What helps when I feel that being merciful is making me too lenient and my child is taking advantage? 

Parenting Perspective 

Mercy vs. Permissiveness 

It is a common concern for caring parents that whether they are being too lenient or not. However, the problem is rarely mercy per se; rather, it is when mercy is unregulated. Letting go of limits is not a sign of true mercy. It entails treating them with compassion. Children flourish when they experience both clear guidance and emotional support. 

Strengthening the Framework 

It is a cue to become more explicit, not to get harsher, if a child starts to test or disregard your boundaries. Examine your boundaries and determine whether they are reasonable. Have I consistently enforced them? This kind of parenting is emotionally mature, not weak. It teaches children that being loved does not include obtaining all of their desires. It entails being noticed, respected, and compassionately held to a higher standard. You do not have to become more resilient. You must strengthen the framework without being inflexible. Parents who set a loving example and enforce their rules are the most successful. That is where respect and trust really blossom. 

Spiritual Insight 

Mercy was embodied by the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but never at the expense of moral clarity. He corrected as well as frequently forgave. His kindness was intentional rather than passive. Gently and resolutely, he led others back to the right path. Allah Almighty says in the noble Quran at Surah Al Shams (91), Verse 9: 

“Without any doubt success is for the one who developed purity (of the self). “

This verse reminds us that the soul’s refinement requires effort, boundaries, and correction, not indulgence. Mercy purifies by softening the heart. But discipline purifies by shaping the will. It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1952, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: 

“There is no gift that a father gives his son more virtuous than good manners.” 

Furthermore, perpetual ease does not produce good character. It is fostered by providing a nurturing atmosphere while holding the child to significant standards. When you set boundaries with compassion, you are giving your child self-control, respect, and inner strength, which are far more significant than fleeting joy. Therefore, do not back down from compassion when you feel that it is being stretched; instead, work on it. Combine your empathy with decisive action. That is not being lenient. That is Rahmah with wisdom, the perfect example that our religion demands of us.