Rights of the Child in Islam

Question :

Are there any children’s rights in Islam? If so, what rights does Islam give to children?

Answer (Islamic Fiqh Academy) :

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.



All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.



Thanks for your question, and we implore Allah to reward you abundantly for your interest in knowing the teachings of Islam.

Islam considers the issue of children’s rights
very important, as children are the nucleus of a healthy society. Islam
encourages males and females to marry and to choose their spouses well,
for this is the hereditary basis for a caring home and a good
upbringing for children.



Based on this overall principle, the council decided the following:



1. The Islamic Shari`ah dictates that it is a duty (upon
society and parents) to protect the fetus against any harm that may
afflict it or its mother, such as the harm caused by poisons and drugs.



2. The child has the right to survival from the moment of
its conception; this right is not to be abused by abortion or anything
else that may deform the child or cause him/her physical disability.



3. Every child has physical and moral rights. The physical
rights include the right to ownership, inheritance, bequeathal, to give
donations, and endowments. The moral rights include the right to have a
good name, to know who his/her parents are, to know his/her lineage,
and to have sound religious and moral guidance.



4. Children who are orphans, foundlings, displaced, victims
of war, and the like, have rights the same as other children; the
society and governments of their countries should see to the
realization of their rights.



5. The child has a right to a full 2-year nursing period.



6. The child has a right to be brought up in a decent and
clean environment in his or her parent's and, in case of separation
between the parents, in his or her mother's custody. If this is not
possible, then the child has the right to be brought up in the custody
of the next closest relative, as is clarified in the Islamic Shari`ah.



7. The child's person and wealth should be under the
guardianship of his/her family or the state until he/she reaches the
age of legal responsibility.


8. The right to a good and moral upbringing, receiving a
good education and training, and learning skills that will qualify the
child to earn his/her livelihood and lead an independent life are some
of the most important rights. Talented children must be given special
care so that their energies can be developed properly. All this must be
done in the framework of the Islamic Shari`ah.



9. Islam warns parents and societies against neglecting
children, lest this causes feelings of homelessness and loss. Islam
also prohibits the exploitation of children in fields of labor that may
affect their physical, mental, and psychological states.



10. Islam considers abusing the religious rights of
children, endangering their lives, exploiting them sexually,
misappropriating their properties, and brainwashing them as blatant
crimes.

Source : Islamonline