The Rasool of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم arrived as mercy for all the worlds. It wasn't just adults who reaped the benefits of this mercy — children did too.
The Greatest and Noblest Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was very compassionate towards children. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم would call them to meet him, stroke their heads with his merciful palms and pray for blessings and bounties to be bestowed upon them.
Stroking the Head of a Child
Sayyiduna 'Abdullah Bin Hishaam's mother took him to the blessed court of our Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم;
he
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
stroked his head affectionately and prayed for him to be blessed.
(Al-Isaabah, vol. 4, pp. 217)
Comforting a Child Over His Sparrow
The Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
would also delight the children and fill their hearts with happiness. It is narrated that the
younger brother of Sayyiduna Anas
رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ
had a sparrow; that sparrow died. The Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
went to his house and said: 'What has happened to Abu 'Umayr?' [Someone] humbly
replied: 'His sparrow has died.' The Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
said it to him amusingly: 'O Abu 'Umayr! How is your sparrow? O Abu 'Umayr! How is your
sparrow?'
(Al-Mu'jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 5, pp. 13, Hadees 6429)
Allowing Children on His Mount
On his return from a journey, he
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
allowed children to get on his mount (i.e. the animal he was riding).
(Sahih Muslim, pp. 1014, Hadees 6268; Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 91, Hadees 5966, paraphrased)
Performing Tahneek for Newborns
When any child was born and brought to the Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم,
he prayed for it to be blessed and did Tahneek (i.e. putting something sweet into the child's
mouth after chewing it).
(Sahih Muslim, pp. 134, Hadees 662)
Shortening the Salah for a Crying Child
The Beloved Rasool
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
shortened his congregational Salah whenever he
صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
heard the cry of a child during it.
(Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 253, Hadees 707, paraphrased)