IRE6/1: Responsible Parenthood

This is to do with the obligations of parents towards their children. In other words, the rights of the children

Counselling of children concerning their relationship with other people is a responsibility of the parent. Parents must teach their children how to conduct themselves and how to treat other people according to the teachings of the Quran. In chapter 31:18, Luqman counseled his son that: ‘And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, God likes not any arrogant ’

The burden of teaching children the Islamic values is on the shoulders of their own parents. This burden should not be transferred to schools or other educational institutions. The significance of this is to make a child live a peaceful earthly life and attain felicity in the hereafter. Chapter 31:13 says: ‘Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction; Oh my son! Join not in worship (others) with God, for false worship is indeed the highest wrong ’

Children must be provided with cloths. Parents must ensure that their children dress as per Islamic teachings. Chapter 33:59 says: ‘Oh Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments over their persons.’ The Islamic dress is aimed at safeguarding the dignity of the Muslim woman

Parents must have married legally so that the rights of the children are protected. For instance, a child born out of illegal relationship is denied the right to inherit property of the deceased father. That is why God commanded that: ‘And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse for it is a shameful deed and an evil opening the road to other evils.’ 17:32

Parents should give religious guidance to their children intending to get married, guidance should rotate around faith in God, quality of spouses, relative position of men and women in marriage, issues related to polygamy, divorce laws and issues of work and maintenance of the marital home. This guidance is important as it lays grounds for the creation of harmony in the marital

Responsible parenthood also entails family planning. According to Islam, family planning entails having a family that can be well catered for in terms of food, health care, education and protection (security). The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘whoever can support a family should marry.’ (Bukhari and Muslim).

The Quran teaches that, a child should be breastfed for two years. This must be done by every responsible Muslim parent. This serves two purposes; first, it ensures health development of the child, and secondly, it provides an interval of at least two years between one pregnancy and another. Chapter 2:233 says: ‘The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole ’

The Quran teaches that in case of divorce, the Iddah period must be observed, as seen in chapter 2:228. This helps to ensure right parenthood. Observance of Iddah in Uganda is almost non-existent and this has resulted into mixing of lineages and parenthood as majority of women get married or cohabit immediately they are

Parents should not evade the responsibility of feeding their children and giving them decent accommodation. God says in chapter 17:31 that: ‘And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them as well as for you. Surely the killing of them is a great sin.’ In Uganda, a few mothers dump their new born babies in latrines, for children are considered

Both male and female children should have different sleeping arrangement and every responsible parent must ensure that this is done. This is intended at maintaining or keeping people’s rights, dignity and avoiding illegal sexual intercourse which is a shameful act as seen in chapter 17:32.

Parents should command their children to observe prayers at the age of seven and they should be punished for non-observance of prayer at the age of ten. We should note that, observance of prayer is one of the pillars of Islam, and therefore a factor that leads one to bliss in the

Under no circumstances should the parents disown their children. Some Muslim parents disown their children instead of counselling them and showing them the right thing to do. The child belongs to the family in which they are born. Thus, disowning a child violates the child’s right to

Parents are required to pray for their children so that God can give them guidance and wisdom. This will help them attain felicity in the future life. Praying for children was also done by the Prophets such as Ibrahim as seen in chapter 14:40 which says: ‘Oh my Lord! Make me one who performs prayer and also raise such from among my ’

Parents must create a hygienic environment for their children. For instance, it their duty to ensure that a male child is circumcised. Circumcision prevents the child from acquiring diseases. Also parents should train their children to keep their bodies clean: that is, brushing the teeth, shaving off the unwanted hairs, clipping the nails

Parents must not force their daughters to marry men not of their choice. The Quran has made consent for marriage for either the bride or bridegroom an important condition for the legality of the marriage contract. Once a virgin girl complained to the Prophet (PBUH) that her father had forced her to marry a man against her wishes. The Prophet (PBUH) gave her the right to repudiate the

Parents should give equal treatment to both male and female children in terms of necessities and love. Discriminating children is an act of injustice highly condemned by the Quran. Chapter 42:49 teaches that all children are God’s creation and He creates them in different designs according to His

The Quran condemns parents who overload children with work (domestic chores) that is beyond their capacity. Chapter 2:233 says that: ‘No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bare.’ God also says in chapter 2:286 that: ‘Allah burdens not a person beyond his ’

All funds and resources used for children’s support should come from legitimate.

Parents must not resort to illegitimate means such as accepting bribes, stealing, embezzlement and dishonesty under the pressure of supporting many children. All unlawful sources of income will not enjoy God’s blessings and therefore, children should not be exposed to such dangers.