdulillah for this success.’ 

• ‘I am proud that you tried with honesty and put in your best effort.’ 

• ‘Your kindness during the process matters more than the final result.’ 

These words celebrate the accomplishment while reminding the child that sincerity and integrity are what Allah Almighty values most. Over time, these phrases become part of the child’s inner voice, protecting them from arrogance and keeping their intention pure. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that all success is a blessing from Allah Almighty and should be met with thankfulness, not pride. By connecting praise to its divine source, parents can nurture a deep sense of gratitude in their children’s hearts. 

Grounding Praise in Gratitude to Allah 

Every achievement, big or small, comes only by the permission of Allah. This core belief helps protect the heart from self-admiration. Parents can weave this understanding into their praise by reminding children of the ultimate source of their abilities and successes. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Nahal (16), Verses 53: 

‘And whatever benefactions are with you, so they are from Allah (Almighty); so then whenever you are reflected with any hardship, so to Him you cry for help.’ 

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that achievements should lead to thankfulness. Parents can reflect this by saying, ‘This is a blessing from Allah upon us, and your hard work was the means He provided for it.’ 

Praising with Sincerity and Balance 

Expressing sincere gratitude is an essential part of faith. The Prophetic guidance encourages acknowledging the good in people as a way of showing gratitude to Allah. By modelling phrases that combine thankfulness to Allah with appreciation for a child’s effort, parents help them link success with humility. This approach ensures their words nurture pure intentions and align every achievement with faith. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1954, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Whoever is not grateful to the people, he is not grateful to Allah.‘