Overlooking and pardoning some of the faults of children is...

“Goodness of companionship and living together is a full measure, two-thirds of which is (possessing) understanding and one third of it is overlooking (the shortcomings of others).” [^6] The Prophet of Islam has stressed the importance of overlooking other people’s mistakes as we can read in the following tradition: المُؤمِنُ نِصفُهُ تَغافُلٌ. “Half of (the nature of) the believer is overlooking mistakes.” [^7] Of course, there are two forms of overlooking.

One form is recommendable while the other form is not desirable. The form of overlooking of other people’s mistakes that is recommended by the leaders of Islam is based on the intellect and is meant to make improvements. It is done with good intentions. Teachers can get good results from overlooking, if they do it at the proper time and in the proper place. As an example, stealing money from the parents is sometimes done by some children all over the world.

The instinctive desire to own develops in children sooner or later. Then they start to consider everything their own property. They may take other kids’ toys, or pick some money from their father’s pocket. In these conditions it is best for the father to say: “Some money has been taken from my wallet.” Then the mother should say: “Is there anyone in this house who might do such a bad thing? No, of course not.” Then the father should apologize and say: “I am sorry.

It must have fallen out of my pocket, or maybe I did not get the right change back when I was shopping.” Then the child will think over what he has done, and say to himself how good it is that no one has found out about it. Then he will decide not to do it again, since this will threaten his honor. As stressed by Imam Sajjad , this is one of the situations in which overlooking a child’s mistake is recommendable and will lead to an improvement in his behavior. [^1]: Qamus Qu’ran, v.4, p.129.

[^2]: Guftar-i-Falsafi (Koodak), v.1, p.464, quoted from Bihar al-Anwar, v.1, p.110. [^3]: Guftar-i-Falsafi (Koodak), v.1, p.479, quoted from Bihar al-Anwar, v.1, p.110. [^4]: Ibid. p.130, quoted from Wasa’il al-Shi’ah, v.5, p.126. [^5]: Ibid.