The Prophet ﷺ had a special tenderness for children that stood in stark contrast to the harsh attitudes toward children in pre-Islamic Arabia. He would play with them, kiss them, carry them on his shoulders, and patiently tolerate their childish behavior. Hassan and Hussain, his grandsons, would climb on his back during prostration in prayer, and the Prophet would prolong the prostration until they climbed down on their own. When asked about this, he said he didn't want to hurry them. Companions would find the Prophet on all fours with Hassan and Hussain riding on his back like a camel, and he would say: "What an excellent camel you have, and what excellent riders you are!" The Prophet would kiss children openly and without embarrassment. Once, Al-Aqra' ibn Habis saw the Prophet kissing his grandson and said: "I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them." The Prophet looked at him and said: "He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy." This statement established a fundamental principle that showing affection is a strength, not a weakness. During prayers, the Prophet would shorten them if he heard a baby crying, showing concern for both the mother and child. He said: "When I stand for prayer, I intend to prolong it, but then I hear a child crying, so I shorten my prayer, knowing the distress of the child's mother." This consideration for children's needs even adjusted his worship, showing that compassion is integral to faith. The Prophet would greet children with salam when passing by them, treating them with the same respect as adults. Anas ibn Malik, who served the Prophet from childhood, reported: "He would pass by children and greet them with salam." This simple act taught children their value and modeled respectful interaction.