Hugs Never Run Out

There was a tiny guest at home that day: baby Hana, a cousin only three months old. Auntie had to go to the doctor, so baby Hana was staying with them all day.

Baby Hana was so small. Her fingers were the size of peanuts. When she cried, she sounded like a kitten.

And Umi held her. All morning.

When Baby Mo wanted to show off his block tower, Umi was giving baby Hana her bottle. "In a minute, Mo."

When Baby Mo wanted a story read to him, Umi was changing baby Hana's nappy. "In a minute, Mo."

When Baby Mo wanted a hug before his nap, Umi was rocking a fussy baby Hana. "In a minute, Mo."

In a minute. In a minute. In a minute.

Baby Mo felt something shrinking in his chest. Like a balloon slowly going flat.

Then he did something strange. He lay on the floor, kicked his legs in the air, and cried as loudly as he could: "Waaah! Waaah! I'm a baby too! Hold me too!"

Baby Ais stared at him, confused. Baby Hana started crying too, from the shock.

Umi didn't get angry. She laid baby Hana in the basket, then sat on the floor beside Baby Mo.

"Mo," she said softly, "are you worried Umi's love will run out because it's being shared with baby Hana?"

Baby Mo stopped crying. He gave a tiny nod. That was exactly how he felt, even though he hadn't known how to say it.

Umi smiled. "Come here. Let me show you something."

Umi opened her arms wide and hugged Baby Mo. Then she called, "Ais, come here!" — and Baby Ais squeezed into the hug too. Then Umi reached for the basket and pulled baby Hana into the middle.

Three children. One hug. Warm and a little squashed.

"Look," said Umi. "Umi's arms are enough. Love isn't a cake that gets smaller when you share it. Love is like a hug. The more people come in, the warmer it gets."

In the middle of that hug, baby Hana's tiny hand touched Baby Mo's finger. Then — suddenly — it grabbed hold. So tight, for such a small hand.

Baby Mo froze. "Umi… she's holding me."

"She loves you," whispered Umi. "You're her big brother today."

That afternoon, Baby Mo took on a new job. He sat beside the basket and sang "Bismillah First" every time baby Hana began to fuss. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn't. But he didn't leave.

When Auntie came to pick her up, Baby Mo stood in front of the basket like a guard. "Auntie, baby Hana held my finger. When can she stay again?"

That night, before bed, Umi hugged Baby Mo for a very long time. No "in a minute". No "later".

"Umi," Baby Mo whispered, his eyes half closed, "hugs never run out, do they?"

"Never, sweetheart."

"Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy." The Prophet ﷺ said it when someone was surprised to see him kiss his grandson. (Bukhari 5997, Muslim 2318)

Talk it over with your little one: have you ever worried that Umi's or Abi's love might get smaller? Let's try a hug with as many people as we can, right now! 🤗