Reflections on National Children's Day: Obligations Towards Children

A child is a gift from God, and their presence is eagerly awaited as a continuation of history and human existence. Islam provides detailed guidance on welcoming a child, emphasizing the importance of caring for, protecting, and educating them from the very beginning. There are several rights of a child that become obligations for parents to fulfil.

First, giving a good name. A name is a prayer and a hope, so it must not be given carelessly but should contain a good meaning. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Among the rights of a child upon his father is to give him a good name and educate him with good manners.” (Narrated by Baihaki). It is recommended to give boys names that denote servitude to Allah, such as Abdullah or Abdul Aziz, or names of prophets and righteous people. It is forbidden to give names that imply servitude to other than Allah or names specific to Him.

Second, praying for and announcing the birth. Parents should pray for the goodness of the newborn, and others should also pray upon hearing the news. Abu Musa Al-Asy’ari narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) named his son Ibrahim, performed tahnik with a date, and prayed for blessings for him. (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). One can pray for blessings using easily understood language, such as “Barakallahu fiik” (May Allah bless you). An example of a protective prayer is that of the wife of Imran for Maryam, seeking refuge for her and her descendants from the accursed devil (Ali Imran [3]: 36). The Prophet (PBUH) also taught a prayer of protection for his grandsons Hasan and Husain: “I seek protection with the perfect words of Allah from every temptation of the devil, from animals, and from the evil eye.” (Narrated by Abu Daud).

Third, shaving the hair, aqiqah, and circumcision. On the seventh day after birth, it is sunnah to shave the baby’s hair, as exemplified by the Prophet (PBUH) when his grandsons Hasan and Husain were born. The Prophet ordered the hair to be shaved.