Imagine you are ten years old, and your mother takes your hand and walks you to the kindest person in the whole city. That is exactly what happened to a boy named Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu anhu).
Anas lived in a city called Madinah. His mother did not have gold or silver to give. So she brought the most precious thing she had, her own dear son. She said to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, please take Anas, and let him help you. And then she asked, please make a prayer for him.
The Prophet ﷺ made a beautiful prayer. He asked Allah to give Anas a long, happy life, lots of children, and to forgive him. And every single part of that prayer came true.
So Anas became the Prophet's little helper. His home was right next door, so every morning he would hop out of his door and go straight to the Prophet's door, ready to help with the day.
The Prophet ﷺ was so gentle with him. He gave Anas sweet nicknames, and sometimes just called him, my son. For ten whole years Anas helped him. And do you know what Anas said about all those years? He said the Prophet ﷺ never once shouted at him. Never said an unkind word. Not even one time did he frown at him.
There is a lovely story Anas loved to tell. One day the Prophet ﷺ asked him to go and do something. But Anas was a little boy, and on the way he saw other children playing. So he stopped to play, and he forgot all about the errand.
After a while, he looked up. And there was the Prophet ﷺ, sitting nearby, watching him, and smiling. He was not cross at all. He just asked kindly, little Anas, did you go where I asked you to go? That was all. Just a gentle question and a warm smile.
Because Anas was always close by, he saw how loving the Prophet ﷺ was to everyone. He saw him play with little children, pat their heads, and pray for them. He saw him be gentle to the poor and never turn anyone away.
Anas tried hard to be just like him. He learned to pray the way the Prophet ﷺ prayed. And the Prophet ﷺ taught him a lovely secret for a happy heart. He said, my son, if you can go to sleep and wake up with no anger toward anyone, then do that. It is part of my way.
So Anas would empty his heart of any grumpy feelings before he slept, and wake up fresh and kind again. What a peaceful way to fall asleep.
Anas lived a very, very long life, longer than almost anyone. And here is the most wonderful part. Long after the Prophet ﷺ had gone home to Allah, Anas said that every single night, he saw his beloved Prophet ﷺ in his dreams. Every night.
So close your eyes now, little one, with a soft and happy heart, just like Anas. Let go of any little worries from today. Allah is watching over you, and tomorrow is a brand new day to be kind. Goodnight.