ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

ON RIGHTS OF
CHILDREN

By: Syed Muhammed Taha

02-111191-188
BBA 3-D

Course instructor: Sir Abdul Rasheed

Islamic Socio-Economic Studies
 INTRODUCTION
Islam is the religion of peace and humanity. It gives rights to each segment of mankind.
Similarly, Islam gave some certain rights to children as well. Children are a great blessing from
Allah. With their tender hearts, children can be molded into righteous people only with a
positive and tender approach. Islam considers children to be an amanah (trust) given to the
family. Therefore, it is fard (obligatory) for the family to raise a child in a righteous manner.
Before Islam, the Arabs used to bury their newborn baby girls. Children were left upon the
mercy of their parents and the societal norms. Child labour was common, no specific rights
were given to them. Just like Parents enjoy a very special status according to Islam, they are
also made responsible to ensure a good life to their children. One should not favor one child
over another. In Islam, both male and female children should be treated equally and should be
loved and cherished. Islam has given rights to children which no other religion has given.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) loved children. He used to play with them and carry them on his
shoulders.

RESPONSIBILITY OF CHILDREN ON PARENTS

Children are joys of life as well as sources of pride, seeds of arrogance, the cause of distress and
allurement. Therefore, we need to be very focused and careful about their upbringing. Children
are dependent on their parents and Islam clearly emphasized on their responsibility on forming
the child’s personality. They have to show them right path as described by Allah Almighty in
Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We need to teach the difference
between right and wrong to our children. Islam pays particular attention to the upbringing
children in a proper manner.

Children have the rights to be fed, clothed, educated and protected until they reached to
adulthood. These rights are for both girls and boys there is no difference between their rights.
We can say that children are a trust given to the parents. Parents will be held accountable for
this trust on the Day of Judgment. Parents are responsible for the moral, ethical and the basic
and essential religious teachings of their children which is their responsibility. Allah Almighty
says in Holy Quran: “And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith –
We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their
deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained…” (Quran 52:21)

Children’s responsibility is not only on father but also on mother as mentioned by Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) in one of his hadith in these words: “Take care! Each of you is a shepherd
and each of you shall be asked concerning his flock; a leader is a shepherd of his people, and
he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a man is a shepherd of the people of his house,
and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a woman is a shepherd of the house of her
husband and over their children, and she shall be asked concerning them” (Al-Bukhari). The
parents’ right to respect from their children is dependent upon the children’s right to loving
care and guidance of their parents. The future of children depends on the teachings given to
them by their parents.

SOME BASIC RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

Some basic rights of children are mentioned below:

1) Basic needs:

Children have the right to be fed, clothed, education, protection until they reached to
adulthood. Protection means protection against moral and physical harm.

Parents should give a good name to their child.

2) Personality development:

It’s the responsibility of parents to develop the child’s personality in all fields.

In Islam education is not limited to bookish knowledge but includes moral and religious training
also. It means healthy all-round growth of child’s personality by giving them both religious and
bookish knowledge or we can say worldly knowledge. It is famous hadith of our beloved
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in which He (PBUH) said: “The best of you is one who gives a good
education (intellectual and moral) to his children”. In another hadith, the Prophet (PBUH)
said: “A father gives his child nothing better than a good education.” (Tirmidhi 4977 and
Baihaqi)

3) Right of affection and care:

Children need to be loved, kissed and special treatment by their parents. Parents should treat
their children with love and leniency but in some cases where they need strictness, it is also
allowed.

This means that parents should not spend all that they have their own comforts and luxuries
but must make a board for children’s progress after the parents die.

4) Right of islamic knowledge:

Parents should teach children Islamic manners and etiquettes in accordance with the beautiful
example of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Parents should also give them learning to read and recite the Quran from an early age when the
child’s memory finds it easy.

It also includes the development of the regular performance of Prayer between the ages of 7
and 10.

The respect that parents impart to their children will help them to become respectable,
responsible, kind, friendly, obedient, patient, humble and honorable children and human being
for their entire life.

5) Right to marriage:

Islam has given right to the children who have matured or reached puberty to decide who they
want to marry under the basic principles of sharia. Parents can not force their will on their
children in this matter.
 HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMED (SAW) ABOUT CHILDREN IN THE LIGHT
OF HADITH

There are dozens of hadith of the Holy Prophet (SAW) about children. He loved children so
much. Hazrat Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “I never saw anyone who
was more compassionate towards children than Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be
upon him). His son Ibrahim was in the care of a wet nurse in the hills around Madinah. He
would go there, and we would go with him, and he would enter the house, pick up his son
and kiss him, then come back.” (Muslim)

Being fond of children, Prophet Muhammad showed great interest in playing with them. His
involvement in children’s games shows us the great importance in playing with our children. He
would have fun with the children who had come back from Abyssinia and tried to speak in
Abyssinian with them. It was his practice to give lifts on his camel to children when he returned
from journeys.

“The Messenger of Allah came towards us while carrying Umamah the daughter of Abi Al-`As
(Prophet’s granddaughter) over his shoulder. He prayed, and when he wanted to bow, he put
her down. When he stood up he lifted her up.” (Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet (SAW) preached that we should always be kind and merciful towards children.

Allah’s Messenger kissed Al-Hasan ibn `Ali while Al-Aqra` ibn Habis At-Tamimi was sitting
with him . Al-Aqra` said, “I have ten children and have never kissed one of them.” The
Prophet cast a look at him and said, “Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated
mercifully.” (Al-Bukhari)

Finally, the following hadith emphasizes that Muslims should be conscious to treat their sons
and daughters justly: “Fear Allah and treat your children [small or grown] fairly (with equal
justice).” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

From all the above hadith we see Prophet Muhammad’s attitude toward children. It is an
example for the whole human race that shows how to treat them and cherish them at all times.
This shows how much emphasis Islam has given to the rights of children.
 CONCLUSION

In short, Islam has given a complete guide for parents and the society on how to treat children.
Numerous hadith and surah tell how children should be raised according to the Islamic values
and etiquettes. How they should be loved and taken cared off. Their basic rights, guidance to
parents for raising them and guidance for children on how to behave is provided by Islam. If we
give them their rights and they don’t misuse them and act according to shariah, Allah will surely
bless them in this world and the life after deaths.

REFERENCES:
 Hadith take from: https://aboutislam.net/shariah/prophet-muhammad/a-mercy-for-
all/the-prophets-care-for-children/ and further rechecked for validation through google
searches.
 Content taken from recorded Friday sermon of November 15, 2019 by Imam Murtada
Muhammad Gusau.
 A bit of background knowledge to write the Introduction and conclusion was gained
through the notes and books of Olevels Islamiyat which I have attempted in the past.
