Islam and Human Rights — Page 48
Isl am and Hum an R ights 48 training of children. Attention must be paid to the child’s proper training long before its birth. The prayer taught by the Prophet, “O Lord, safeguard us against evil and safeguard the issue that Thou mightst bestow upon us against evil”, 11 when husband and wife come together, is a striking reminder of the duty that parents owe to their children in this respect. The prayers taught in the Quran in this context have the same object. Abraham’s prayer. “Lord, bestow upon me righteous offspring” (37:101), and Zachariah’s prayer, “Lord, bestow upon me from Thyself pure offspring” (3:39), illustrate this. So also the prayers, “Our Lord, grant us of our wives and children the delight of our eyes, and make us a model for the righteous (25:75) and “Lord. make my offspring righteous” (46:16). The Prophet said, “Honour your children and make pro vision for their proper upbringing”, 12 which draws attention to their being brought up in ways of righteousness so as to make them worthy of honour. One aspect of the com mandment of the Quran, “Do not destroy your offspring” (17:32), is that the development of their 11 Bukhari II, Sect. :Ablutions, Ch. :Calling on Allah. 12 Ibn Maja II, Sect. :Upbringing, Ch. :Beneficence of Parents and Benevolence towards Daughters.