Daughter is a Shield for Her Parents

Importance of Daughter in Islam

The daughter is the blessing of Allah. Allah blesses with daughters those people who deserve them. Islam gave huge respect and honour to daughters. Children are no doubt a great gift from Almighty Allah to all parents. Parents must think of their children as such treasures that all the wealth and material resources are worthless when compared to their children. We, as parents, should thank and be grateful to Almighty Allah for blessing us with children, whether they are boys or girls. Allah says:

لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ

“To Allah (belongs the) dominion (of) the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants to whom He wills females, and He grants to whom He wills [the] males.” (Surah Ash-Shura 42:49)

When a daughter is born into a family, she should be treated as a great blessing, not a burden. The birth of a baby girl brings many benefits for the family, as daughters are an important part of society. Parents who are blessed with a daughter should bring her up well, because Allah SWT has promised paradise to whoever raises their daughter well, to be a woman who walks in the path that pleases Allah SWT and does everything to seek the blessing of Allah SWT. A daughter is a great bounty and an honour granted by Allah, Imaam Al-Hasan  may Allah have mercy upon him said:

Girls are a source of reward and sons are a blessing; rewards are in one’s favour (on the Day of Judgement) whereas one will be held accountable for blessings.”

Such honouring of daughters is the complete opposite of how people were accustomed to dealing with females in the pre-Islamic era when they would degrade women and consider them a part of their wealth, and if news of a baby girl would come to any of them, it would be as if he was hit by a thunderstorm; Allah says (what means): which means: Allah says:

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِالْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ

“And when good news is given (to one of them of a female, he turns his face dark and suppresses grief.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:58)

These Are The Rights Of A Daughter, According To Islam:

  1. A daughter is a gift given by Allah SWT directly to her parents
  2. Daughters are responsible for carrying on the next generation
  3. Daughters are the reason for the existence of humanity
  4. Whoever has a daughter will be distanced from Hell
  5. Jannah is Compulsory for a Daughter’s Parents
  6. A Daughter’s Father is Close to Muhammad SA
  7. Raising a Daughter Well Guaranteed Paradise
  8. A Daughter Distanced Her Parents from Hell
  9. Daughter is a Shield for Her Parents
  10. Daughters Bring Double Blessings
  11. Daughters are Great Blessings
  12. The Blessing is the Same Regardless of the Number of Daughters
  13. Allah SWT is merciful towards those who are merciful to their daughters
  14. Islam gave a daughter the right to marry the person of her wish
  15. A daughter brings her parents closer to Allah SWT and His Messenger (SAW)
  16. Islam gave her the right to sue the person who sexually harassed or abused her
  17. Whoever is generous towards their daughter, Allah SWT is generous to them as well
  18. Islam gave them the right to education and work equally as the man for their family
  19. Islam gave her the right to their father’s property. Her share is half of her brother’s share
  20. Islam gave her the right to Khula if she is not satisfied with her marriage and husband
  21. Islam gave her the right to live happily with or without a man. Man is not everything for her
  22. Parents who are kind and generous towards their daughter are closer to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) than anybody else
  23. A man who faces hardships with his daughter and makes Sabr out of it will be shielded from the Hell of fire
  24. Rejoicing the birth of a daughter is greater than making seven times Tawaaf around the Kaaba
  25. A man with many daughters is similar to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), whose children are mostly daughters
  26. Islam gave her the right to speak and express her views and ideas in front of the public
  27. Islam gave her the right to be the power of the world and explained that without a woman, a man is nothing
  28. Islam gave her the right to be a self-own person, or in another sense, to make decisions about herself in every matter
  29. For the very first time, Islam considered a woman equal to a man and described that there is no discrimination against them

For a society in the past, having a daughter was a burden and shame to the family. But Allah SWT values a daughter highly, as He promised paradise for whoever has a daughter. A Muslim who has 2 daughters or sisters, 3 daughters or sisters and brings them up in the right way under the fear of Allah SWT, then Allah made Jannah mandatory only for him. Allah says:

أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَاثًا وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَاءُ عَقِيمًا إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ

“Or He grants them males and females; and He makes whom He wills barren. Indeed, He (is) All-Knower, All-Powerful.” (Surah Ash-Shura 42:50)

Rights and Duties of Daughters

Islam came into being and granted rights to women as daughters, sisters, and wives. It is enough of an honour for girls that the Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, had daughters and that most of the children of our beloved Prophet were sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) daughters, namely: Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kalthoom and Faatimah, may Allah be pleased with them. Islam also created some responsibilities for them, which are mentioned below:

  • Islam gave equal rights to women and men and described that there is no discrimination against them
  • Islam gave them the right to receive love and the best maintenance from parents, brothers, and husbands
  • Islam gave her the right to speak and express her views and ideas in front of the public
  • The daughter has a responsibility or duty to cover herself properly to live safely in society
  • The father is not allowed to oblige her to marry a certain person without her wish
  • She has a right to Khula if she is not satisfied with her marriage and husband
  • They can get an education just like men and can also work for their family
  • Her share is half of her brother’s share in the property
  • She has to be within limits when it’s a matter of Na-mahram
  • She has to be loyal to her husband after getting married
  • A daughter always belongs to the paternal family
  • They have the right to choose their husband
  • They have the right to their father’s property
  • She must keep her dignity
  • Islam gave them the right to education
  • She has to take care of her family
  • Marriage does not break this bond
  • The Islamic social order makes detailed arrangements for the fair treatment of the daughter
  • Taking care of them, educating them, liberating them and training them for tomorrow and a better life all come under the responsibility of parents to their daughters
  • Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said: “He who raises two daughters until their puberty will be with me in Paradise like this,” and he symbolised the proximity by showing two of his fingers with a slight gap between them.” (Muslim)

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) clearly explained that the birth of a daughter means double blessings for the family. She carries two lights with her, as stated in a Hadith, “When a boy is born, then he brings one Noor (light) and when a girl is born, then she brings two Noors.” Allah says:

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps that you dislike a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps that you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)

When a family has daughters, it doesn’t matter how many they have. The blessing for the parents from Allah SWT is the same. Even if a Muslim has only one daughter, he will enter Jannah along with a Muslim having two or three daughters. Allah says:

قَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ

They said, “Verily you know (that) not we have concerning your daughters any right. And indeed, you surely know what we want.” (Surah Hud 11:79)

So when you have a daughter, don’t get upset, instead be happy and celebrate this joy with all your family members and friends, as daughters are the blessing of Allah Almighty. May Allah protect all our daughters and sisters and bless them with all the happiness of the world. Ameen!