Eman Sakina

The Prophet has said: “When a boy is born, then he brings one light and when a girl is born, she brings two lights.” Children are a wonderful gift from Almighty Allah to parents. All riches and financial resources are worthless when compared to one's children. Therefore, parents must think of their children as treasure. As parents, we should thank and praise Almighty Allah for blessing us with children. 

  Today, it is quite disheartening to see that some parents rejoice when the newborn is a boy and show their dissatisfaction when it’s a girl. However, this should not be the attitude. Islam does not condone such behaviour that was prevalent in the period of ignorance. In pre-Islamic times, the Arabs used to be disheartened and annoyed with the birth of girls, so that a father, when informed his wife had given birth to a girl, said, “By Allah, she is not as blissful as a son; her defense is crying and her care is but stealing!” 

He meant she could not defend her father and her family except by screaming and crying, not by fighting and taking up arms. She also cannot be good to them or take care of them since she would have to ask her husband to give her money for giving it to her family. Their traditions allowed the father to bury his daughter alive to beat poverty, real or perceived, or out of fear that she might bring disgrace upon the. IIn that context, the Qur’an says, denouncing and derogating them:

“And when the girl-child who was buried alive is asked. Upon what sin was she killed for.”

The Qur’an also describes the condition of fathers when daughters were born:

“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!”

Some ancient laws gave the father the right to sell his daughter if he wished so; while others allowed him to hand her to another man whose daughter her girl’s might had killed. She was left to be either killed or own her at the mercy of that man.

When Islam was revealed, it decreed a daughter – like a son – was a gift from Allah, to be granted to whomever Allah wishes of His worshipers: 

“For Allah only is the kingship of the heavens and the earth; He creates whatever He wills; He may bestow daughters to whomever He wills, and sons to whomever He wills. Or may mix them, the sons and daughters; and may make barren whomever He wills; indeed He is All-Knowing, Able.” 

The Prophet of Islam made Paradise the recompense of every father who conducts himself well with his daughters, has patience in raising them, provides their moral education, and observes Allah’s commands concerning them until they come of age or until his. The Prophet made the place of the father in Paradise next to him. Hadrat Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever brings up two girls till they reach the age of puberty, he and I will come on the Day of Resurrection like this,” (and he joined his blessed fingers.) 

Daughters are a blessing from Allah and a means of salvation and a path to Jannah (Heaven) for their parents. The crux of one narration states that:

“One who loves his daughters and withstands the hardship of grooming and getting them married, Almighty Allah makes Jannah compulsory (Waajib) on him and keeps him protected from the Fire of Hell.”

And in another Hadith, the Prophet said:

“They will be a shield for him from the Fire.”

The Prophet commanded:

“Whenever you buy anything from the market, keep the first present for your female children then for your male children.”

“Daughters are a gift from Almighty Allah. Those parents who are kind towards them, Almighty Allah is generous towards such parents. Those who are merciful to their daughters, Almighty Allah is Merciful towards them. When a girl is born to a family, then between the parents and Hell, there shall be a distance of 500 years.”

It has been stated that "When parents rejoice at the birth of a daughter, this is greater than making Tawaaf (ritual of circumambulating) of the Kaaba 70 times." Muslims should also remember that the family of the Holy Prophet is from his beloved daughter Sayyidah Fatima Zahra.

With these open and authentic texts, the birth of girls is neither a fearful burden nor a bad omen. On the contrary, it is a blessing. Every parent should therefore rejoice in the birth of their daughters, love and guide them and give them their due. Do not deprive them of their inheritance.

Also Read: It's not difficult to deal with stress and anxiety