Parenting Perspective 

Every family will inevitably face difficult moments, whether it is the emotional strain of a tantrum, an illness, or a disappointment that weighs heavily on the heart. For a child, these moments can feel particularly frightening or unfair. As a parent, you have a beautiful opportunity to turn these times into gentle reminders that the mercy of Allah is never absent, even in the midst of hardship. The words you choose during these struggles are deeply important, as they will help to shape how your child processes difficulty and whether they learn to connect it with despair or with hope in Allah. By using faith-filled language, you can guide your child to see their challenges as opportunities to lean on the mercy of their Lord. 

Replace Questioning with an Affirmation of Trust 

Instead of asking, ‘Why is this happening to us?’, you can model trust by saying, ‘Allah knows that we are strong enough for this test, and I know His mercy will carry us through it.’ 

Highlight the Blessings that Remain During Hardship 

Help your child to see that even on a difficult day, there are still blessings to be found. A comment like, ‘Even though today was hard, Alhamdulillah, Allah still gave us our food, our safety, and the love in our family,’ shows them that His mercy is still present even when things go wrong. 

Use Gentle, Shared Duas 

You can invite your child to repeat a simple dua with you, such as, ‘Ya Allah, please help us with Your mercy.’ This shared act of supplication helps to turn a feeling of worry into an act of worship. 

Reframe the Struggle as a Chance to Grow 

A gentle reframing can give a struggle a sense of purpose. You could say, ‘This difficult moment is a chance for us to practise our patience, and we know that Allah loves those who are patient.’ Linking the struggle directly with an attribute that is beloved to Allah can be very comforting. 

Model Gratitude Even in Your Own Pain 

Even when you are feeling tired or upset yourself, you can say aloud, ‘Alhamdulillah for every breath I take. The mercy of Allah is so much bigger than this problem.’ Your own sincere words will teach your child about resilience in faith more than any lecture ever could. 

Through these consistent and hopeful reminders, you can show your child that a moment of hardship is not a sign of abandonment, but is in fact another place where the mercy of Allah can be found. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Quranic Promise That Ease Accompanies Hardship 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Inshirah (94), Verses 5–6: 

‘Thus with (every) hardship there is facilitation (from Allah Almighty). Indeed, with (every) hardship there is facilitation (from Allah Almighty).’ 

This powerful, repeated verse provides a profound reassurance that the mercy of Allah always accompanies any hardship He sends. Teaching this to your children helps them to believe with certainty that no difficulty is permanent, and that ease is always near. 

Prophetic Guidance on the Immensity of Allah’s Mercy 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 5999, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child.’ 

This hadith teaches us that the mercy of Allah is unmatched, more tender and constant than even the love of a mother for her child. Reminding our children of this beautiful truth during their difficult moments can help to transform their fear into a deep and lasting trust. With such words, hardship becomes not a reason to despair, but a powerful reminder of the One whose mercy never leaves His creation.