Islam is the second most professed religion in the world. It regulates all spheres of a person’s life, especially family life, which is a priority for Muslims. The birth of a child in Islam is a very important event. This is not only the great happiness and mercy granted by Allah, but also a great responsibility for parents whose task is to raise a worthy Muslim. How, according to Islamic canons, is it necessary to raise a child, what rights and obligations does he, his father and mother have, what rituals are performed after the baby is born? We will talk about all this in an article.
Sunnah
The main source, which sets out the principles and rules for raising a child in Islam, is the Sunna. This is a religious tradition dedicated to the life of the prophet Muhammad. All pious Muslim parents should be guided by him in order to raise a baby in the spirit of Islamic traditions and instill in him the necessary moral and religious standards.
Sacred words
There is no need to perform any special rite in order for the child to convert to Islam, since, according to the Qur'an, he is already born a Muslim.
However, immediately after the baby is born, it is necessary to whisper to him 2 words that have a sacred religious meaning: azam and ikamat. The first is spoken in the right ear, and the second is in the left ear. They consolidate the affiliation of the newborn child to Islam and provide him with protection from evil, vicious forces. These sacred words must be spoken by the father or another respected Muslim.
Breast feeding
Before the first breastfeeding, it is recommended to do the following procedure: grease the upper palate of the baby with a date, previously chewed by the mother or father. It is believed that a sucking reflex will be formed this way and breast milk will be delivered more efficiently to the infant. Dates can be replaced with raisins or honey.
Breastfeeding the baby should be for 2 years. This is the right of a newborn who needs mother’s milk for the full formation of the body and the development of immunity. At 2 years, the baby is transferred to normal nutrition, as mother's milk loses its value.
Circumcision
Male circumcision, or chitan, is one of the oldest Muslim traditions. In ancient Egypt, this procedure was part of the rite of initiation - the transition from the state of a youth to the status of a man. We also find mention of it in the Old Testament.
According to the Islamic religion, after circumcision, the boy falls under the protection and protection of Allah, gaining oneness with God.
However, this rite has not only religious, but also practical justification. Most Muslims live in hot climates, so this operation is important for hygienic purposes.
There is no single point of view as to when to perform the circumcision procedure. The main thing is that it should be carried out before the child's majority. Every nation that professes Islam has its own time frame. From a psychological point of view, it is better to do this as soon as possible, so as not to inflict severe trauma on the child and so that the body recovers faster. The most common practice is circumcision on the 8th day after the birth of the baby.
The operation can be performed both at home and in the clinic. The latter option, of course, is preferable. A child should be operated on by a person who is not only a qualified doctor, but also a true Muslim.
Baby name
The name of the child is usually given on the 7th day of life. However, it is permissible to call children immediately after they are born.
The choice of the name of the child in Islam is very important. It is desirable that it has religious significance. It is recommended that children be named after the prophets and pious Muslims revered in the Qur'an. Names with the prefix “abd”, which means “slave,” are especially fond of, but only if the second part of the word is one of the names of the Prophet. For example, Abdulmalik, which translates as "servant of the Lord." At the same time, you cannot give the child the name of the Lord himself - it can be inherent only to the Almighty (for example, Chalik is the Creator).
Today, the most common Muslim name is Muhammad (in honor of the great prophet), as well as its various forms - Magomed, Mahmud and others.
First haircut
7 days after the birth of the baby they shave their hair. Then the hair is weighed, and, depending on their weight, parents must donate the same amount of gold or silver to the poor. True, today they use modern money for this. If the child has few or no hairs, then parents give alms in the amount that they can afford (based on their financial situation).
Sacrifice
To give thanks to Allah for the gift of the child, an animal sacrifice is performed: 2 rams - for a boy and 1 - for a girl. Cooked meat is given to the poor as alms, or they are treated to all relatives, as well as the midwife, who took birth.
The role of father and mother in raising children
Both parents should be engaged in raising children, devoting sufficient time to this process. However, up to 7 years of age, in relation to boys and often until adulthood, this function is mainly performed by the mother. Firstly, women are, by their nature, softer, more affectionate and patient. And secondly, the father is busy making money, because the financial support of the family lies entirely on his shoulders. Even if the couple divorced, anyway, until the age of majority, a man must fully support all his children.
Principles of parenting
It is believed that a child comes into this world absolutely pure and sinless. Therefore, until the age of majority, children who have died in Islam go to heaven, since they initially have a kind, bright soul.
The child, according to the Muslim faith, is a white sheet of paper on which you can draw anything. Therefore, the responsibility for how it grows rests entirely with the parents. It depends on how they raise their child, what moral and religious principles they put into it, and how much they will reinforce them with their own behavior, what kind of personality their child will become.
Education should be primarily religious, in the spirit of Muslim traditions. From an early age, it is necessary to tell children about Islam, read the Qur'an to them, teach them the values that Muslims profess. Such knowledge is priority, but it does not exclude secular education, to which every child has the right.
- Children should be brought up in affection and love, the attitude of parents should be soft and understanding, especially until the child reaches 10 years of age. Although physical punishments are permissible in Islam, they should not be used infrequently and not by parental whim, but solely for educational purposes. It is not necessary to beat the child hard so that the slaps do not cause pain and leave no traces, and besides, it is forbidden to hit the face - this humiliates the person and suppresses his personality.
- Parents should reinforce the attitudes and ideas that they cultivate in their children with their own behavior. If a mother or father says the right things, but they don’t follow them in life, then the child will see this contradiction and copy exactly the actions of his parents. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the younger generation primarily by personal example.
- The child needs to clearly define the boundaries of behavior so that he knows what is possible for him and what is not. The task of parents is to form his moral guidelines. But the rules and prohibitions must be justified, that is, children need to be explained why this or that action is unacceptable or undesirable.
- It is believed that the child does not have an internal desire to do badly - either his parents' behavior or the people around him can lead him off the right path to push him to an unseemly act. Therefore, it is necessary to control the circle of communication of their children. Especially today, in the era of the Internet and social networks, it is important for every Muslim not to succumb to harmful external influences.
- Parents are obliged to treat all their children equally, regardless of their gender, physical characteristics and other parameters. They should give them an equal amount of time and attention, take care of each of them so that no child feels left out and does not feel jealousy towards his brother or sister. An exception is the disability of one of the children, as a result of which he may need more attention and care from his parents. The gender of the child in Islam does not matter: boys and girls are absolutely equal. Although in real life, often male children are preferable, especially for fathers.
- It is necessary to instill a sense of responsibility and respect for oneself and other members of society in a child from an early age. This helps to teach children to perform household duties. While the child is still small, these should be simple instructions, for example, to wash a cup with them or to take out a bin. As you grow older, the amount of homework should increase. So the child is prepared for adulthood, in which he will have to do many things.
- It is forbidden to kiss your children of the opposite sex on the lips. Such a manifestation of tender feelings is permissible only between husband and wife. So, there should not be such kisses between a mother and a son, as well as between a father and his daughter.
Dua for children in Islam
Dua is a prayer through which Muslims turn to God with a specific request. The entire list of texts is contained in the Quran. There are many prayers regarding the child in Islam. Believers ask that Allah protect their children from illnesses, various troubles and hardships, evil influences, so that they give them happiness, prosperity, moral and physical health. There is a dua that saves the baby from the effects of someone else's negative energy, preventing damage and the evil eye. In Islam, they literally pray for a child, especially if he is alone. Therefore, it is not surprising that parents appeal to the Higher Forces with various requests to protect their child from evil. Orthodox do the same.
The rights of the unborn child
In Islam, a child is vested with rights even before he is born. Therefore, it is forbidden to kill the already born life, which was granted by the Almighty. The Islamic Declaration of Human Rights, in force since 1990, enshrines the right of a child to life from the moment of conception. Artificial abortion is possible only in one case - if there is a threat to the life of the mother. For other reasons, abortion cannot be done.
If the parents of the unborn child are getting divorced or have already divorced, the father is still obligated to financially provide the pregnant woman with everything necessary and does not have the right to drive her out of her home before delivery.
The state guarantees pregnant women decent medical care. In addition, in Islam, a child who has not yet been born, also has the right to a legitimate share of the inheritance. In the event of the death of his father, the "division" of property is carried out only after the birth of the baby.
Child rights
As stated in the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights, the child must receive decent care, material and medical support. He has the right to life, health and education. Since a small child is absolutely helpless and unable to take care of himself, the realization of these rights is the responsibility of parents and the state.
Adolescent Rights
The teenage period is an intermediate stage between childhood and adulthood. Its onset is usually associated with puberty. Moreover, in girls it begins earlier than in boys, from the age of nine. However, in Islam, mature teens are considered to be full-fledged adults with the corresponding rights and obligations. Consider the main ones:
- They are responsible for their actions.
- Religious Adolescents who have reached puberty must observe all fasts and perform prayers prescribed by the Qur'an.
- The right to marry. Creating a family is a must for every true Muslim. A prenuptial agreement is concluded between the parents of the bride and groom (in the presence of 2 more witnesses). There is a widespread belief that girls should marry the person chosen by their father or guardian. However, it is not. If the girl is not satisfied with the candidacy of a potential husband, she has the right not to marry. Also, a young woman can terminate an already concluded union if it was committed under duress. Intimate premarital relations for both sexes are forbidden by the Koran.
- The right to dispose of property also comes after the children have reached puberty. At the same time, boys are entitled to 2 shares of the inheritance, and girls - only one. But this inequality is compensated by the fact that all financial obligations for the maintenance of the family and unborn children fall solely on the shoulders of the man. In addition, the property of the girls is also a husband’s wedding gift, which she has the right to dispose of at her discretion.
- Children who have reached adulthood must abide by the Muslim "dress code," that is, wear clothing prescribed by Islamic religious standards that covers the body as much as possible.
Parenting divorced children
Ideally, Muslim children should be raised in a complete family with both mom and dad. However, for various reasons, a breakdown of the marital union may occur, especially since divorce in Islam is officially permitted. And if it so happened that a man and a woman do not live together, this does not relieve them of maternal and paternal responsibilities. But how in this case are they implemented and distributed?
The father is obliged to fully support his children until adulthood, paying all necessary expenses. If he dies or for some other reason can no longer fulfill his financial obligations, then this function passes to other men of his kind.
Boys under 7 and girls under 9 years old, and sometimes even until adulthood, are raised by their mother. However, a woman must meet certain conditions:
- to be a Muslim;
- to be mentally healthy and not have serious physical illnesses that could prevent her from fulfilling maternal duties;
- should not be married (unless it is a marriage with a person who is a relative of her children, for example, with the brother of her ex-spouse).
If any of the requirements is violated, then the maternal grandmother and then the paternal grandmother have the first right to raise children.
A child who has reached 7-8 years of age (age of mumayiz), has the right to choose the parent with whom he wants to live. However, he must be a pious Muslim, in his right mind, and if it concerns a woman, she should not be married to a man who is not blood-related to her child.
If the son or daughter remains with the mother, then the father continues to provide them fully financially, and must also devote a sufficient amount of time to communicating with them. If the child is left with the father, then his new wife, according to Islamic standards, does not become the mother of the husband’s children, however, she should not infringe on their rights in comparison with their own children. And the mother has the right to visit her child when she wishes.
Adoption and Guardianship
The Koran strictly forbids adoption. It is perceived as an unnatural act that equalizes adopted children with their relatives, infringing on the latter in their rights. In addition, the adoption of a adopted child into the family is fraught with his close contacts with his mother and sister, who are not blood relatives to him.
At the same time, taking custody of a child who has lost his parents for various reasons is a noble act. Guardians should ensure that orphaned children receive proper education and upbringing in the spirit of Islamic traditions. Also, such a child is entitled to 1/3 of the inheritance.
Great attention is paid to raising a child in Islam from birth to adulthood. Yes, children grow up in a rather rigid religious framework. However, the child is guaranteed real protection from the state and the participation of both parents or their relatives in his life - they instill in children basic moral values and moral principles.