Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 87
Chapter 5: Middle School Years 87 of time. Parents can also request a private changing area for the girls in the locker rooms. If the school ’ s administration is non - cooperative in this regard , the matter can be taken to the B oard of E ducation of the county of residence. DAILY LIVING Treat Your Children Fairly and Equally Hazrat Nu ’ man ibn Bashir (ra) relates that his father took him to the Holy Prophet (saw) and said: “ I have gifted one of my slaves to this son of mine. The Holy Prophet (saw) asked: Have you done this for all your children? He answered: No. The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Be mindful of your obligation to Allah and do justice between your children. Do you desire that your children would behave equally well towards you? He said: Certainly. The Holy Prophet (saw) said: Then why don ’ t you behave equally well? ” 5. 6 When it comes to the matter of Tarbiyat , both boys and girls should be dealt with equally. Children should be taught from the very beginning that men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah, however, their roles are separate and different. Thus, sons and daughters should learn to respect each other at all times. If a daughter is asked to do household chores, then the sons should be required to do the same. Parents should not make these chores gender- segregated. That is, the boys should not be restricted from learning how to cook or doing the laundry, and the girls should not be kept from taking the trash out or doing other chores which are commonly done by men. There should not be any favoritism exhibited by either parent.