Parenting Perspective 

Explain That Intentions Matter 

Helping your child to check their intentions before they act is an important way to guide them in making thoughtful, purpose-driven decisions. You can start by explaining that intentions matter just as much as actions. Help them to understand that doing something for the right reasons, with sincerity and kindness, is what leads to good outcomes. You might say, ‘Before you do anything, it is important to think about why you are doing it. Are you doing it because it is the right thing to do? Are you doing it to help others or to please Allah?’ 

Encourage a Pause for Reflection 

Encourage your child to pause and to reflect on their motives before acting. You can teach them to ask themselves questions like, ‘Why do I want to do this? What is my intention? Will this choice be good for me and for others?’ This pause for reflection allows your child to consider whether their actions align with their values and whether they are acting out of kindness, honesty, or selfishness. Over time, this practice will help them to develop self-awareness and to make decisions that are in line with their values. 

Model the Behaviour Yourself 

You can also model this behaviour for your child by sharing your own process of checking your intentions before making decisions. For example, when you make a decision, you can say, ‘I have thought about this, and my intention is to make sure that I am being fair and kind.’ By doing this, you are reinforcing the importance of checking one’s intentions and making decisions with sincerity and wisdom. Praise your child when they demonstrate self-reflection and choose actions that are based on good intentions. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, intentions play a significant role in determining the righteousness of our actions. Allah Almighty reminds us in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 286: 

‘Allah (Almighty) does not place any burden on any human being except that which is within his capacity…’ 

This verse highlights the importance of sincerity and intention in everything we do, teaching us that actions are only valuable when they come from a pure heart and a good intention. 

The holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also emphasised the importance of intentions. It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Actions are judged by intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to what they intended.’ 

This Hadith teaches us that our intentions are what truly matter in the sight of Allah, and that good intentions lead to good outcomes. By teaching your child to check their intentions before acting, you are helping them to align their behaviour with the teachings of Islam, encouraging them to act with sincerity, integrity, and righteousness.