In Islam bringing up girls is strongly appreciated. Prophet Muhammad promised the one who brings up their girls properly that he would accompany him in paradise. To understand why the noble Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, empathized the well bringing up of girls we have to know that in the Arabic society before Islam, fathers used to feel disgraced when a daughter is borne to him. They used to burry the girl alive to get rid of the shame. They considered the daughter as inferior to the son. In fact only few of them were a bit fair to girls.
Fighting such an unfair attitude was one of the main issues in Islam that came with the major concept of equality between all races, “An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab”
To fulfill this concept Islam had to fight sex discrimination. Islam fought this discrimination in various ways in which Islam ensured the rights of women whether as a mother, wife or daughter.
Among the sayings of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding daughters are :
Fighting such an unfair attitude was one of the main issues in Islam that came with the major concept of equality between all races, “An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab”
To fulfill this concept Islam had to fight sex discrimination. Islam fought this discrimination in various ways in which Islam ensured the rights of women whether as a mother, wife or daughter.
Among the sayings of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding daughters are :
- Malik reported Allah's Messenger, may peace be upon him, as saying: He, who brought up two girls properly till they grew up, he and I would come (together) (very closely) on the Day of Resurrection, and he interlaced his fingers (for explaining the point of nearness between him and that person).
- Mother of the believers, A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle, may peace be upon him, said: A woman came to me along with her two daughters. She asked me for (charity) but she found nothing with me except one date, so I gave her that. She accepted it and then divided it between her two daughters and she ate nothing out of that. She then got up and went out, and so did her two daughters. (In the meanwhile) Allah's Apostle, may peace be upon him, visited me and I narrated to him her story. Thereupon Allah's Apostle, may peace be upon him, said: He who is involved (in the responsibility) of (bringing up) daughters, and he accords benevolent treatment towards them, there would be protection for him against Hell-Fire.
- Mother of the believers, A'isha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported: A poor woman came to me along with her daughters. I gave her three dates. She gave a date to each of them and then she took up one date and brought that to her mouth in order to eat that, but her daughters expressed desire to eat it. She then divided the date that she intended to eat between them. This (kind) treatment of her impressed me and I mentioned that which she did to Allah's Messenger, may peace be upon him. Thereupon he said: Verily Allah has assured Paradise for her, because of (this act) of her, or He has rescued her from Hell-Fire.
Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 32, The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wa'l-Adab) - Chapter 44: THE MERIT OF ACCORDING BENEVOLENT TREATMENT TO DAUGHTERS - A daughter always belong to the paternal family. Marriage does not break this bond. The Islamic social order makes elaborate arrangements for fair treatment of the daughter.
- The daughter have the right to be financially supported by her father till she gets married (where she is financially supported by her husband). If the father dies then her financial support becomes the responsibility of her brother
- Daughters must receive love and best maintenance.
- Daughters have as much rights as the son in educational, physical and mental uplifting.
- Daughters have their share in the father's property, which is recognized and granted at every cost.
- Daughters have the right to choose her husband. The father is not allowed to oblige her to marry a certain person.
- If, by chance, a woman becomes a widow or is divorced, Islamic law reverts her back to the paternal home where she is supported financially (if widowed while if divorced she is financially supported by her ex-husband during her period of Iddat then by her father) and looked after with love and affection.The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "should I not tell you what is the best charity..That you should show kindness to that daughter who(becoming a widow of having been divorced) has been returned to you, and who has no other maintainer or supporter." (Ibne-e-Majah, Abwahul Adab).
