The Blessings Of Daughters In Islam

Status of Children in Islam

Children are one of the greatest blessings of Allah. There is no joy greater than having your own children. Thanks to Allah who is blessed with children. Allah says in the Holy Quran that it is absolutely at His discretion to bless with children be it a girl or a boy, or both gender children. Likewise, it is His will if He wants to keep any couple barren. Many people blame either man or woman for the gender of the child or not having children altogether. It is absolutely wrong to do so, for children are a blessing of Allah.

Before the advent of Islam, the pagans of Arab used to treat daughters extremely badly. They were considered a source of shame and disgrace. They were deemed as a burden on the father. The atrocities were to the extent that when a daughter was born, parents used to bury them alive due to the immense social pressure.

When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came and spread the teachings of Islam, he declared daughters as the blessings of Allah. The status of daughters in Islam can be judged by the following Quranic verses:

“And when one among them receives the glad tidings of a daughter, his face turns black for the day, and he remains seething. Hiding from the people because of the evil of the tidings; “Will he keep her with disgrace, or bury her beneath the earth?”; pay heed! Very evil is the judgment they impose!” [Surah al-Nahl, Verse 58-59]

“And do not kill your children, fearing poverty; We shall provide sustenance to them as well as to you; indeed, killing them is a great mistake.” [Surah Bani Israel, Verse 31]

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“When a boy is born, then he brings one Noor (light) and when a girl is born, then she brings two Noors.”

“If parents are kind and generous towards their daughters, then they will be so close to Him (The Holy Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him) in Jannah like one finger is to the next.”

When Islam came, daughters were given their due rights and highly exalted status. There is a great reward for raising daughters in Islam. If a person raises his daughters well, feeds and clothes them sufficiently and gives them proper education, he will be saved from the fire of Hell. Therefore, daughters must not be considered as a burden rather they are wings for their parents who can take them closer to the gardens of Paradise. It is also known from ahadith that Allah blesses daughters to someone He is the happiest. Daughters are considered as a source of Allah’s mercy. What could be greater than Allah’s mercy?

Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to love his daughter very dearly. His eyes used to glitter with love and affection whenever he used to look at her. When she used to enter his room, he would stand up and kiss her forehead in respect. When our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) infant son died, he was dejected and dismayed. The unbelievers rejoiced the event and mocked at the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They celebrated thinking now that Muhammad (PBUH) has no male offspring there will be no one to carry forth his generation and no one would remember his name.

Allah revealed Surah Al Kausar to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to console him. He gave him the glad tiding of Kausar in the Surah which has two meanings. Firstly, it means Allah gave him the authority of Fountain Kausar from which he will give water to quench the thirst on the Day of Judgment only to those whom he wishes. The second meaning of Kausar is “abundance”. Allah comforted his beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that he must not worry as Allah has given him an abundance of knowledge, wisdom, and respect until this world lasts.

Today nobody remembers his enemies and their offsprings. But the generation of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) continued from his beloved daughter Hazrat Fatima (RA). Allah proved that daughters can also carry family names and generations. It is wrong to say that sons carry the generation. The most respected and revered generation ever that is of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came forth from a daughter. This is the best example to show the blessings of daughters in Islam.