Islam cares about childhood and Muslims regard children as
gifts/trust from Allah (SWT). Parents will be held responsible
for this trust on the Day of Judgement. Hence Islam pays particular
attention to rights of children and to the proper manner to raise them,
so that they will be equipped to face the difficulties of life.
We must pay more attention to the best interests of the children.
All these principles were mentioned in Noble Qur'an and Ahadith,
which cares about the rights of child even before he or she is born.
Before getting married, a man should choose the best possible woman
to be his children's mother.
Children have the right to be fed, clothed and protected until they
reach adulthood. The child has the right to a good education and
a stable environment in which to grow up. Boys and girls, as well as
orphans, possess these rights in full. Nevertheless Allah (SWT) and
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave parent certain obligations to
assure children's rights.
Respect for human rights begins with the way that a community treats
its children. Children's rights cannot be separated from human rights
because children are the future generation. Taking care of the coming
generation by protecting their dignity and providing them their needs
is the most important thing for bringing up citizens best equipped to
serve the community.
On the other hand child abuse weakens a child's ability to study and
makes them nervous as they lose their sense of security. Many abused
children go on to commit crimes and end up in prison.
The family is the most important unit for forming the community by
bringing up the next generation. So if there are problems in the home,
children will be affected and the whole family and community will suffer.
O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose
fuel is men and stones. Noble Qur'an, (66:6)
Parents are obligated not only to see to their religious training, proper
education but also training in sports and self defense of their children.
In addition, they must not show preference of sons and suppression or
negligence of daughters.
Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says:
"Observe justice in dealing with your children in the same manner in
which you expect them to observe justice in being kind and good to you."
Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
says: "Whoever goes to the bazaar and purchases a present for the members
of his family and brings it to them is like one who spends on the needy.
However he should prefer daughters to sons because whoever pleases
his daughter is like one who frees a slave from among the descendants
of Prophet Ismail (as)."
Relationship between Parents and Children in Islam:
"Your parents and your children, you know not which of them is the nearer
to you in usefulness; this is an ordinance from Allah: Surely Allah is Knowing,
Wise."
Noble Qur'an (4:11)
The above verse from Noble Qur'an shows the Islamic attitude towards the
relationship between parents and children. From infancy to adulthood,
it is unparalleled tender love and care of the parents which brings the child
from the stage of absolute weakness and helplessness to perfect strength
and independence.
Conversely, in old age a man becomes like a small child; the mind and body
turn so weak that Allah (SWT) says in Noble Qur'an: If We grant long life
to any, We cause him to be reversed in nature: Will they not then understand?
Noble Qur'an (36:68)
Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says:
"The parents are responsible with regard to their children in the same manner
in which the children are responsible with regard to their parents."
Yesterday, your parents looked after you when you were too feeble to look
after yourself; today you must look after them. Could we ever dare to think
about leaving our parents after all they have done so much for us?
No entry into Jannah without parents being pleased.
