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Making children used to shouldering responsibilities
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would make them used to shouldering responsibilities from a young age, because they are the men of tomorrow.
Anas says:
“The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to me as I was playing with some young boys. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, greeted us and sent me on a task, and I was slow in returning to my mother. When I came to her she asked: ‘What kept you?’ I said: ‘The Messenger of Allah sent me on an errand.’ She said: ‘What was the purpose [of the errand]?’ I said: ‘It is secret.’ She said: ‘Do not [then] divulge the secret of the Messenger of Allah to anyone.”’ After a period, when one of his companions asked him what the secret was, Anas said: “By Allah, if I were to divulge it to anyone, then, O Thaabit, I would have divulged it to you.”1
And in another narration, Anas said:
“The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, confided a secret to me, so I did not inform anyone about it, and Umm Sulaym [Anas’ mother] asked me [about it], but I did not tell her.”2
Al-’Uthaymeen (a scholar) said commenting on these narrations: “The good manners and character of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sal- lam, and his great humbleness; despite his status and the honorable position he occupied, he greeted the boys with Salaam as they were playing in the streets.”3
المراجع
- Reported by Muslim (2482).
- Reported by Al-Bukhaari (6289).
- Sharh Riyaadh As-Saaliheen (41-44/4).
