💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
📜 Question: With INTJ as your MBTI personality type, what was your childhood like?
📝 Answer: Alhamdulillah some of the things I did as a child (in the 90s back in Saudi Arabia) to give you an idea of what some INTJ children are like:
1] Eating the polvoron (Philippine delicacy consisting of toasted flour, sugar, butter and powdered milk) which my dear mother (Allah yarhamha. Ameen.) made for me during recess time while many of my Arab male and female classmates in kindergarten (at Al-Yamama National School) were staring at me probably wondering why I was nonchalantly trying to consume sand particles in a lunchbox. Strangely I didn't feel anxious about the worried stares and some laughter.
2] While my mom (Allah yarhamha. Ameen.) was attending some Islamic lectures with other Muslimahs at one of the WAMY branches in Riyadh city (WAMY: World Assembly Of Muslim Youth where we also learned more about Islam and basic Arabic language) I remember trying to figure out, with some kids of varying ages and nationalities, how to go inside a locked play area. Some days later I brought a pair of scissors and cut open a portion of the net of the trampoline playground from one of its corners (not sure what it's called - it had a slide and bouncy surface with multicolored balls etc.) and invited some of the children to join me through the secret opening (I cut the net in such a way that the hole wasn't very obvious). I guess I wasn't well-mannered enough as a child to request one of the adults to simply unlock the door leading to the playground. May Allah the Most Merciful forgive all my mistakes, misjudgment and ignorance. Ameen.
3] Back in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, my family and I usually prayed Salat Al-Jumuah at one of the large mosques / Masaajid which I assume was constructed by some of the royal families (not sure if the Masjid is called Al-Rajhi Mosque?). After the Friday Khutbah or lecture, we and other Muslim families occasionally had lunch together at one of the palaces of a Saudi royal family. The invitation to have lunch there (for those who prayed at the Masjid regularly) was a form of Sadaqa/charity I believe. While waiting for the chefs and staff to prepare the long dining tables, I recall walking around, again with a number of children, and curiously exploring different parts of the lavish palace which I thought visitors were allowed to tour until several parents advised us to behave ourselves and refrain from going to the other guest halls unnecessarily. I also remember sometimes walking around various rooms at the WAMY branch for women, imagining what it would be like if I could design my own building or office. For some reason, when I was around eleven or twelve years old I would often daydream about running an orphanage where orphans are cared for well.
4] I remember quietly waiting for the bus to be filled with other students and noticing two noisy Arab girls who were around my age that time blatantly joking to each other about how I appeared (at least to them) to be mostly frowning. I think it's interesting how I didn't feel offended or embarrassed by their mockery even when there were many passengers around. Although we exchanged glances, I didn't bother answering back because not only was I unaware of how to respond eloquently in Arabic language but I thought they were spot-on regarding my occasional scowl. I'm guessing I was in fourth or fifth grade that time.
5] Since I was the only Filipino student among Saudis and other Arabs, from grades one to seven I didn't have a fixed group of close friends, particularly as I wasn't really talkative due to not being fluent that time in Arabic language. During recess I would typically stay in the classroom reading some books, rearranging my bag or trying to complete some assignments in advance, or if the students weren't allowed to linger aimlessly in the classrooms I would take a leisurely walk around the school campus or browse around the library while reflecting on random thoughts until it was time for the next class. While there were moments when I actually played some running games with several students of various grade levels, I preferred reading books to participating in loud group activities.
➡️ Some of the qualities shared among INTJ children:
1] They tend to ask lots of questions and become apparently curious when they're interested in a particular subject.
2] Unlike the more sensitive types, INTJ children don't cry or get ashamed easily.
3] They can be extremely picky with their choice of friends and seldom do they feel "lonely".
4] If you describe INTJ kids as "nerds" or "weirdos", most if not all of them would perceive those words as compliments.
5] They're more likely to enjoy solving puzzles and riddles or learning something new than partaking in projects which involve unproductive socializing.
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📖 Abu Umamah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for one who leaves arguments even if he is right, and a house in the middle of Paradise for one who abandons lies even when joking, and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who makes his character excellent."
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4800
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Nawawi