Kindness to The Young

When Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) was a young boy, he was a servant of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

One day, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent Anas on an errand. On his way, Anas saw some boys playing in the market. He stopped to play with them, forgetting what the Prophet had asked him to do.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, went to the market and found Anas playing with the boys. He, peace and blessings be upon him, caught him by the neck and said, smiling, “O little Anas, go where I ordered you to.”

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, “I will, Allah’s Messenger.”

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported years later, “I served Allah’s Messenger for seven or nine years. When I did something he had not asked me to do, he never asked me why I did it. And when I did not do something I was supposed to do, he never asked me why I didn’t do it.”