The Blessing of Children
Children are a divine blessing bestowed by Allah upon whom He wills among His servants. They are the adornment of worldly life, bringing joy to the soul and delight upon their arrival. For those who are deprived of this blessing, it is likely a test from Allah, assessing their patience and faith. The Islamic teachings emphasize the importance of raising children with care and instilling values in them. The guiding texts from the Quran and Sunnah highlight the significance of nurturing them towards righteousness and good morals, thereby contributing to the development of a productive generation that benefits both their families and society at large.
Quranic Verses on the Blessing of Children
Below are several verses that speak of the blessing of children:
- Allah Almighty states:
{To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants female offspring to whom He wills, and He grants male offspring to whom He wills.}
- Allah says:
{Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life, but the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope.}
- Allah mentions:
{And those who have believed and their descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.}
- Allah emphasizes:
{Do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We provide for them and for you. Killing them is a great sin.}
- Allah declares:
{Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.}
- Allah instructs:
{And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.”}
- Allah advises:
{Allah commands you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are only daughters, for them is two-thirds of what he leaves. And if there is one daughter, for her is half.}
- Allah reiterates:
{And do not kill your children out of poverty; We provide for them and for you.}
- Allah created for you from among yourselves spouses and made for you from your spouses children and grandchildren, and He provided for you from the good things.}
Hadiths on the Blessing of Children and Their Upbringing
The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasizes the blessing of children and the virtue of their proper upbringing in several narrations, including:
- Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd, and a man is a shepherd over his family, and a woman is a shepherd over her husband’s household and his children. So each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“When a person dies, his actions cease except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
- Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever supports two or three daughters or sisters until they reach maturity, I and he will be like this in Paradise,” and he indicated with his fingers.