Parenting Perspective 

Children often separate their faith from their daily lives, thinking that their Deen is only about formal rituals like Salah, fasting, or reciting the Quran. If parents do not consciously bridge this gap, children may not recognise that family love itself is a profound form of worship when it is grounded in sincerity. Parents can help by showing that affection, care, and respect at home are all acts of ibadah. This makes the family bond a part of their Deen, not something separate from it. When children feel that the love they share is sacred, they learn that their relationships are a direct path to the pleasure of Allah Almighty. 

Speak of Your Love as a Form of Worship 

You can use simple statements like, “When I hug you or take care of you, I hope that Allah Almighty rewards me for it.” This helps your child to directly link the feeling of parental love with the concept of faith and divine reward. 

Connect Affection to Sincere Intention 

Remind them, “Our love for each other is even stronger because we love each other for the sake of Allah.” This teaches the important lesson that the intention (niyyah) behind our love is what transforms it into an act of worship. 

Model Respect and Service as Acts of Deen 

Show your love through your actions by serving them gently, respecting their feelings, and always keeping your promises. You can then explain the motivation behind these actions: “Allah loves it when families treat each other with mercy.” This helps to make these everyday acts a part of your child’s religious identity. 

Share Stories of Prophetic Love 

Tell your children stories of how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would play with children, serve his family, and show endless mercy in his home. Relating these beautiful examples from his life helps your children to understand that family love was a central part of his Sunnah. 

Anchor Your Love in Gratitude to Allah 

You can say to your child, “Alhamdulillah, Allah gave us this love as a blessing.” This sense of gratitude helps to reframe your family bonds as sacred gifts from Allah, not just as worldly emotional attachments. 

Through these simple yet consistent steps, children will learn that the love within their family is not something separate from their Deen, but is in fact a vital and beautiful expression of it. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that our closest relationships are a core component of our faith. The love and mercy we show within our families can be a profound form of devotion and a means of seeking closeness to Allah. 

The Quran on Mercy in Family Bonds 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Furqaan (25), Verses 74: 

‘And those people that say: “O our Sustainer, Grant to us (those circumstances that make) our spouses and our offspring, a comfort for our eyes; and make us from those that have attained piety, and a role model”.’ 

This dua shows that the love within our families can itself be a form of devotion, a source of deep comfort, and a way of becoming role models of faith for others to follow. 

The Hadith on Loving for Allah’s Sake 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 387, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘When Allah loves a servant, He calls Jibril and says: ‘I love so-and-so, so love him.’ Jibril then loves him and proclaims in the heavens: ‘Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.’ Then the inhabitants of the heavens love him and he is granted acceptance in the earth.’ 

This Hadith shows that love which is rooted in the sake of Allah is blessed and honoured by all of creation. Parents who frame their affection for their children as a part of their worship are helping them to see that family love is not only a source of emotional comfort but is also an integral part of their Deen. In this way, children can grow to cherish their family bonds as a direct pathway to the mercy and reward of Allah Almighty.