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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 />
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