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The Position <strong>of</strong> Woman as a Daughter in Islam<br />

Islam regards daughters and sons as equals. sharing both the<br />

same rights and the same duties toward their families. Parents must<br />

treat them equally with no discrimination between male and female<br />

children and no favouritism <strong>of</strong> sons over daughters; the parental<br />

responsibility is to give all children the best upbringing possible.<br />

with equal love and care for all. Islam has devoted special<br />

attention to the rearing <strong>of</strong> daughters since women are the first<br />

people to bring up their own children, and therefore an important<br />

element in view <strong>of</strong> the society as a whole.<br />

The first and most important right <strong>of</strong> a Muslim girl was the<br />

gift <strong>of</strong> life; Islam urged Muslims to receive their female infants<br />

joyfully as a gift <strong>of</strong> God so that the practise <strong>of</strong> burial at or soon<br />

after birth which existed previously was expressly forbidden bythe<br />

Qurlan. Moreover, the Prophet showed in words as well as in deeds<br />

that daughters must be brought up well and treated kindly. This is<br />

well established in many traditions. As He says, "Who ever has a<br />

daughter and does not bury her alive, does not insult her and does<br />

not favour his son over her will be received by G40 into Paradise. "<br />

This shows the necessity for weaning the Islamic people from what<br />

was evidently a widespr-! tad practice. And he (the Prophet) also<br />

said: "Whoever supports two daughters till they mature, he and I will<br />

be on the Day <strong>of</strong> Judgement like this (and he put two fingers close<br />

together)*<br />

2 Daughters were not merely to be allowed to live but<br />

also to be generously supported and fully educated. Her rights in<br />

financial security equal those <strong>of</strong> her brother. The father as her guardian<br />

1. al-uussaiJ. op. cit. a P. 15<br />

2. lbid<br />

125

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