First Published on: The Killed Little Baby Girl! A Journey To Arabs Before Islam


 Islam In Women, Sharia Law for Dummies Children, Family, Women in Islam Hasnaa Heikal

In Arabia, the custom of killing female children was very common. A newly born baby girl was a subject of embarrassment and she was buried alive in order to avoid the shame of having her. The religion of Islam has strongly condemned this criminal practice.

And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.” (quran.com/16/58).

This  was the reaction of  Arabs at the time of ignorance before Islam. The son was preferred over a daughter.

In Islam, both are considered as a gift, “To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what he wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.” (quran.com/42/49).

The son wasn’t only preferred over the daughter, but also It was a common habit to bury her alive.

The holy Qur’an condemned this practice:

And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked. For what sin she was killed” (quran.com/81/9&10).

The explanation of these verses is: And when the female infant (in Arabic: Al-Maw’udah) buried alive is questioned: For what sin was she killed? The majority have recited it as Su’ilat (she is questioned). Al-Maw’udah is the female infant that the people of the pre-Islamic time of ignorance would bury in the dirt due to their hatred of girls. Therefore, on the Day of Judgment, the female infant will be asked what sin she had committed to be murdered. This will be means of frightening her murderer. (1)


       


Instead, Islam totally changed this attitude of parents towards their children and taught them how to equally treat them, irrespective of their gender. In order to change this long established attitude of parents, the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) actually leaned more towards female children. prophet Muhammad peace upon him said:

He, who brought up two girls properly till they grew up, he and I would come (together) (very closely) on the Day of Resurrection, and he interlaced his fingers (for explaining the point of nearness between him and that person” (2)

To sum up,


With the advent of Islam, the darkness of that era vanished and Allah enjoined kindness, love and compassion towards girls. Taking good care of girls was encouraged. The process of their upbringing was given a special attention in Islam. In fact, Islam has designated a special reward for raising them that is not granted for raising sons.

Rejoice on the birth of your daughters, love and guide them and enjoy this ultimate blessing in this life and in the hereafter.