Parenting Perspective 

When a child says ‘sorry’ with a mocking tone, they are using the apology as a shield rather than a sincere attempt to make amends. This can feel deeply disrespectful and completely undermines the purpose of an apology. The goal is not merely to stop the mocking, but to help your child understand that words lose their meaning without genuine respect. 

Explaining the Importance of Tone 

It is important to tell your child, ‘How you say something matters just as much as the words you use. If your apology sounds like a joke, it cannot heal the hurt it is supposed to.’ This teaches them that sincerity is conveyed through both words and tone. 

Demonstrating a Respectful Apology 

Show them the difference through role-play. First, offer a sarcastic ‘sorry’ yourself, and then follow it with a calm, respectful one. Ask them, ‘Which one of these makes you feel better?’ This practical exercise helps them to understand how tone affects feelings in a tangible way. 

Offering a Chance to Try Again 

Instead of resorting to immediate punishment, guide them to make a second attempt. You can say, ‘I know you can say that in a kinder way. Let us try it again together.’ This approach shifts the focus from shame to a learning opportunity. 

Reinforcing Sincere Efforts 

When they do manage to offer a respectful apology, affirm their effort immediately. You could say, ‘That sounded kind and sincere. Thank you for trying again.’ This positive reinforcement makes the act of being sincere feel rewarding. 

By showing your child that mocking undermines their own words, you help them practise an accountability that values the feelings of others over pride or performance. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, the value of any spoken word is rooted in its sincerity. Mockery and insincerity corrupt good deeds, whereas humility and honesty elevate them. Teaching children to avoid a mocking tone when they apologise helps them to embody the quality of sincerity (ikhlas), which is deeply beloved by Allah Almighty. 

Quranic Reminder on Sincere Speech 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 42: 

‘And do not mix the truth with falsehood, and do not conceal the truth, and you are fully aware (of what you are doing).’ 

This verse reminds us that mixing sincerity with mockery is a way of undermining the truth and weakening the value of our words. 

Prophetic Wisdom on Mockery and Character 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 2018, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The most beloved of you to me and the closest to me on the Day of Judgement are those of you with the best character, and the most disliked to me are those who are arrogant, boastful, and talkative in a mocking manner.’ 

This hadith teaches us that using mocking words and behaving with arrogance distances a person from good character and from a place of honour. 

By connecting a sincere apology to these core Islamic values, you guide your child to see that mockery only weakens their words, while humility makes them stronger. They learn that real honour is found not in pride or jokes, but in speaking with kindness and truth.