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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Yousra Samir Imran.

Good morning.

My three-year-old has suddenly become very compassionate. Whenever we go out, if he sees another child crying, he will go up and ask them what’s wrong. If the child does not answer, he will then turn to their parents and ask them. Sometimes he goes as far as trying to hold the other child’s hand and comfort them. This is not something I taught him. So, I wonder, are empathy and compassion innate qualities – has he developed these qualities naturally?

Muslims believe that all humans have a fitrah – a primordial innate nature that is naturally inclined, not just to believing in God, but also towards goodness. If children are born with this natural state of goodness, how can we ensure that this stays with them, rather than hardening or disappearing? Because at one point, nurture takes over nature, and children start to be witnesses to the cruelty around them.

I began to realise that if I want my toddler’s ability to show compassion to stay with him, I must model kindness. And it has to start at home. Sometimes it’s easier to be kinder to strangers, than to the people closest to us. We can be abrupt, cold or harsh and we expect loves ones to forgive us for our shortcomings.

But being kind is not just about helping an elderly neighbour carry their shopping indoors, or putting out bird seed in the garden, although those are both good things to do. It’s about being kind to those who sometimes annoy us! So, to ensure my son continues to be kind, I must lead by example.

Oh Al-Latif, the Most Kind, please grant me opportunities each day to practice kindness, and model it to my children.

Ameen.