Children in the Quran

Children in the Quran is a topic that has been discussed to some extent. There is no doubt that the Noble Quran attaches outstanding importance to the issue of childbearing, procreation, and bringing pious and righteous children. Children are the future of a nation, and without them, a nation will cease to exist. In this article, we will take a look at:

Children Are One of the Greatest Blessings of God

God says in the Quran:

وَاللَّـهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ ۚ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَتِ اللَّـهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ ﴿72﴾

Allah made for you mates from your own selves and appointed for you children and grandchildren from your mates, and We provided you with all the good things. What, do they believe in falsehood while they deny the blessing of Allah? ¹

God has placed spouses for us, and from them, God has given us children and grandchildren from our own children. It is our duty to take good care of them and raise them well and in an Islamic way, as they will determine the future of society. God has mentioned and talked about many children in the Quran, such as: Moses, Joseph, Solomon, Jesus, John, and the son of Luqman.

 Children in the Quran: The Childhood of Moses

God says in the Quran:

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي ۖ إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿7﴾

We revealed to Moses’ mother, [saying], ‘Nurse him; then, when you fear for him, cast him into the river, and do not fear or grieve, for We will restore him to you and make him one of the apostles.’ ²

Moses was one of those children who was to become a prophet. At that time, the Pharaoh used to kill all male babies that were born to the Children of Israel. However, God wanted to protect Moses from any harm. Therefore, He revealed to Moses’ mother to put the baby in a basket and cast him into the sea. Then, Āsiyah (آسیة), the wife of the Pharaoh, picked him up from the sea and they decided to raise him as a child. In this way, Moses grew up and eventually was delegated to prophethood.

Children in the Quran: Joseph’s Childhood

Another child that is mentioned in the Quran is Prophet Joseph. When he was a child, he had a dream of eleven stars, the sun, and the moon prostrating before him. His father Prophet Jacob told him not to tell his dream to his brothers as they would become jealous of him and even plot to kill him. Joseph was thrown into the well at the hands of his jealous brothers. A caravan picked him up from the well and sold him as a servant to a prominent official of the king whom the Quran calls the ‘Azīz. He was raised by him and was delegated to prophethood when he grew up.

Children in the Quran: Solomon’s Childhood

A very important event that took place during the childhood of Solomon was his judgment concerning the tillage when the sheep of someone strayed into it by night. David gathered all his children and told them to judge, however, only Solomon knew the correct judgment. He said, “The sheep of that man must be given to the owner of the orchard so that he can use their wool, milk, and meat until the orchard gives fruit once again. Then, he can give back the sheep to its original owner, and he must not pay anything for the sheep.” It was God who gave this knowledge to Solomon, even as a child. Later, he succeeded his father David and became prophet and king of the Israelites.

Children in the Quran: Jesus’ Childhood

When Jesus was born, he first spoke to his mother and told her to keep a fast of silence. Then Jesus spoke in the cradle to his people and said: I am the servant of God. Then, he said how God:

• Made him a prophet
• Blessed him wherever he went
• Enjoined him to prayer and paying the alms

The Jesus said, God sends peace on him the day he is born, the day he dies, and the day he is resurrected on the Day of Judgment.

Children in the Quran: John’s Childhood

John was another child who was delegated to prophethood when he was a young child. The Quran says in this regard:

يَا يَحْيَىٰ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا ﴿12﴾

‘O John!’ [We said,] ‘Hold on with power to the Book!’ And We gave him judgement while still a child. ³

Therefore, it was possible for a child to be a prophet, such as John and Jesus.

Children in the Quran: The Son of Luqman

Another child that is mentioned in the Quran is the son of Luqman (لُقمان). In fact, Luqman gives certain pieces of advice to his son in surah Luqman. Luqman gave the following words of advice to his son:

1. Do not ascribe partners to God as it is a grave injustice.
2. Establish the Prayer.
3. Enjoin the good and forbid evil.
4. Be patient through whatever may befall you.
5. Do not turn your cheek away disdainfully from the people.
6. Do not walk exultantly on the earth.
7. Be modest in your bearing, and lower your voice.

Children in the Quran: Asking for Permission to Enter Parents’ Room

God explains in the Quran that there are three moments of privacy for a husband and wife:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ۚ مِّن قَبْلِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ ۚ ثَلَاثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ ۚ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ ۚ طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿58﴾

O you who have faith! Your slaves and any of you who have not yet reached puberty should seek your permission three times: before the dawn prayer, and when you put off your garments at noon, and after the night prayer. These are three times of privacy for you. Apart from these, it is not sinful of you or them to frequent one another [freely]. Thus does Allah clarify the signs for you, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise. ⁴

Then the Quran says that when children reach the age of puberty, they must still ask permission from their parents when they want to enter their privacy:

وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْأَطْفَالُ مِنكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُوا كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿59﴾

When your children reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] just as those [who grew up] before them asked permission. Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise. ⁵

Conclusion

Children are the future of a nation and one of God’s greatest blessings whom He has bestowed on any individual. It is very important how they are raised and by who. If they are brought up well, they will become righteous individuals who will shape the future of the Islamic ummah.