A daughter is one of the greatest blessings of Allah. In the earlier times, people used to bury their daughters. When an infant was born, a pit was kept dug out ready by the woman so that if a girl was born, she was immediately cast into it and buried alive. And at times if the mother does not get inclined to this or the people of the family disapproved to bury, the father would raise her for some time half-heartedly, and then would take her to the desert to be buried alive. This is such a tyranny and implies hardheartedness of people.

This brutal custom of burying the female infants alive had become widespread in ancient Arabia for different reasons. One reason was economic hardship because of which the people wanted to have lesser members in their home so that no burden in bringing up multiple children. Male offspring were brought up in the hope that they would later help in winning the daily bread, but the female offspring were killed for the fear that they would have to be raised till they grow up and then given away in the marriage. Another aspect of the common issue was that when the hostile tribes raided and captured girls they would either keep them as slave-girls or sell them to others. Allahu Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala forbade the burying and this practice was then ended. There are even people nowadays who share these same pre-Islamic beliefs when they are granted with a girl child. They become angry, discontent and will grieve for not agreeing to the fact that this is only decreed by Allah.

With the dawn of Islam, the darkness of that era vanished and Allah showered kindness, love and compassion towards girls. Taking good care of girls was encouraged and they were given special attention in their upbringing. In fact, Islam has designated a special reward for raising them that is not granted for raising sons. Anas’Radhiallahu’Anha, reported that the Prophet, Sallallahu Alaihi’wa Sallam, said: “He who raises two daughters until their puberty will be with me in Paradise like this” and he symbolized the proximity by showing two of his fingers with a slight gap between them.” ((Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1914)

As a matter of fact, a great blessing of the blessings of Islam is that it not only did put an end to this inhuman practice in Arabia but also wiped out the concept that the birth of a daughter was a calamity. Moreover, Islam taught that bringing up daughters, giving them good education and enabling them to become good housewives, is an act of great merit and virtue. The way the Prophet (peace be upon him) changed the common concept of the people in respect of girls can be judged from his many sayings which have been reported in the Hadith.

As for example, some of them are below:

1)The person who is put to a test because of the birth of the daughters and then he treats them generously, they will become a means of rescue for him from Hell. (Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Hadith Number 24)

2)The one who has a daughter born to him and he does not bury her alive, nor keeps her in disgrace, nor prefers his son to her, Allah will admit him to Paradise. (Sunan Abi Dawud 5146)

3)The one who has three daughters born to him, and he is patient over them, and clothes them well according to his means, they will become a means of rescue for him from Hell. (Sunan Ibn Majah 3669)

4)The Muslim who has two daughters and he looks after them well, they will lead him to Paradise. (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 132)

5)The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Suraqah bin Jusham: Should I tell you what is the greatest charity (or said: one of the greatest charities)? He said: Kindly do tell, O Messenger of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Your daughter who (after being divorced or widowed) returns to you and should have no other bread-winner. (Sunan Ibn Majah 3667)

This is the teaching which completely changed the viewpoint of the people about girls not only in Arabia but among all the nations of the world, which later became blessed with Islam.

Thus, it is incorrect to believe that one has been humiliated by being granted a girl; rather it is an honour, a bounty and a gateway open towards paradise. Daughters are a great responsibility to rear, and involves greater expenditure (for some family culture) and this is why the reward for raising them correctly is greater than that for a son.

Every parent should therefore rejoice in the birth of their daughters, love, guide, protect and feel proud to have them.

Subhaanallaah!
So love your daughters and take care.
~Raniya Habeeb Rahman