Children’s rights in Islam! Must know! Read Now! Many parents think that they are the only ones to have rights over their children. Some parents use Qur’an verses in an abusive way or suppressive way. Sometimes we receive questions from girls and boys asking if they have any rights in Islam!! They thought because of the abusive and misleading application of Islam commands that parents have all rights to do whatever they want with their children and that their sons and daughters should only say ok without even any argument. However, just as parents have a right over children, children have a right over their parents. Allah said: “O ye who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded.” Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم (also said: ” If God appointed anyone ruler over a people and he died while he was still treacherous to his people, God would forbid his entry into Paradise.” Also, it is narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ( said:” Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The amir (ruler) who is over the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; a man is a shepherd in charge of the inhabitants of his household and he is responsible for his flock; a woman is a shepherdess in charge of her husband’s house and children and she is responsible for them, and a man’s slave (before slavery becomes forbidden in Islam) is a shepherd in charge of his master’s property and he is responsible for it. So each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.” Since that, children have rights to take into account, and these rights are many, including
1- First, Choosing the right mother/father for your future children. Every man has to carefully choose his wife as she’s going to be his children’s mother. Same for every girl, you should carefully choose your husband according to who would be a great father to your children.
2- Choosing good names for them and caring for the child and providing basic needs of food, drink, clothing and housing according to physical and financial abilities without stinginess or extravagance.
3- One of the most important rights of children to the fathers is to teach them; morals, good behavior and religion in a way that satisfies Allah. Concerning that, do not forget that the best method to use for teaching them morals or do prayers or whatever is to be a model in that, so they will imitate you. The best method in teaching children something is letting them imitate you. It is better than giving advice or orders.
5- Choosing a place to live in a Muslim community that is well known by good neighborhoods, good schools. So, your children can find good friends. And this point is very important as your children usually spend time at school with friends more than with their parents. Also, friends and colleagues have a great effect on children’s personalities.
6- Following them up in their daily life situations, to provide them with a caring, loving, supportive and happy life. Many parents may fail in the last right, so, unfortunately, there will be a bad result of their failure, which is the punishment of their children to them and disobedience to them once they get older