Islam is known as an educational, social revolution in Arab that brought about lot of changes to eliminate all type of discrimination and to promote human rights on the basis of equality and equity. But, unfortunately, today there are certain traditional and cultural practices in different Muslim societies, which deprive women of certain rights that are granted by Islam. This discrimination starts even before the birth of a child (e.g abortion in case if the expected child is a girl) and continues throughout the child rearing and afterward. Education, inheritance, freedom of choice and opinion, standard of modesty and tolerance are so much gender based that even a mother desire to have male children for a respectable status in the family. This article will briefly look into some important Islamic perspectives about bringing up a baby-girl into a woman, which are missing in many Muslim societies due to lack of knowledge or lack of sincere intention.
By Yoosuf ibn 'Abdullaah Al-'Areefee
The encouragement to seek children covers both sons and daughters, and along with this general encouragement Islam has given special merits to seeking and bringing up girls - contrary to the thinking of the people of ignorance (age of 'Jaahiliyyah') of the past and present, since the people of ignorance - wherever and whenever found - hated (some of them 'still do') to have daughters and were grieved and angered by their births!
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision." (An-Nahl 16:58-59)
Daughters are without doubt a great blessing from Almighty Allah. They are a means of salvation and a path to Jannah for their parents. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated that when a boy is born, then he brings one Noor (light) and when a girl is born, then she brings two Noors. It has been narrated in a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated that if parents are kind and generous towards their daughters, then they will be so close to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in Jannah, like one finger is to the next. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has also stated that the person who is faced with hardship due to his daughters, and makes Sabr (is patient), then his daughters will be a Purdah (curtain) between him and Hell.
Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran,
Chapter 33, Verse 59: "O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons; that is better, that they should be known (as such) and not be molested." And in Chapter 24, Verse 31: "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what appear thereof; that they should draw their scarves over their bosoms - "
“When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? “ (Quran 16: 58,59)
Hadit:
It is evident from Prophet’s (PBUH) sayings that a daughter is bestowed as a path to eternal success for both mom and dad. Moreover, he exhorted that the attitude towards her, her upbringing and tutelage must be done with due assiduity and vigilance. The affection and affinity Prophet (PBUH) had poured upon his darling daughter Fathima (RA) and Ayesha (RA), who entered in marital life with Prophet in her early teenage, has been a sublime guideline for parents of all times. Prophet (PBUH) adored both the tenderhearted women with due assiduity, yet with a plethora of affection. He fostered Ayesha (RA)’s lust for knowledge. 2210 hadeeth’s had been narrated by Ayesha (RA).
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) incited: ‘Whoever had a daughter born to him, and he did not bury her alive or humiliate her, and he did not prefer his son over her, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) will admit him to Paradise because of her.” (Abu Dawud)
islamic_parenting_girls_daughters“Whoever has three daughters, and shelters them, bearing their joys and sorrows with patience, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) will admit him to Paradise by virtue of his compassion towards them.” A man asked, “What if he has only two, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Even if they are only two.” Another man asked, “What if he has only one, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Even if he has only one.” (Mishkath)
Prophet (PBUH), also told: “Whoever is tested with daughters and treats them well, they will be for him a shield against the Fire of Hell.” (Bukhari Muslim)
Once, one of the leaders of the believers was receiving people when a small daughter of his entered the room, so he kissed her; a Bedouin was also in attendance and saw this, so he mentioned daughters in a very evil manner. A wise man who was also present witnessed all of this and therefore said: "O leader of the believers! Do not listen to him. I swear by Allaah, that it is they (i.e., girls) who stay up to care for the sick in the family, who show mercy towards the elders, and who stand next to men during hardships."
A man was granted a baby girl, so he became angry and isolated himself from his wife for a long time, and after few months, he overheard his wife reciting the verse (which means): “…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you…” [Quran 2:216]
By Yoosuf ibn 'Abdullaah Al-'Areefee
The encouragement to seek children covers both sons and daughters, and along with this general encouragement Islam has given special merits to seeking and bringing up girls - contrary to the thinking of the people of ignorance (age of 'Jaahiliyyah') of the past and present, since the people of ignorance - wherever and whenever found - hated (some of them 'still do') to have daughters and were grieved and angered by their births!
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision." (An-Nahl 16:58-59)
Daughters are without doubt a great blessing from Almighty Allah. They are a means of salvation and a path to Jannah for their parents. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated that when a boy is born, then he brings one Noor (light) and when a girl is born, then she brings two Noors. It has been narrated in a Hadith that the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated that if parents are kind and generous towards their daughters, then they will be so close to the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in Jannah, like one finger is to the next. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has also stated that the person who is faced with hardship due to his daughters, and makes Sabr (is patient), then his daughters will be a Purdah (curtain) between him and Hell.
Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran,
Chapter 33, Verse 59: "O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons; that is better, that they should be known (as such) and not be molested." And in Chapter 24, Verse 31: "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what appear thereof; that they should draw their scarves over their bosoms - "
“When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? “ (Quran 16: 58,59)
Hadit:
It is evident from Prophet’s (PBUH) sayings that a daughter is bestowed as a path to eternal success for both mom and dad. Moreover, he exhorted that the attitude towards her, her upbringing and tutelage must be done with due assiduity and vigilance. The affection and affinity Prophet (PBUH) had poured upon his darling daughter Fathima (RA) and Ayesha (RA), who entered in marital life with Prophet in her early teenage, has been a sublime guideline for parents of all times. Prophet (PBUH) adored both the tenderhearted women with due assiduity, yet with a plethora of affection. He fostered Ayesha (RA)’s lust for knowledge. 2210 hadeeth’s had been narrated by Ayesha (RA).
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) incited: ‘Whoever had a daughter born to him, and he did not bury her alive or humiliate her, and he did not prefer his son over her, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) will admit him to Paradise because of her.” (Abu Dawud)
islamic_parenting_girls_daughters“Whoever has three daughters, and shelters them, bearing their joys and sorrows with patience, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) will admit him to Paradise by virtue of his compassion towards them.” A man asked, “What if he has only two, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Even if they are only two.” Another man asked, “What if he has only one, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Even if he has only one.” (Mishkath)
Prophet (PBUH), also told: “Whoever is tested with daughters and treats them well, they will be for him a shield against the Fire of Hell.” (Bukhari Muslim)
Once, one of the leaders of the believers was receiving people when a small daughter of his entered the room, so he kissed her; a Bedouin was also in attendance and saw this, so he mentioned daughters in a very evil manner. A wise man who was also present witnessed all of this and therefore said: "O leader of the believers! Do not listen to him. I swear by Allaah, that it is they (i.e., girls) who stay up to care for the sick in the family, who show mercy towards the elders, and who stand next to men during hardships."
A man was granted a baby girl, so he became angry and isolated himself from his wife for a long time, and after few months, he overheard his wife reciting the verse (which means): “…But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you…” [Quran 2:216]
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