Mercy for the Young, Respect for the Old — A Pillar of Our Ummah
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- May 22
- 1 min read
Mercy for the Young, Respect for the Old — A Pillar of Our Ummah
— A Powerful Ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said:
“He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young and does not respect our elders.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ narration
This is not a light statement.
When the Prophet ﷺ says “not one of us,” —
It means the act is so severe, it contradicts the very character of a true Muslim.
A real Muslim does not look down upon children —
He uplifts them, teaches them, shows them compassion.
A real Muslim does not mock the elderly —
He honors their age, their wisdom, their grey hairs earned in the obedience of Allāh.
Today we live in an upside-down world:
Youth mock age.
Age loses patience with youth.
Children are ignored. Elders are neglected.
But the Sunnah teaches us balance:
To be a community of warmth, of respect, of mercy —
Where the child feels loved, and the elder feels valued.
Mercy to the young plants the seeds of love.
Respect to the old preserves the pillars of legacy.
Let us not just quote the Sunnah —
Let us live it.
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