Don’t Call Him Son in Front of an Orphan”

There was a time when a non-Muslim man embraced Islam, and people around him were curious. They gathered and asked him, “What was it about Islam that touched your heart? What convinced you so deeply that you chose to accept this faith?”

The man paused, his eyes softening, and replied, “It was not long speeches, debates, or miracles. Just one incident—simple but powerful—opened my heart. It showed me the essence of Islam more clearly than anything else.”

He continued his story:

“One day, a beautiful and blessed gathering of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was taking place. People from different tribes and families were present, all sitting with respect, listening to his words, and seeking guidance. The atmosphere was peaceful, filled with humility and love.”

“In the middle of the gathering, a man stood up. His face showed worry and exhaustion. His voice trembled as he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, please pray for me. My little child has been missing for many days. We cannot find him anywhere. My heart is burning with fear and I have no strength left.’”

“Just as the Prophet ﷺ was about to raise his blessed hands for supplication, another man quickly stood up. He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I have just come from a certain garden nearby, and I saw his child there. He was playing with a group of children—safe, happy, and unaware of his father’s worry.’”

“When the father heard this news, joy and shock rushed through him at the same time. Without a second thought, he turned and ran toward the garden. A father’s heart cannot stay calm when it hears about its lost child.”

“But the Prophet ﷺ gently said, ‘Stop him. Call him back.’”

“The people ran and brought the father back, though he was restless and eager to reach his son.”

“The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you know what a father feels. My legs cannot stay still. My heart is already running toward my child.’”

“The Prophet ﷺ smiled softly and said, ‘I understand your emotions completely. I know how a father’s love pulls him. But I called you back for a reason.’”

“The man calmed himself and said, ‘Yes, O Messenger ﷺ, please tell me.’”

“The Prophet ﷺ instructed, ‘When you reach the garden and see your son playing with the other children, do not call him “my son, my son!” even though your heart will want to. Instead, call him by his name.’”

“The father was surprised. ‘But O Messenger ﷺ, he is my son. Even if I call him “son,” what harm could there be?’”

“The Prophet ﷺ replied with wisdom that pierced the heart: ‘You have been separated from him for days. When you call out to him, your voice will carry immense sweetness, love, and relief. But among the children playing there, there might be a small orphan—someone who has no father to call him with such love. When he hears your tender voice calling your child “my son,” it may hurt his heart and make him think, “If only I had a father who called me like this.” So fulfill this desire of yours when you reach home, not in front of an orphan.’”

The man telling the story said, “This one incident showed me the depth of Islamic compassion. I saw that Islam teaches us not only to worship God, but to protect every heart—especially the broken ones.”

He continued: “The Prophet ﷺ also taught people not to show affection to their wives in front of widows, and not to display wealth in front of the poor. He even said, ‘Do not let the smell of your cooked meat disturb your neighbors.’ In every small matter, he considered the feelings of others.”

The former non-Muslim concluded, “From this incident—when the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Do not call your child “son” in front of an orphan’—I understood what Islam truly is: a religion of mercy.”