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حق الولد وَأمَّا
حَقُّ
وَلَدِكَ
فَتَعْلَمَ
أنَّهُ
مِنْكَ
وَمُضَافٌ
إلَيكَ فِي
عَاجِلِ الدُنْيَا
بخَيْرِهِ
وَشَرِّهِ،
وَأَنَّكَ مَسْئولٌ
عَمَّا
ولِّيتَهُ
مِنْ حُسْنِ
الأَدَب
وَالدّلالَةِ
عَلَى رَبهِ
وَالْمَعُونةِ
لَهُ عَلَى
طَاعَتِهِ
فِيكَ وَفِي
نفْسِهِ، فَمُثابٌ
عَلَى ذلِكَ
وَمُعَاقَبٌ،
فاعْمَلْ فِي
أَمْرِهِ
عَمَلَ
الْمُتَزَيِّنِ
بحُسْنِ
أَثرِهِ
عَلَيْهِ فِي
عَاجِلِ
الدُّنْيَا،
الْمُعْذِرِ
إلَى رَبهِ
فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ
وبَيْنَهُ
بحُسْنِ
الْقِيَامِ
عَلَيْهِ
وَالأَخذُ
لَهُ مِنْهُ.
وَلا قُوَّةَ
إلا باللهِ. And the right of your child is that you should
know that he is from you and he will be ascribed to you in this world due to
both his good deeds and his evil deeds. And you are responsible for what has
been entrusted to you in teaching him good conduct, and guiding him toward his
Lord and helping him to obey Him on your behalf and for himself. Then you will
be rewarded for so doing, and you will be punished.[525] Then regarding his affairs, act
like one who will be proud of bringing him up in this world, and one who is
excused by his Lord for what is between you and him for taking good care of
him, and the good results you achieved. And there is no power but in God. Imam Sajjad (MGB) mentions the following points
regarding the rights of children: 1
A
father should not forget that the child is his and that the child’s good or bad
deeds will be ascribed to him. 2
A
father is responsible for guiding the child to obey God, and to teach and
educate him. 3
A
father should not be indifferent to the result of the deeds of his child. There
will be rewards for the child’s good deeds, and punishment for the child’s bad
deeds for the father, too. 4
A
father should do his best to raise the child so that his excuse is acceptable
both to his child and God. The rights of parents were presented in
previous chapters. In this chapter, Imam Sajjad (MGB) presents the rights of
children incumbent upon parents. There is no doubt that the very foundation of
each child starts when a couple gets married and realizes that the fruit of
their love and mutual life will be the children that they have and raise. Some
of the traits of the children are genetically inherited from their parents.
Children are thus a reflection of their parents’ characteristics. The issue of genetic inheritance of traits also
holds true in plants and animals, and is not to be discussed here further. Once
by God’s will the child is born into this material world, Islam considers the
parents highly responsible towards him. They should first realize the
importance of this issue, and seek God’s help in fulfilling their heavy duties.
We will briefly discuss these duties here. To successfully raise children, parents should
consider the following two important points. First, they should revive the
child’s potential talents, and secondly they should work to eliminate the
child’s wrong or harmful inclinations. A good teacher is one who studies and
discovers the child’s talents and uses practical and scientific methods to
develop them to the point of their perfection and application. He also destroys
the potentially bad hereditary inclinations left over in the child from his
parents or grandparents. Imam Sadiq (MGB) said: وَيَجِبُ
لِلوَلَدِ
عَلى
والِدِهِ
ثَلاثُ خِصالٍ:
اخْتِيارُهُ
لِوالِدَتِهِ
وَتَحْسِينُ
اسْمِهِ
وَالمُبالَغَةُ
في تَأدِيبِهِ. “Three rights for the child are incumbent upon his
father: selecting a (good) mother for him, giving him a good name, and exerting
the utmost effort in raising him well.”[526] Thus Imam Sadiq (MGB) has considered that
parents must exert all efforts to raise their children. Imam Sajjad (MGB) said: وَأَعِنِّي
عَلى
تَربِيَتِهِم
وَتَأدِيبِهِم
وَبَرِّهِم. “O God! Please help me in raising and educating
my children and making them good people.”[527] Thus, we realize that raising children is a
hard task and everyone should seek God’s help in this important affair. The Rights of Children
Children have certain rights over their parents
from the time that they are born. The first right relates to naming them. This
right has been mentioned in many traditions. The Prophet (MGB) said: مِنْ
حَقِّ
الوَلَدِ
عَلى
الوالِدِ ِ
أنْ يُحْسِنَ
اسْمَهُ
ويُحَسِّنَ
أدَبَه. “Among the rights of child over the father are that
he chooses a good name for him, and raises him well.”[528] The Prophet (MGB) said: سَمُّوا
أوْلادَكُم
أسْماءَ
الأنْبِياءِ وَأَحْسَنُ
الأسمَاءِ
عَبْدُاللهِ
وَعَبْدُالرَّحْمنِ. “Give your children the names of the Prophets.
The best names are Abdullah and Abd al-Rahman.” [529] The Prophet (MGB) said: مِن
حَقِّ
الوَلَدِ
عَلى
والِدِهِ
ثَلاثَة: يُحْسِنُ
اسمَهُ
ويُعَلِّمُهُ
الكِتابَةَ ويُزَوِّجُهُ
إذا بَلَغَ. “Children have three rights over their father:
that he give them a good name, teach them how to read and write, and marry them
off when they mature.”[530] Imam Ali
(MGB) said: حَقُّ
الوَلَدِ
عَلى
الوالِدِ أنْ
يُحْسِنَ
اسمَهُ
ويُحَسِّنَ
أدَبَهُ
ويُعَلِّمَهُ
القْرآنَ. “The right of a child incumbent upon his father
is that the father should choose a good name for him and teach him good
etiquette and the Qur’an.”[531] Changing bad Names by the Prophet (MGB)
The Prophet Muhammad (MGB) changed bad names of
people and places to good ones and freed the people from bad feelings and
humiliation due to having a bad name. Imam Sadiq (MGB) quoted on the authority
of his father (MGB) that the Prophet (MGB) changed the ugly names of people and
towns.[532] Umar had a daughter whom he had named Asiyah
meaning sinner. The Prophet (MGB) changed her name to Jamileh meaning
beautiful.[533] In
another tradition we read: “ Abi Rafe’
narrated that the daughter of Umm-Salma’ was named Barrah meaning
good-doer. The Prophet of God (MGB)
changed her name to Zaynab.”[534]
The Prophet (MGB) did this since that name
connotated selfishness and some people said that she wants to claim to be pure.
The Prophet (MGB) changed her name to Zaynab to end the people’s humiliating
her. Ahmad ibn Haytham asked Imam Ridha (MGB): “Why did the Arabs put the names
of animals such as dogs, wild cats, tigers, etc. on their children?” Imam Ridha
(MGB) replied: “The Arabs were fighters. They named their children this way so
as to frighten their enemies when they called their children during fighting.”[535] Bad Names: A Cause of Humiliation
The head of an Arab tribe was named Jareyah
that means a kind of boa. He was frank and strong. His relatives and him were
displeased with Mu`awiyah’s oppressive rule and Mu`awiyah had sensed this.
Mu`awiyah decided to humiliate him. Once when Mu`awiyah faced him, Mu`awiyah said: “How lowly were you in your
tribe that they named you a boa.” Jareyah immediately replied: “And how lowly
you were in your tribe that they named you Mu`awiyah meaning a female dog.”
Mu`awiyah got angry and said: “Shut up. You have no mother!” Jareyah replied:
“I do have a mother. By God we have hearts which beat in your hatred.” Then
Mu`awiyah who was defeated said: “May God not increase the people like you.”[536] Another example is related to a man who lived
at the time of Mu`awiyah. He was the head of his tribe and his name was Sharik
ibn Aoor. The word “Sharik” means partner in Arabic, and it is not a good name.
His father’s name was Aoor that means “one with a defective eye” in Arabic. Once when he went to see Mu`awiyah, Mu`awiyah
said: “Your name means “partner” but there are no partners for God. You are the
son of the man with a defective eye. However, a healthy man is better than one
with a defective eye. You are ugly, and beauty is better than ugliness. What is
the reason that the people of your tribe have chosen you as their chief?” Sharik
replied: “By God your name is Mu`awiyah which means a dog! You barked and they
called you Mu`awiyah[537].
You are the grandson of Harb that means fighting, but peace is better than
fighting. You are the son of Sakhr that means rocks, but dirt is always better than
rocks. How can you be the Commander of the Faithful?” This really hurt
Mu`awiyah and he ordered him to depart.[538] Ugliness or physical defects cause a sense of
humiliation. Ugly names do the same. It is for this reason that we are
instructed in Islam to choose proper names for our children. Choosing proper
names will be very influential on their personality, and will make them immune
to psychological complexes. So far, we have discussed the duties of parents
to choose good names for their children. Next, we will discuss the next duty of
parents in educating their children and acquainting them with God. Let us see
what is said in this regard in the traditions. How Loving Affects Child Development
There is no doubt that children need both food
and love to grow. They receive their food from the milk they get when they are
breast-fed by their mother. This is the perfect food that God has prepared for
their physical growth. The food for their spirit consists of the training and
care they receive from their parents. Children need both food and love. The
Prophet (MGB) said: أحِبُّوا
الصِّبْيانَ
وَارْحَمُوهُم
فإذَا
وَعَدْتُمُوهُم
فَفُوا لَهُم
فإنَّهُم لا
يَرَوْنَ
إلاّ أنَّكُم
رازِقُوهُم. “Love your children, and be kind and merciful
to them. Fulfill your promises made to them since children consider their
father to be the one who provides for their sustenance.”[539] Loving the children and fulfilling promises
made to them are stressed here so that they do not learn to break their
promises. There are many ways to express your love. One way is to kiss and hug
them when they are small. The Prophet (MGB) said: قَبّلوا
أولادَكُم
فإنَّ لكُم
بِكُلِّ قُبْلَةٍ
دَرَجَةً في
الجَنَّةِ ما
بَيْنَ كُلّ
دَرَجَتَينِ
خَمْسَمِائَةِ
عامٍ. “Kiss your children. There is an elevation in
your rank in Paradise as a reward for each kiss. Each raise in rank is as much
as five hundred years.”[540] Imam Ali (MGB) said: قُبلَةُ
الوَلَدِ
رَحمَةٌ
وقُبلَةُ
المَرأةِ
شَهوَةٌ
وقُبلَةُ
الوالِدَينِ
عِبادَةٌ
وقُبلَةُ
الرَّجُلِ
أخاهُ دِينٌ. “Kissing the child is mercy. Kissing the woman
is desire. Kissing parents is worship, and kissing one’s believing brethren is
religion.”[541] Kissing is restricted for others. Imam Sadiq
(MGB) said: إذَا
بَلَغَتِ
الجارِيَةُ
سِتَّ سِنينَ
فلا
تُقَبِّلْها،
والغُلامُ لا
تُقَبِّلُهُ المَرأةُ
إذا جَاوَزَ
سَبْعَ
سِنينَ. “Men should not kiss girls who are
older than six and women should not kiss boys who are older than seven.”[542] The Prophet (MGB) loved his grandsons and
kissed them often. Once a man named Aqra ibn Habes was present there when the
Prophet (MGB) kissed them. The man said: “I have ten sons, but I have never
kissed any of them.” The Prophet (MGB) said: “So why has God taken love out of
your heart?” Therefore we realize that the Prophet (MGB) considered that man’s
act of not kissing his children to be a form of lack of love.”[543] Excessive Love
Although Islam advises us to love our children,
it admonishes us against excessive love, and its possible side effects. Imam
Baqir (MGB) said: شَرُّ
الآبَاءِ مَن
دَعاهُ
بِرُّهُ إلى
الإفْراطِ
وَشَرُّ
الأبْناءِ
مَن دَعاهُ
التَّقْصيرُ
إلى العُقوقِ. “The worst of fathers is one whose kindness (to
his children) drives him to excess. The worst of children is one whose negligence
leads him to undutifulness (towards parents).” [544] Excessive love for the children might spoil
them and make them haughty and selfish. Imam Ali (MGB) said: شَرُّ
الأمُورِ
الرِّضا عَنِ
النَّفْسِ. “The worst of affairs is to be pleased with
oneself.”[545] Daughters are the Best Children
Parents should thank God for the children that
God grants them. They should realize that children are God’s trust in them.
They should realize their heavy responsibility and exert all efforts to educate
and raise them. The Immaculate Imams (MGB) expressed that girls should be
treated more kindly than boys are. This is really stressed in the sayings of
the Prophet (MGB) and the Immaculate Imams (MGB). Consider the following
tradition in this regard. Hazieh Yamani quoted on the authority of God’s
Prophet (MGB): خَيرُ
أوْلادِكُم
البَناتُ. “Your daughters are your best children.”[546] Imam Sadiq (MGB) said: البَناتُ
حَسَناتٌ
وَالبَنونَ
نِعْمَةٌ؛ فَالحَسَناتُ
يُثابُ
عَلَيها
وَالنِّعْمَةُ
يُسألُ
عَنْها. “Daughters are good deeds, and sons are
blessings. Good deeds will be rewarded and blessings will be questioned about.”[547] The Prophet (MGB) was given the glad tidings
that God had granted him a daughter. His companions were so upset about the
news that one could notice it from their faces. The Prophet (MGB) said: مَا
لَكُم؟
رَيْحانَةٌ
أَشَمُّها
وَرِزْقُها
عَلى اللهِ. “Why are you so upset? A daughter is like a
flower that I will smell. God will give her daily bread.” [548] God’s Prophet (MGB) said: نِعْمَ
الوِلْدُ
البَناتُ
المُخَدَّراتُ.
مَن كَانَتْ
عِندَهُ
وَاحِدَةٌ
جَعَلَها
اللهُ سِتراً
لهُ مِن
النّارِ، وَمَن
كانَتْ
عِندَهُ
اثْنَتانِ
أدْخَلَهُ اللهُ
بِهِما
الجَنَّةَ،
وإنْ كُنَّ
ثَلاثَةً أوْ
مِثْلَهُنَّ
مِن
الأخَواتِ
وُضِعَ عنهُ
الجِهادُ
وَالصَّدَقَةُ. “The best children are daughters behind veils. Whoever
has one daughter, God will make her a protection for him against the Fire of
Hell. Whoever has two daughters, God will make him enter Heaven with them. If one
has three daughters or sisters, the duty of participation in a holy war and
payment of charity are removed from him.”[549] Ibn Abbas quoted on the authority of God’s
Prophet (MGB): مَنْ
دَخَلَ
السّوقَ
فاشْتَرى
تُحفَةً فَحَمَلَها
إلى عِيالِهِ
كانَ
كَحامِلِ
صَدَقَةٍ إلى
قَومٍ
مَحاوِيجَ،
وَليَبْدَؤوا
بالإناثِ
قَبلَ
الذّكُورِ
فإنَّهُ مَن
فَرَّحَ
ابْنَةً
فَكأنَّما
أعْتَقَ
رَقَبَةً مِن
وُلدِ
اسمَاعِيلَ. “One who goes to the bazaar to buy a present
for his family is like one who has given some charity to needy people. One must
put a higher priority on giving gifts to his daughters over his sons, since
making one’s daughter happy is like freeing a slave from the children of
Ishmael.”[550] Raise Children to Raise Your Honor
Imam Sajjad (MGB) asked us to attend to our
children’s affairs in such a way as to cause their social growth and increased
honor. We should raise them in such a way that they can live with honor and be
a source of honor for us. It was mentioned that excessive love for the child
might spoil him and make him selfish. He will also be raised in such a way that
he cannot rely on himself and become independent. Fathers should foster a sense
of self-confidence in their children from their early childhood so that they
can be strong in the face of hardships. Imam Sadiq (MGB) said: قالَ
لُقمانُ: يا
بُنَيَّ إنْ
تَأدَّبْتَ
صَغِيراً
انْتَفَعْتَ
بهِ
كَبِيراً،
وَمَنْ عَنى
بالأدَبِ
اهْتَمَّ بهِ
وَمَن
اهْتَمَّ
بِهِ
تَكَلَّفَ
عِلْمَهُ
وَمَنْ
تَكَلَّفَ
عِلْمَهُ
اشْتَدَّ
طَلَبُهُ
وَمَنِ اشْتَدَّ
طَلَبُهُ
أدْرَكَ بهِ
مَنْفَعَتَهُ. “Luqman said: O my son! You can benefit from
politeness later if you learn to be polite when you are young. One who wants to
learn to be polite makes an effort to learn. He will make all efforts to
acquire educational sciences. Once he learns it, he can benefit from it. O my
son! Always oblige yourself to perform your personal duties, and force yourself
to withstand the hardships imposed on you by others. Do not be greedy with
others if you hope to attain nobility in this world. Do not place any hopes in
other people. The Prophets and the Saints have all been able to attain their
higher ranks by cutting hopes off the people.”[551] We see that Luqman advises his son not to place
any hopes in what others have; thus, he helps him develop to be independent.
Parents should use these recommendations in raising their children. Notes: |
