Parenting Perspective 

When a mistake has been made, especially in a public context, seeking to make amends through meaningful acts of service or Sadaqah (charity) can help restore harmony and demonstrate genuine regret. This practice not only repairs relationships but also allows you to give back to the community, making your efforts to make things right tangible and purposeful. A public repair, particularly when it involves service, offers a path of action that complements verbal apologies. By choosing a ritual that benefits others, you also set an example for your children, teaching them that responsibility extends beyond words. 

Choosing the Right Service or Sadaqah Ritual 

One of the most effective rituals of service in this context is giving Sadaqah. Whether through financial donations or volunteering, Sadaqah not only helps repair the harm caused but also brings you closer to Allah’s mercy. 

• Financial Charity (Sadaqah Jariyah): If your public mistake involved a financial wrongdoing, giving charity can serve as a way to balance the scales. Sadaqah Jariyah, charity that continues to give benefits, is a powerful way to turn the situation into an enduring good deed. 

• Volunteering and Direct Service: Engaging in community service, whether it is helping the elderly or volunteering at a local shelter, shows sincere remorse through action. 

• Public Apology with a Ritual of Service: Sometimes, a sincere apology combined with a public display of service can send a strong message. 

Engaging Children in Meaningful Repair 

Involving your children in the process of making amends through charity or service can turn the act into a valuable teaching moment. Let them know that public repair is not just about saying the right words but also taking the right actions. Whether you are donating to a cause together or volunteering as a family, it becomes a hands-on lesson in humility, service, and compassion. 

By demonstrating that public repairs are not only about verbal apologies but also about meaningful action, you help your children understand the connection between seeking forgiveness, repairing relationships, and making positive contributions to society. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Multiplication of Good Deeds 

The noble Quran reminds us that every act of charity, especially those done with sincerity to repair harm, multiplies in rewards. When you give Sadaqah with the intention of making a public repair, your act of kindness is multiplied. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 261: 

‘The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah (Almighty) is like the parable of a seed (of grain) which grows seven stems; on each stem is one hundred grains…’ 

By helping others, you not only heal the wound caused by your actions but also create a ripple effect of good. 

The Spiritual and Material Growth from Charity 

The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ tell us that Sadaqah is a means of spiritual and material growth. Even when we offer charity as a form of public repair, we are not only addressing the needs of others but also cleansing our own hearts. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2588, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Charity does not decrease wealth. Rather, it increases it, and Allah rewards it by multiplying it, even up to seventy times.’ 

This underscores the fact that giving charity is a way of seeking Allah’s forgiveness and blessing. Incorporating Sadaqah and service into your act of seeking forgiveness ensures that your repentance is sincere, actionable, and impactful. It is not just a matter of words but a demonstration of your commitment to righting wrongs.