Once a Sahabi’s son was missing.

The Sahabi went looking for his son.

As he was searching he found a group of children playing and saw his son was amongst them.

He saw that Rasoolallah ﷺ, the Beloved of Allah was sitting at a short distance watching the children.

The Sahabi came into the presence of the Beloved ﷺ and after presenting Salam he asked Ya Rasoolallah ﷺ I have been looking for my son and found him playing here, do I have your permission to take him?

The Prophet ﷺ replied,

Let your son play a little longer.

The Sahabi took his leave and left.

A short while later he came again and found the Beloved of Allah in the same place watching the children play.

The Sahabi asked for permission to take his son and once again the Prophet ﷺ asked to to let his son carry on playing.

The man left and came back a short while later. Again he asked for permission to take his son and this time the Prophet of Allah ﷺ gave him permission, now you may take your son.

As the man was about to approach the children and call his son, Rasoolallah ﷺ called him back.

He returned to the company of Rasoolallah ﷺ and the Prophet ﷺ said, Take your son but when you call him don’t call him as ‘my son’ call him by his name.

The Sahabi was a little inquisitive as to why this instruction was given and he asked Ya Rasoolallah, the child is my son and if I did call out to him as ‘my son’ would that be a problem?

Tears began to fall down the Blessed cheeks of The Mercy to Creation and He replied,

O my companion, amongst those children there are orphans... if you call out to your child as ‘O my son’ the orphans may feel the loss of their fathers and may be saddened.

To avoid this I have requested that you call your son by his name so as not to hurt their feelings!

The Sahabi was amazed at the intricate level of concern and sensitivity of Rasoolallah ﷺ.

The man took his son, came back to Rasoolallah ﷺ to ask leave.

He then asked Ya Rasoolallah ﷺ why are you sitting watching these children, again with tears in his blessed eyes, the Mercy to Creation replied,

I was watching those children and sat close by so that they know that even though they do not have fathers, they have the Prophet of Allah to care for them.

Subhan'Allah

We have forgotten what it is to be a true Muslim...