The Role Model and Its Importance in Shaping Children's Personalities

Among the greatest duties Allah has imposed upon us regarding our children is to oversee their upbringing and nurture them in ways that benefit their worldly and spiritual well-being. In the light of the Holy Quran, children are described as the adornment of this worldly life, as Allah the Exalted says: “Wealth and children are the adornment of the worldly life.” Moreover, children are a trust and a responsibility. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; a man is a shepherd over his family and is responsible for his flock; a woman is a shepherd over her husband’s household and is responsible for her flock; and a servant is a shepherd over his master’s property and is responsible for his flock.”

Therefore, parents must serve as role models for their children. Role modeling is one of the most important methods for shaping children’s personalities, especially during their childhood. Additionally, education through storytelling is effective, as Allah the Exalted says: “We relate to you the best of stories.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) also employed storytelling as a method and means of education and instilling Islamic values. Another educational approach is admonition and guidance. Allah the Exalted says: “O mankind, there has come to you a admonition from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts.” A father offers admonition to his son in an indirect manner when the situation necessitates it. This admonition should take the form of storytelling, parables, encouragement, and deterrence, provided that the father does not harshly resort to deterrence, and instead adopts encouragement, which is preferable.

Furthermore, a father should capitalize on the events he encounters in his life and utilize them for educational purposes, given their significant psychological impact on the child. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would seize opportunities arising from events that required educational or practical guidance, so that Muslims could derive positive lessons from them. He would promote a virtue, correct a behavior, or refute an erroneous conduct.