Parenting Perspective 

For a child, love is their emotional anchor. If affection feels as though it is tied only to good behaviour or success, children may learn to hide their flaws and perform for approval. If, however, affection is consistent and unconditional, they will develop resilience, honesty, and the courage to grow. Parents can embed steady affection into daily habits so that no matter the mood, the day, or the struggle, children know that their parent’s love is never in question. 

Begin and End the Day with Warmth 

Start each morning with a hug or a kiss on the forehead, and close the night with the same loving gesture. These simple ‘bookends of affection’ teach your child that love frames every single day, regardless of what may have happened in between. 

Keep Love Visible, Even During Discipline 

Even when you are correcting your child, you can pair your firmness with a sense of security. For example, “I love you always, but this action is not okay.” Offering a hug or holding their hand after the correction is over shows them that discipline is about their growth, not about rejection. 

Create Predictable Rituals of Affection 

Family routines, such as reading a book together before bed, sharing a special dua after meals, or going for a weekly walk, send a powerful message: “Our special time together is never cancelled.” This predictability turns simple affection into a deep sense of emotional security. 

Use Words of Belonging, Not Performance 

Use phrases that affirm your child’s identity over their achievements. Simple statements like, “I am so grateful that Allah Almighty chose me to be your parent,” or “I love exactly who you are,” can be incredibly powerful. 

Repair Quickly After a Conflict 

Do not allow tension or emotional distance to linger after a disagreement. Once a consequence has been given and the matter is resolved, return quickly to a state of warmth with a smile, a kind word, or a shared task. This proves to your child that your love is never suspended. 

Offer Affection in Ordinary Moments 

You can show affection in the smallest of ways. Smile when your child enters the room, tousle their hair as you pass by, or say, “Alhamdulillah for your beautiful laughter.” These small, everyday acts make affection a constant, gentle hum in the background of their life, not a rare reward. 

Children who are raised with these habits come to see their parents’ love as a steady, flowing river, not as something they must constantly earn or fear losing. 

Spiritual Insight 

The divine attributes of Allah serve as a model for parents. Just as His closeness and mercy are constant, parental love can reflect this same steadfastness, nurturing a child’s heart with unwavering security. 

The Quran on Constant Divine Nearness 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Qaaf (50), Verses 16: 

‘And indeed, We (Allah Almighty) have created mankind, and so We have full knowledge of all the (thoughts he) murmurs within himself; and We (Allah Almighty) are closer to him than his jugular vein.’ 

This powerful verse shows that the closeness of Allah never fluctuates with our actions or our spiritual state. Parents can reflect this divine reality by showing affection that does not rise or fall with a child’s behaviour. 

The Hadith on Mercy Defining Relationships 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 4943, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our little ones and respect our elders.’ 

This Hadith makes mercy a central and non-negotiable part of family life. When affection is offered consistently, children learn that it is mercy, not performance, that defines their true worth. 

By weaving these beautiful spiritual reminders into your daily habits, you can embody a divine pattern of love: steady, gentle, and always near. This nurtures children who feel secure in both their parents’ arms and in the mercy of Allah Almighty, never doubting that love is their unshakable foundation.