Social commandments begin with the birth of a child; hence we begin with the Prophet's (SAW) sayings regarding birth and the duties of parents to the new born child. Saying of Adhaan (in the ears of a new-born child). Abu Rafey (RA) relates that, "I saw the Prophet (SAW) saying the Adhaan of Salaah in the ear of his grandson, Hasan, when the child was born to his daughter Fatima".
In this Hadith only the saying of Adhaan has been mentioned, but in another Hadith reported by Husain (RA) the Prophet (SAW) prescribed the saying of Adhaan in the right ear and Iqaamah in the left ear (of the new born child, and also mentioned its auspiciousness. He said, that on account of it, the child remained safe from infantile epilepsy.
As these Ahaadith show, the primary claim of a child on his parents is that his ears, and through his ears, his head and heart are made aquatinted with the name of the Almighty and His Oneness and with the Call of Faith and Salaah. The best way to it, evidently, is that Adhaan and Iqaamah are said in his ears, as these impart the knowledge of spirit and the fundamental practices of Islam in a most effective manner.
TAHNEEQ: When a child was born in the family of the Sahaaba (RA), they would take it to the Prophet (SAW) so that he would bless it, and apply the pulp of a date, chewed by him, to its palate, which the Sahaaba believed would help to keep the child safe from evils and bring it good furtune. This is called 'Tahneeq' in Islamic terms Ayesha (RA) narrates that "The people used to bring their new born children to the Prophet (SAW) and he would bless then and perform the Tahneeq".
AQEEQAH: In almost all the communities of the world, the birth of a child is considered a blessing and some ceremony is held to celebrate the event. Besides being natural, it also serves a special purpose, and makes it known, in a suitable and dignified manner, that the father has accepted the child as his own and there is no doubt or suspicion in his mind concerning it. It shuts the door to many mischief's that can arise in the future.
The practice of Aqeeqah was observed among the Arabs, even during the Age of Ignorance, for this very reason. The hair on the child's head was shaved off and its weight equivalent silver was sacrificed as a mark of rejoicing - which was a characteristic feature of Millat-e-Ibrahim the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). While preserving the practice in principle, the Prophet (SAW) gave appropriate instructions, and he set an example of how it was to be done.
It is reported by Buraidah (RA) that "During the Age of Ignorance", when a child was born to anyone of us, we used to slaughter a goat and smear the head of the child with its blood. Later, after the dawn of Islam, our practice became, (on the advice of the Prophet (SAW) that we sacrifice a goat of Aqeeqah on the seventh day after the birth of a child, and shave the head of the infant, and apply saffron on it".
Since, as we have seen, the Aqeeqah served as a useful purpose in many ways, and was also in keeping with the spirit of Islam and, perhaps like the rituals of Haj, it was among the remaining practices of Millat-e-Ibrahim, the Prophet (SAW) preserved the reality of Aqeeqah, but corrected the backward practices that had become associated with it.
The Aqeeqah ceremony was also observed by the Jews, but they sacrificed an animal only in the case of a male child which was indicative of the lesser value they placed on girls in the pre-Islamic times. The Prophet (SAW) corrected this too, and enjoined that the Aqeeqah of girls should also be performed, like that of the boys.
However, keeping in mind the natural difference between the two sexes, the Prophet (SAW) laid down that while one goat was to be sacrificed in the Aqeeqah of a female child, two should be sacrificed in the Aqeeqah of a male child provided that one's financial position permitted it.
It is reported by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Aa's (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, "To whomsoever a child is born, and he wants to perform a sacrifice of Aqeeqah on behalf of it, he should sacrifice two goats for a boy and one for a girl".
As is evident in this Hadith, Aqeeqah is not obligatory, but it is among the Mustahab acts, ie, those acts which are recommended and rewardable but are not binding or compulsory. In the same way it is not necessary to sacrifice two goats for a male child. It is better to sacrifice two, if one can afford it, otherwise, one is enough.
In some Ahaadith, the giving away in charity of silver equal in weight to the child's shaved hair, or its price in cash, is also mentioned, in addition to the sacrifice of the animal. This too is Mustahab and not compulsory.
The command to perform the Aqeeqah on the day of the birth has not been given, perhaps for the reason that, at the time the family is occupied with the needs and comforts of the mother and the shaving of the hair (head) the same day can also be harmful to the child. Generally, after a week, the mother gets well and does not need special attention and the baby, too, becomes strong enough to go through the shaving of the hair.
In some other Ahaadith, it is said that the child should also be named on the seventh day, together with Aqeeqah, but from a few other Ahaadith it appears that the Prophet (SAW) had named children even on the day of their birth. There is, as such, no harm in naming the child before the seventh day, but if it has not been done, the child should be named on the seventh day, together with the AQEEQAH: The Aqeeqah ceremony, as we have seen consists of two acts: the shaving of the hair (head) of the new born and the sacrifice of the animal. There is a peculiar link between the two acts and these acts are among the religious practices of Millat-e-Ibrahim.
In Haj, too, they go together where the pilgrims have their hair (head) shaved after the Adhiyah. Thus, Aqeeqah also, is practical demonstration of our association with Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and of the fact that the child, too, is a member of the same community.
TASMIYA:
That the child be given a good name is also an obligation of the parents.
Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) relates that the Prophet (SAW) said, "It is also a claim of the child on his father that he gives him a good name and teaches him good manners.
In another Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called out by your name and the name of your father. The call will be; so and so, son of so-and-so, therefore, give good names".
From these sayings and the practices of the Prophet (SAW), we get the guidance that its is the responsibility of the parents to give names to their children or have them named by a pious person.
RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING: All the prophets, and, lastly the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) have stressed that the brief earthly stay of a human being is an introduction to the everlasting life of eternity. It, therefore, follows that a greater attention is paid to the betterment of prospects in the life to come and attainment of happiness in the Hereafter than to the affairs and interests of this life.
Thus, the Prophet (SAW) has enjoined upon the parents to take care of the religious instruction of their children from the very beginning, otherwise they will be called to account for negligence on the Day of Judgement.
It is related by Ibn Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said "Have your children utter, first of all, the Kalima of Laa-ilaha-ilal-lah, (ie let these be the first words that they speak), and emphasise upon them to utter the same Kalima at the time of their death".
The child begins to receive the impression of what it sees or hears from the time of its birth. The saying of Adhaan and Iqaamah in the ears of a newly born infant, also, gives a clear indication of it. This Hadith shows that when a child begins to speak, it should be taught to utter the Kalima, as a first step towards its education. It further tells that when the dying moment is near, a person should, again be urged to pronounce the same Kalima. Blessed indeed is the man who when he utters the first words, on coming into this world, it is the Kalima, and the same Kalima is on his lips when he departs.
The Prophet (SAW) has said: "No father gives a better gift to his children than good manners and good character".
It is related by Anas (R.A.) that the Prophet (SAW) said "Show respect to your children and adorn them with good manners". Showing of respect to one's children denotes that they should be treated not as a burden, but a blessing and trusts of Allah, and brought up with care and affection.
In another Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said: "when your children attain the age of seven insist upon them to offer Salaah (regularly), and when they are ten years old punish them if they do not, and have separate beds for them (to sleep on).
Children generally, develop the faculty of understanding at the age of seven, and it is time that their feet were set on the path of worship of Allah. They should, therefore, be told to offer Salaah regularly when they attain that age.
At ten, their powers of discretion and intelligence are fairly advanced and they begin to approach maturity. At that time, the observance of Salaah ought to be enjoined strictly upon them, and they should be taken to task, in an appropriate manner, if they fail to do so. They should further be required to sleep on separate beds and not together (which is permitted up to the age of ten).
All these, in brief, are the rights of children, both boys and girls, on their parents, and the parents will have to render a full account in respect of them on the Day of Reckoning.
SHOWING KINDNESS TO DAUGHTERS: In some societies, even now daughters are considered an unwanted burden and instead of rejoicing, an atmosphere of grief and disappointments is produced in the family at their birth. This is the position, today, but in the pre-Islamic times the daughters were positively considered a shame and disgrace among the Arabs, so much so that even the right to live was denied to them. Many a hard-hearted parent used to strangle his daughter to death, with his own hands, when she was born, or bury her alive. The Qur'an says:
"When news is brought to one of them, of the birth of a female, his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief. He hides himself with shame, from the people, because of the bad news he has had. (Asking himself): shall he keep it in contempt or bury in the dust. Ah: What an evil choice they decide".
Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever becomes the father of a girl, he should neither hurt her nor treat her with contempt nor show preference over her to his sons in kindness and affection. (Both boys and girls should be treated alike). Allah will grant him paradise in return for kind treatment towards the daughter".
It is narrated that a very poor woman, with two daughters, came to Ayesha's (R.A.) place to beg. By chance, Ayesha (R.A.) had only one date with her, at that time, which she gave to the woman. The woman broke the date into two parts and gave one part each to the girls. She did not eat anything of it herself. When after some time, the Prophet (SAW) came, Ayesha (R.A.) related the incident to him, upon which he remarked:
"The believing man or woman upon whom there is the responsibility of daughters and he or she discharges it well and treats them with affection, the daughters will become a means of freedom, for him or her, in the hereafter".
It is related by Anas (R.A) that the Prophet (SAW) said "The believer who bears the responsibility of two daughters and supports them till they attain puberty, he and I will be close to one another like this on the Day of Judgement". Anas (R.A.), adds that the Prophet (SAW) showed, by joining the fingers of his (the fingers were close to one another), in the same way will the believer be close to him on the Day of Judgment.
Abu Saeed Khurdi (R.A) relates that the Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever bears the responsibility of three daughters or sisters or even of two daughters or sisters, and bears it well, and looks after their training and welfare properly, and then, gets them married, Allah will reward him with Paradise".
In these Ahaadith, the Prophet (SAW) has not only stated that kind treatment was the natural right or claim of the daughters, but, also that the believers who fulfilled the obligation towards them in a good and proper manner, would be rewarded with Paradise in the hereafter. He further, gives the joyful tidings that such a man will be close to him, on the Day of Judgement, as the fingers of a hand are, when joined together.
TREATING ALL THE CHILDREN EQUALLY:
The Prophet (SAW) has emphasised that parents should be just and fair to all the children, particularly in matters of gifts and kindness, and it must not be that while one gets more the others gets less or nothing. Besides being desirable in itself, equality to all the children also meets the demands of justice and equity which is pleasing to the Almighty.
If discrimination is made among the children and one is favoured more than the other, it will lead to ill-will and jealousy, and nothing but evil can arise from this. The child who is discriminated against, will bear a grudge against the father, the painful consequences of which are easy to imagine.
Narrates Mo'man ibn Bashir (R.A): "My father took me to the Prophet (SAW) and said (to him), "I have given a slave to this son of mine". The Prophet (SAW) enquired, "Have you given the same to all of your sons?" "No," my father replied.
The Prophet thereupon, said, "It is not correct. Take it back".
In another version, of the same Hadith, The Prophet (SAW) asked: "Do you want all your children to be equally devoted to you?" "Yes, of course", he replied. The Prophet said "Then do not act like that (let it not be that you give some property to one child and exclude the others.)"
In yet another version it is added that the Prophet remarked, "I cannot be a witness to an act of injustice".
In this Hadith, it is enjoined upon parents not to discriminate among their children when it comes to giving them something as a gift etc. This has been condemned by the Prophet (SAW) as unjust and unfair.
It must, however, be emphasised that the command applied only to a situation where the preferential treatment is based on a consideration that is not lawful or justifiable in the eye of the Shariah, otherwise no blame will be attached to it. For example, if a child is physically handicapped and cannot earn his livelihood like his brothers, a special favour to him will not be incorrect, but to an extent it will be essential and worthy of Divine reward.
Similarly, should any child dedicate himself to the cause of public welfare and have no time to look after his economic needs, it would also be correct and deserving of reward, to make a reasonable allowance for him over the other children.
There is no harm if preference is shown to one of the children with the consent of others (ie, the brother and sisters).
In a Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) says: "Treat all your children equally in regard to free gifts. If I were to show preference in this matter, I would show it to daughters. (If equality was not necessary and binding, I would have declared that more be given to daughters than to sons.)"
I can be concluded from this Hadith that though, after the death of the parents, the shares of daughters in ancestral property is half of the sons, in their life-time, the share of both the sons and the daughters is equal. Therefore, whatever the parents give to the sons, in their lifetime, should also be given to the daughters.
RESPONSIBILITY OF MARRIAGE: It is the duty of parents to arrange the marriage of their children when they come of age. The Prophet (SAW) has stressed that it should be taken seriously and with a full sense of responsibility. Abu Saeed Khudri and Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever is blessed by the Creator with children, should give them good names, a good training, teach them good manners, and arrange for their marriage when they attain the age of puberty. If he does not pay due heed to it and fails to get them married, on reaching marriageable age (due to negligence) and they take to ways that are forbidden, the father will be held responsible for it".
In this Hadith the marriage of the children, too, on their attaining the marriageable age, has been made a responsibility of the father. But alas we are growing increasingly indifferent to it mainly because we have made marriage a most tiresome and expensive affair by following and adopting the customs of others.
If we follow the good example of the Prophet (SAW) and begin to perform marriages as he had performed his own marriage or the marriages of his daughters, the whole ceremony will be as easy and simple, as it is for a Muslim to observe and fulfil the Friday prayers. Blessings will then flow from it - of which we have deprived ourselves, through thoughtless imitations of un-Islamic societies.
(COURTESY: DA'WAH HIGHLIGHTS): Abdullah ibn Abbas (R.A) reports that the Prophet (SWS) said: "Whoever becomes the father of a girl, he should neither hurt her nor treat her with contempt nor show preference over her to his sons in kindness and affection. (Both boys and girls should be treated alike.) Allah will grant him paradise in return for kind treatment towards his daughter". All the prophets, and, lastly the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) have stressed that the brief earthly stay of a human being is an introduction to the everlasting life of eternity.
It, therefore, follows that a greater attention is paid to the betterment of prospects in the life to come and attainment of happiness in the Hereafter than to the affairs and interests of this life. Thus, the Prophet (SAW) has enjoined upon the parents to take care of the religious instruction of their children from the very beginning, otherwise they will be called to account for negligence on the Day of Judgement.