What should parents do if siblings fight because one joins trends and the other refuses? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is common for disagreements over online trends to cause tension between siblings. One child might eagerly participate in the latest viral challenge, while the other may refuse due to their personality, maturity, or a stronger awareness of their values. This difference can easily lead to arguments and accusations of one being ‘boring’ and the other being ‘a follower.’ It is important for parents to intervene with wisdom, not to take sides, but to transform the conflict into a lesson on mutual respect, individuality, and family values. 

Avoid Favouritism in Disputes 

It is important not to praise only the child who resists the trend, as this can make the other feel criticised and defensive. Instead, try to affirm both children’s positions: ‘I admire your confidence to be different, and I can also understand why joining in with trends feels fun. The most important thing is that you both respect each other’s choices.’ 

Teach Respect for Differences 

Explain to your children that not everyone in a family has to like or do the same things in order to belong. You can highlight the principle: ‘What matters most is how we treat each other with kindness, not whether we all choose to follow or refuse the same trends.’ This helps your children to see their individual diversity as strength, not as a source of division. 

Use the Conflict as a Teaching Moment 

Encourage your children to have a calm and open dialogue about their different perspectives. You could ask them: ‘What is it that you enjoy about joining in with these trends?’ and to the other, ‘What are your reasons for preferring to avoid them?’ Guiding them to listen to each other’s reasoning without interruption builds empathy and reduces the tendency to mock or dismiss one another. 

Redirect Their Energy to Shared Values 

Encourage family activities that shift the focus away from online disagreements and towards positive, real-world connections. This could be anything from outdoor games to a creative project at home. Focusing on shared experiences that unite them as a family is a powerful way to heal divisions. 

By balancing fairness and empathy in your response, you can prevent sibling rivalry over online trends from growing into long-term resentment, while reinforcing the importance of respect for each other’s choices. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam places a great emphasis on maintaining unity and harmony within the family and gives clear warnings against mocking or belittling others. Differences in personal choices should never be used as a justification for disrespect. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hujuraat (49), Verses 11: 

‘ Those of you who are believers, do not let a nation ridicule another nation, as perhaps it may be that they are better than them; and let not the women (ridicule) other women, as perhaps they may be better than them…’ 

This verse serves as a direct and powerful reminder that ridiculing or mocking others, including one’s own siblings, is forbidden. Only Allah Almighty knows the true worth of a person, and who among them is better. 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 234, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not oppress him, nor forsake him, nor despise him.’ 

This teaching establishes the foundation of how believers should treat one another. It clarifies that respect, support, and kindness must be maintained, even when opinions or personal choices differ. 

By linking these sibling disputes back to the core Islamic value of respect, parents can show that the religion values both individuality and family harmony. Over time, children can learn that being different in their choices is natural, but that the bond of unity and kindness within the family is non-negotiable.