Rights of Children in Islam

Children as Trustees of the Next Generation

Islamic law (Sharia) is built around the preservation of five essential goods: life, intellect, lineage, property, and religion. The rights of children touch every one of these foundations. Long before modern human rights frameworks emerged, classical Islamic jurisprudence had developed a detailed body of law protecting children from the moment of conception through adulthood — establishing obligations on parents, communities, and the state that scholars of all four major schools of jurisprudence affirmed without controversy.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated profound love and tenderness toward children. He said: "Whoever has a daughter and does not bury her alive, does not humiliate her, and does not favor his son over her — Allah will admit him to Paradise" (Abu Dawud). In pre-Islamic Arabia, female infanticide was practiced. The Prophet (peace be upon him) abolished it and transformed the birth of a daughter from a cause of shame to an occasion of gratitude and honor.

The Right to Life and a Good Name

The first right of a child is the right to life. Islam prohibits infanticide and abortion after ensoulment (which the majority of scholars place at 120 days, though many hold it to be at 40 days) except in cases of genuine medical necessity. The Quran condemns the killing of children out of fear of poverty: "Do not kill your children for fear of poverty — We provide for them and for you" (Quran 17:31).

The child also has the right to a beautiful, meaningful name. The Prophet (peace be upon him) changed names that had negative meanings and gave children names that carried good connotations. He recommended the names of prophets and righteous people, particularly Abdullah and Abdurrahman (slave of Allah, slave of the Most Merciful). A good name is a lifelong gift — it shapes how a person is perceived and, the scholars note, can influence the bearer's own sense of identity and aspiration.

The Right to Sustenance, Education, and Care

Fathers are obligated under all four madhabs to provide financially for their children — food, clothing, shelter, and medical care — according to their means. This obligation does not end with divorce; a father must continue supporting his children regardless of his marital status. The mother, while breastfeeding, is also entitled to financial support for this service to the child.

Education is a right, not a privilege. The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared seeking knowledge obligatory upon every Muslim — male and female. This foundational principle translates into a parental obligation to educate children in their faith, their language, and the practical skills they need to function as responsible adults. Classical scholars included in a child's rights the right to be taught swimming, archery, and riding — representing the physical and practical alongside the intellectual and spiritual.

Children also have the right to emotional care. The Prophet (peace be upon him) publicly kissed his grandchildren and rebuked a man who said he had never kissed his children. He said: "He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy" (Bukhari). Emotional warmth, affection, encouragement, and the experience of being cherished are rights — not optional extras in Islamic child-rearing.

Protection from Harm and the Right to Justice

Islam strictly prohibits all forms of abuse — physical, emotional, and sexual. The principle of la darar wa la dirar (no harm shall be inflicted or reciprocated) applies fully to children, who by definition lack the power to protect themselves. Islamic law mandates intervention by the community and state when parents fail in their protective duty.

Children also have the right to just treatment among siblings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) refused to witness a gift given to one child and not equalized among others, calling it injustice (Bukhari). Favoritism among children is not a private family matter — it is a violation of their rights that can sow long-lasting discord and emotional harm. Justice begins at home, and the Islamic model of the family is one in which every child knows they are valued, protected, and loved equally before Allah.