Parent-child relation is reciprocal. Scholars have categorized “The Rights of Children (Duties and responsibilities of Parents)” into 10 basic rights which are as follows

  1. Upon birth
    1. give him or her a good name
    2. Adhan in the ear.
    3. circumcise him.
    4. Make Aqiqah [sacrifice], to take some of the baby hair
  2. Children have the right to be protected not to be killed
    1. About “FAMILY PLANNING” ask the scholars –
    2. THE CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO LIFE
  3. Children have the right to be fed and clothed
    1. Mothers may breastfeed their children for 2 years
    2. Children have a right to a standard of living
    3. Pious people’s families would all be in Paradise
  4. Right to Education
    1. The child’s first school is a mother- “mother tongue” is the best language
    2. Islamic Education
    3. Scientific or worldly matters related to education
  5. Right to love and affection
    1. Ninety-nine parts of Mercy is with Allah
    2. prophet (PBUH) loved the children greatly
  6. Right to be well provided (materially)-Welfare of the child
    1. Treat the children equally
  7. Arrange/accept a good spouse for your child’s marriage
  8. Adults to give appropriate respect to children
  9. Inheritance rights (birthright or heritage property rights)
  10. Pray for their children’s well being-ness
  11. Protect Children from bad friends and evil companions

Upon the birth of children

  1. give him or her a good name
  2. Adhan in the ear
  3. circumcise
  4. Make Aqiqah [sacrifice], to take some of the baby hair

There is a Prophetic tradition narrated by AbuWahb Al-Jushami says: “Keep the names of prophets, the most desirable names by Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahmaan, and names that depict honesty such as Haarith (planter) and Hammam (thoughtful). The most disliked names are Harb (battle) and Murrah (bitter).” (Abu Dawood 4932)

Children have the right to be protected
Guidance from Holy Quran
Allah says in Quran:

  1. “O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones (Surah Al Tahrim 66 / 6)
  2. Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward. (Al-Taghabun 64/15)
  3. And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin. ( Bani Israil 17/31)

Guidance from Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH)

  1. Allah’s Apostle, PBH said: “Upon death, man’s deeds will (definitely) stop except for three deeds, namely: a continuous charitable fund, endowment or goodwill; knowledge left for people to benefit from; and pious righteous and God-fearing child who continuously prays Allah the Almighty, for the soul of his parents.” (Muslim 1631)
  2. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. (wards=children, property, possessions….etc.) The ruler is a guardian and the man is a guardian of his family; the lady is a guardian and is responsible for her husband’s house and his offspring (children), and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards.” (Bukhari 7/128)

The Child has a right to life
Neither the father nor the mother has the right to take the life of the child, whether a boy or a girl, by killing it or burying it alive, as was done by some Arabs of jahiliyyah. Young age children’s murder is the oppression of a feeble, helpless human being. What would be the answer when Almighty Allah will ask the people “The female child who was buried alive is asked for what crime she was killed.”

“And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked. For what sin she was killed (Surah At-Takwir 81/8-9)

Children have the right to be fed and clothed
Mothers may nurse (breast-feed) their children for two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing
(Surah Baqra 2/233)

Right to Education
The child’s first School is the mother

This means a number of things for a Muslim. First, the mother is regarded as the child’s first school and a source of great influence on the child’s character and manners. Islam encourages learning throughout your life.

Right to Love and Affection
Our Prophet (PBUH) loved children greatly
A bedouin came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, “You (people) kiss the boys! We don’t kiss them.” The prophet (PBUH) said, “I cannot put mercy in your heart after Allah has taken it away from it.”
(Bukhari 8/27)

Right to be well provided (materially)
Treat the children equally
Numan b. Bashir reported: My father conferred a gift upon me, and then brought me to Allah’s Messenger The Holy Prophet PBUH had said: Observe equity amongst your children. (Muslim 3970)

Arrange/accept a good spouse for your son’s or daughter’s marriage
First marriage or remarry son or daughter in case the first spouse has died or divorced
Narrated by Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RA, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If anyone cares for three daughters, disciplines them, marries them, and does good to them, he will go to Paradise. (Muslim 5128)

Narrated by Abu Huraira RA, the Prophet said, “The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah’s Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.” (Bukhari 7/265)

Right to child’s respect
Adults or parents must give appropriate respect to children

Prophet (PBUH) while walking through the streets would offer ‘salaam’ to children, play, and cut jokes with them. Anas bin Malik reported that he passed by a group of boys and greeted them and said, “The prophet (PBUH) used to do so.” (Bukhari 8/264)

Inheritance Rights
Birth Rights or heritage property rights of children

Parents both father and mother are required to pray for their children’s welfare
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The supplications of three persons are accepted, and there is no doubt concerning their acceptance: the supplication of a father, of a traveler, and of one who is wronged (oppressed).’ (Reported by Ahmad, At- Tirmidhi,
Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah)

by: Mirza Ehteshamuddin Ahmed