How did Prophet Muhammad teach young children?

  

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Methods used by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

to teach young children

 

Belief in the Messenger of Allah is the first pillar of Islam. Allah the Exalted sent Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as an example to humanity. He is the best role model for Muslims who have put their trust in Allah and have made paradise their ultimate aim. It is important to follow Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) because humans don’t know the correct and just way of living life. Especially with false religions and evil practices so common in the world, a Muslim can be successful only by following Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in his speech, actions and behaviours.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a man of perfect character and his relationship with the community, elders, children and even the non-believers was filled with empathy and patience. This is apparent especially in the way he treated young children. He (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his own children, grandchildren and step-children. He was a loving and concerned father who was never shy of demonstrating his love. He empathised with the children and showed great interest in their activities. He was mindful not to hurt their feelings. He also educated them with great care whenever the opportunity arose or something valuable was needed to be taught.

His teachings are timeless and are still being discussed and researched by child psychologists. Below is a list of some of the affective methods used by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to teach children:

1.     Setting a Good Example:

The first method used by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was that of modelling. Allah the Exalted says in the Quran,

.﴾لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ﴿

“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him) you have a good example to follow...” [Al-Ahzab, 21]

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a man of good character and moral actions. He was always attentive when spoken to, he was always the first to greet and caress others and last to withdraw his hands when he shook them. He always did his work by himself like lifting his goods. He even helped in building his mosque. Whenever he wanted to teach his companions something, he did it first by demonstrating it. Elders and children immediately followed him and learnt Islamic values and moral characteristics. Setting an example is the most effective method of teaching a child. When a just, honest and noble teacher teaches a student, it helps to build a wayward child. Whereas a child raised on deception and lies display similar qualities (Fox, et al., 2003).

2.     Giving theoretical information & educating by observation

The young minds are optimal in developing durable memory traces and long-term potentiation (Morris & Richard, 2003). They can easily absorb new information, which is why Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The first thing your child should hear is there is no God but Allah,” and also “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old…” among many other narrations ('Ulwan, 2004). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used concise words to teach the youth. In a narration by ‘Umar Ibn Abi Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) recorded in both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, he says that when he was a boy in the lap of the Prophet, he used to eat from everywhere in the dish, so the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) told him, “O boy, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand and eat from the nearest place to you [Sahih Bukhari, V7, Book 65, No.288].”  

This theoretical part is accompanied by the practical part where the child is educated through observance of Allah’s creations. When he looks at huge mountains, tiny flowers and twigs and insignificant flies, the child learns that Allah is the Creator and the Maintainer of the World. Through this realization, the child is encouraged to apply the Islamic values in his life.

3.     Contact Comfort

Harlow’s theory of emotional development suggests that when a child is given contact comfort, it helps in developing basic attachment (Harlow & Mears, 1983). The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to kiss, hug, caress young children and also allowed them to play on his lap. Kissing and caring creates strong emotional bonds which children always remember. This is why, the prophet always displayed affection and love when teaching young children. This made them remember those precious memories which they later narrated as Hadiths. These young lads applied love and affection in their own lives when they grew up. They learnt to take care of the community, women and the weak.

4.     Building trust in children

It is through close relationship and care that children learn to trust others. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) spent a lot of effort and time to make the children love him. He entertained them with games and jokes. He showed them love by using nicknames like ‘oh boy’, ‘oh my son’, ‘o Abu Umayr’, ‘Zaynoob’, ‘Luka’ and ‘Rayhaan’. These were some positive reinforcements he used to boost their confidence and motivate them to explore Islam and become better Muslims. He also empathised with the feelings of children. He shared their happiness and sadness. When Abu Umayr’s bird died, the prophet acknowledged his sadness. Instead of ridiculing the child and making fun of him that he’s crying over bird, he understood his feelings and talked to him to relieve him of his sadness. This made him a loved man among the children. He taught them emotional values and good behaviours. 

5.     Wise admonition

One of the qualities that is the most apparent in the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is that of patience. He was lenient and gentle when children surrounded him, or when his grandchildren climbed up on him when he was playing or when infants urinated on him. Even when giving the Islamic knowledge, he was patient and tolerant. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that in his 9 years of serving Prophet as a child, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) never said to him why he did this or that and he never found fault in him [Sahih Muslim, Book 3, No. 5723].

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Be tender and avoid violence and obscenity.” Violence makes a child weak-willed, coward, cunning and lazy (Khaldun, 1986). It is disliked to resort to violence. Instead, it is advisable to move from lighter to more severe punishments if one wishes to reform the child. This starts by informing the child about his bad behaviour through direction, gesture and gentleness. The second step is to point out the bad behaviour by rebuke. The third method used by the Prophet is desertion and the last resort is of light beating which the prophet allowed on children over 7 years of age who are not performing prayer. Even then, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) proposed many conditions for beating like not hitting unless the person has used all the above steps first, not hitting the face, not hitting when angry, hitting should be light and unpainful, and not hitting children under ten years of age ('Ulwan, 2004). As Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully.”

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent to the entire mankind, regardless of the time period. The methods used by him should be utilized today by the educators to meet the needs of diverse learners.

In today’s educational setting, the Prophetic approaches can be used in the following ways:

1.     Creating a responsible individual

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) assigned tasks to young children to build their confidence and teach them how to should responsibilities, like the secret mission he gave to Anas (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) also asked for permissions from children to make them feel appreciated like when he asked the boy next to him if he wants the milk glass after him. Empathy allowed the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to connect with children and build their talents and identities. This can be applied in today’s educational system by allowing children to take hold of their own learning.

2.     Cultural sensitivity

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was always keen on establishing a comforting environment. He used foreign words to make children from other countries feel at home. This behaviour is found in a narration where the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Umm Khalid ‘This is Sana’, as ‘Sana’ is an Ethiopian word. This positive reinforcement can be used to deal with cultural diversity.

3.     Play based learning

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) focus was not always on theoretical aspects but he also focused on physical development and well-being. He would often race with children and give them rewards. He also engaged in rough play with boys by flipping them over and throwing water. In today’s schools, this can be used to build strength and confidence in children. This play based learning can be taken a step further by integrating technology and peer involvement.

In conclusion, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) provides an exemplary model for educators today, demonstrating timeless principles and practices that nurture and develop children both emotionally and intellectually. His methods of teaching, grounded in empathy, patience, and practical demonstration, resonate deeply with modern pedagogical approaches. By setting a good example, giving theoretical and practical education, providing contact comfort, building trust, and using wise admonition, he laid down a comprehensive framework for child development.

These principles can be seamlessly integrated into contemporary educational settings to foster responsible, confident, and culturally sensitive individuals. The emphasis on play-based learning, cultural sensitivity, and encouraging responsibility highlights the relevance of his methods in today’s diverse and dynamic learning environments. As educators strive to meet the needs of diverse learners, adopting the Prophetic approaches can significantly enhance the effectiveness of teaching and create a nurturing atmosphere conducive to holistic child development.