The Prophet’s Deep Love for His Daughters: A Lesson in Respect and Kindness

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 4 April 2025 Understanding the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) Teachings on Daughters Amid Societal Bias and Tragic Incidents Main Points: 1. In some cultures, daughters are seen as less valuable than sons, leading to harmful consequences. 2. Cases in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh highlight the extreme actions driven by gender preference. 3. Islam teaches that daughters are a blessing and deserve love, respect, and kindness. 4. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized treating daughters with care and promised Paradise for those who do so. 5. The Prophet’s deep love for his daughters, such as Hazrat Fatimah and Hazrat Zaynab, serves as a model for fathers today. ----- In many parts of the world, some people believe that having a daughter is not as good as having a son. They may feel that daughters do not bring the same benefits, and sometimes, fathers worry about the financial burden of their weddings. As a result, in some places, the birth of a girl is met with disappointment. In recent years, there have been several tragic incidents in South Asia where fathers have harmed or abandoned their daughters shortly after birth, often due to societal preferences for sons. Notable cases include: Madhya Pradesh (2023): A couple was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing their three-month-old daughter, born without an ear, and discarding her body in a garbage dump. Source Rajasthan (2023): In Bikaner, a couple threw their infant daughter into a canal, reportedly because the father feared losing eligibility for a government job due to having more than two children. Source Uttar Pradesh (2024): A man in Etawah killed his one-month-old daughter in a fit of rage over the birth of a fourth daughter, as he had hoped for a son. Source These incidents reflect the deep-seated gender biases and the tragic consequences of societal preferences for male children in certain regions. Historically, during the time before Islam, daughters were treated very poorly. In fact, some people even buried their daughters alive because they believed having a daughter was a negative thing. However, Islam teaches us that daughters are a great blessing. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved his daughters very much and showed us how to treat them with kindness and respect. He said that if a father has a daughter and treats her well, he will be rewarded with a place in Paradise. He also taught that we should never speak badly about daughters. Instead, we should love them and treat them with care. The birth of a daughter is a cause for various good tidings in Islam. As narrated by Hazrat Ibn Abbas, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever is blessed with a daughter and does not harm her, does not despise her, and does not prefer his son over her, Allah will admit him to Paradise." (Mustadrak, 5/248, Hadith: 7428) Similarly, it is narrated by Nabit bin Sharit that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do not speak ill of daughters! I too have daughters. Indeed, daughters are very loving, compassionate, and kind." (Musnad Firdaus, 5/37, Hadith: 7385) These narrations highlight the great honor and blessings that come with the birth of a daughter in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) made it clear that treating daughters with kindness, love, and respect is not only important, but it is also rewarded by Allah. In fact, those who raise their daughters well—without harming or belittling them—are promised Paradise. The teachings emphasize the importance of not showing any preference to sons over daughters, as was a common practice in some cultures during the Prophet's time. This practice of discrimination against daughters, where sons were seen as more valuable, was strongly opposed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Instead, he encouraged the love and respect for daughters, recognizing their loving, compassionate, and kind nature. By mentioning that "daughters are very loving, compassionate, and kind," the Prophet (peace be upon him) reassured us of the incredible qualities daughters bring to families. This hadith not only refutes the negative attitudes towards daughters but also invites us to reflect on the immense reward for treating daughters with the care and respect they deserve. In Islam, a daughter is seen as a blessing, and taking care of her is seen as a way of earning Allah’s pleasure. The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) example serves as a model for all fathers, reminding them to love, support, and raise their daughters with gentleness and respect. This approach strengthens the family unit and aligns with Islamic values of justice and equality. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) not only taught the importance of loving daughters but also set practical examples. Let us look at some examples: 1. Love for Hazrat Zaynab: Hazrat Zaynab was the eldest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), born in Makkah ten years before the declaration of Prophethood. After the Battle of Badr, the Prophet (peace be upon him) called her to Madinah. When she was on her way to migrate, the disbelievers stopped her, and one of them struck her with a spear, causing her to fall from her camel, resulting in a miscarriage. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was deeply saddened by this incident. He said: "She is the most virtuous of my daughters, as she endured such a great trial in migrating for my sake." (Dalail al-Nubuwwah, al-Bayhaqi, 3/156) Hazrat Zaynab bore the pain of migration for the sake of Allah, and this struggle affected her health for a long time, ultimately leading to her death in the same condition. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was greatly saddened by the loss of his beloved daughter. He personally led her funeral prayer, gave his own shawl as her shroud, and lowered her into the grave with his own blessed hands. (Sharh Zarkani, 4/318) Hazrat Anas narrates: "When the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out of the grave, his face was marked by distress and grief. When asked, he said: 'The pressure of the grave and the severity of death made me remember, so I prayed to Allah for ease for my daughter, as she had suffered from illness for a long time.'" (Ilal al-Dar Qutni, 12/251, Hadith: 2679) This narration shows the immense love the Prophet (peace be upon him) had for his daughter! Love for Hazrat Ruqayyah: Hazrat Ruqayyah was the second daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), born in Makkah seven years before the declaration of prophethood. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved her dearly and always paid special attention to her. One narration mentions that one day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent food in a bowl to Hazrat Usama. When he returned, the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke very highly of Hazrat Ruqayyah and her husband, Hazrat Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with them). (Mu'jam al-Kabir, 1/76, Hadith: 97 - Summary) When Hazrat Uthman and Hazrat Ruqayyah migrated to Abyssinia, the Prophet (peace be upon him) became anxious after receiving no news of their well-being. Upon hearing of their safety, he prayed: "May Allah protect them both." (Matālib 'Aliyah, 8/377, Hadith: 3917 - Summary) Love for Hazrat Umm Kulthum: Hazrat Umm Kulthum was the younger sister of Hazrat Ruqayyah and was born in Makkah before the declaration of Prophethood. She passed away in the 9th year of Hijrah, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) personally led her funeral prayer. (Sharh Zarkani ‘ala Mawahib Ladunniyah, 4 / 327,325 - Extracted) Her grave is located in Jannat al-Baqi. Love for Hazrat Fatimah al-Zahra: Hazrat Fatimah was the youngest and most beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Whenever she visited her father, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stand up, take her hand, kiss it, and then sit her in his place. (Abu Dawood, 4/454, Hadith: 5217) Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar narrates: "When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) planned a journey, he would meet Hazrat Fatimah last before leaving, and when he returned, he would meet her first." (Mustadrak, 4/141, Hadith: 4792) The last Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Fatimah: "Are you not content to be the leader of the women of Paradise or the believers?" (Bukhari, 2/508, Hadith: 3624) He also said: "Fatimah is a part of my body. Whoever displeases her, displeases me." (Bukhari, 2/550, Hadith: 3767) In conclusion, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) showed immense love for his daughters, guiding and educating them in every aspect of life, while demonstrating through his actions the importance of treating daughters with kindness, respect, and good morals. His examples provide a clear model for fathers to follow in nurturing their daughters. In today’s world, it is unimaginable for any rational person to accept the tragic incidents in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where fathers harmed or abandoned their daughters. These actions contradict the values of justice and equality taught in Islam and violate basic human decency. Such practices must be condemned, and societies must uphold the principles of compassion and care for all children, especially daughters. May Allah grant us the ability to fulfil the rightful rights of our daughters, so they remain protected from unjust treatment in society! ---- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/prophet-love-daughters-lesson-respect-kindness/d/135053 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism