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Hadeeth lessons – Mercy for the young and Respect for the Elders

By Mawlana Junayd Makda Sahib

Memorise and practice a Hadeeth every week

from the collection of 40 Ahadeeth by Shaykhul Hadeeth Mawlana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat sahib Hafizahullah.

Hadeeth Fifteen

Mercy for the young and Respect for the Elders

لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا وَيَعْرِفْ شَرَفَ كَبِيرِنَا

Our Beloved Nabi ﷺ said, 

“One who does not show mercy to our young nor acknowledges the honour and status of our elders is not of us”

At-Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud

Explanation

Respect, kindness and mercy are all very important qualities for a person and should be second nature for a Muslim. Without these special qualities, a believer will not be able to fulfil many areas of Deen especially those related to the rights of others.

In this Hadeeth, our beloved Nabi ﷺ explains that respecting elders and treating the young with mercy is so important, that a person not willing to do this should understand that he is not from the followers of Nabi ﷺ.

What we learn from this Hadeeth?

1) Mercy and Respect are part of the identity of a true believer.

2) Our beloved Nabi ﷺ himself was always merciful and respectful towards others and expected his followers to do the same.

3) Showing mercy and compassion to the young includes:
– being generous towards them,
– taking care of them,
– giving them a good deeni upbringing,
– Providing food, shelter and clothing for them,
– granting them safety and protection,
– being playful with them,
– teaching them right from wrong
– giving them love and care
– showing physical and emotional affection
– overlooking mistakes which can be overlooked and when needed reprimanding in the best way possible etc.

4) Respecting and honouring elders includes,
– not speaking back to them
– letting them go first when walking, starting a conversation or eating etc.
– seeking their advice in as many matters possible
– requesting Du’as from them
– not raising one’s voice in their presence
– spending time with them and paying attention towards them when with them
– accommodating their wishes wherever possible
– not hurting them or ignoring them

Note: Though many are classified as elders by age however some can also be by virtues of piety, status or knowledge.

A moment of thought

Everyone around us will either be older or younger than us. How beautiful would the world be if all young people respected and honoured those older than them and all older people showed mercy and kindness towards those younger than them.

For example, a child respecting and honouring the parents and likewise, the parents showing mercy and kindness towards the child!

Action Plan:

1) Respect and honour everyone older than us or superior to us including parents, family members, siblings, teachers and Ulama.

2) Show mercy and affection towards the young and be understanding and kind with them.

3) Let the elders always go before us and do not speak back to them or raise voices in their presence.

4) Be playful and kind towards children be playful with them.

5) Take advice from the elders and guide children towards good actions and habits.

Other Hadeeth Lessons

You would cry more if you knew

By Mawlana Junayd Makda Sahib Memorise and practice…

Wish for others what we wish for ourselves

Memorise and practice a new hadeeth every week!…

We are all travellers

Memorise and practice a new hadeeth every week!…

Try to benefit others

Memorise and practice a new hadeeth every week!…

The world is a prison for the believer

By Mawlana Junayd Makda Sahib Memorise and practice…

The Three that will accompany us till the grave

Memorise and practice a new hadeeth every week!…

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