What Is a Fair Way to Share the Last Portion Without Fights? 

Parenting Perspective 

Few situations can spark a sibling quarrel as quickly as the appearance of the last biscuit, the final slice of cake, or the remaining handful of crisps. While a child’s instinct might be to claim it for themselves, this moment presents a valuable opportunity to teach fairness, self-control, and thoughtfulness. By establishing a clear and consistent system, you can prevent these predictable disputes and turn a point of contention into a lesson in grace. 

Implement the ‘One Divides, One Chooses’ Method 

This classic and highly effective strategy elegantly balances fairness with personal responsibility. The rule is simple: one child is given the task of dividing the portion into two, and the other child gets to choose their piece first. The knowledge that their sibling will get the first pick provides a powerful incentive for the divider to make the portions as equal as humanly possible. 

Establish a System of Rotation 

If disputes over fairness persist, or to pre-empt them entirely, you can rotate the responsibility. You might say, ‘Today, it is your turn to decide how to share the last piece. Tomorrow, it will be your sister’s turn.’ This approach removes the potential for arguments by creating a predictable and trustworthy system where everyone knows their turn will come. 

Reframe Sharing as an Act of Generosity 

You can shift the entire dynamic by reframing the last portion as a chance to be generous. By asking, ‘Who would like to have the honour of sharing this last piece with their brother or sister?’ you begin to position giving as something praiseworthy and noble, rather than as a loss to be avoided. 

Provide Gentle Alternatives for Younger Children 

For very young children who still struggle with the concept of sharing and delayed gratification, it can be helpful to have a small alternative on hand. Offering another small treat can diffuse the tension, but this should be used as a bridge towards teaching them genuine sharing over time, not as a permanent solution that avoids the lesson. This shows empathy for their developmental stage. 

Acknowledge Generosity Over Acquisition 

When one child willingly offers to split the last piece or gives it away entirely, make sure to highlight that specific act of kindness. ‘I really noticed how you shared that last biscuit without anyone having to ask. That was a very kind and thoughtful thing to do.’ This shifts the family’s focus from who “won” the last portion to who demonstrated goodness of character. 

By making fairness a clear and manageable process and by praising generosity, you help your children understand that the last portion is never worth a fight; it is always an opportunity to practise love and selflessness. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches the importance of fairness (adl) in all our dealings and consistently elevates the virtue of generosity (ithar) above self-interest. Teaching children how to navigate the sharing of a last portion is a small but meaningful way of instilling these foundational Islamic values in their hearts. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mutaffifeen (83), Verse 1: 

‘Woe be to those fraudsters (who shortchange people in their material dealings).‘ 

This powerful verse serves as a stark warning against all forms of injustice and unfairness. For children, it can be a simple reminder that being fair is an obligation before Allah, even in the seemingly small matter of dividing food equally. 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 3776, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘None of you should eat and drink with his right hand while his brother is deprived.’ 

This hadith teaches the profound Islamic principle that it is unacceptable to enjoy a blessing while another person goes without. Sharing, especially when a resource is scarce like the last portion, is a way of fulfilling the rights that we owe to others. 

When children learn to share the last portion fairly, or even better, to give it away generously, they are training their hearts in the essential qualities of justice and compassion. This simple, daily practice helps to shape them into adults who value fairness, resist greed, and seek the pleasure of Allah in all their actions.