Encouragement to Have Children
Since 2012-12-08
Children have a lofty status in Islam, and a high rank. Allah has encouraged us to seek after them: {So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring),} [Al-Baqarah 2:187].
{فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ} البقرة: 187
Transliteration: faalana bashiroohunna waibtaghoo ma kataba Allahu lakum
The scholars of Tafsir (explanation of the Quran) explain that what is meant be seeking that which Allah has ordained for you is seeking reward and good - from which is pious offspring.
This encouragement is further clarified and manifested by the order of the Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) in his saying: “Marry the loving and the fertile because through you, I will compete with the nations for superiority in numbers.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani].
«تزوجوا الودود الولود فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
From this we can clearly see the error of those who waste away their family lives using various forms of contraception and therefore preventing themselves and their society from this divine blessing and the beautiful adornment with which Allah has ordained this world. Allah says: {Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world…} [Al-Kahf 18:46].
{الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا...} الكهف: 46
Transliteration: Almalu waalbanoona zeenatu alhayati alddunya
So children are a great blessing and something good, and this blessing and good becomes complete when the children are righteous and good - which will not be achieved unless the fathers and mothers train and educate them properly upon Islam and its manners from the first moments of their lives as part of the growing family.
Then and only then will they be a pleasure to the eyes and bring happiness to their hearts. Allah says: {And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqun (pious)”} [Al-Furqan 25:74].
{وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا} الفرقان: 74
Transliteration: Waallatheena yaqooloona rabbana hab lana min azwajina wathurriyyatinaqurrata aAAyunin waijAAalnalilmuttaqeena imaman
And besides encouraging us to seek children, Islam has also made them a great source of good, and also a means of receiving great reward for the parents both in their lives and after their deaths - so pious children are an extension to the lives of their parents after their deaths and a continuing means of acquiring good and reward for them. Concerning this Allah’s Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A servant will have his rank raised and will say: ‘O my Lord how has this come about for me?’ He says: “Through your sons after you seeking forgiveness for you.” [Reported by Ibn Majah and declared good by Al-Albani].
«إن الرجل لترفع درجته في الجنة فيقول: أنى هذا؟ فيقال: باستغفار ولدك لك» رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه الألباني
And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “When the son of Adam dies his actions are cut off except for three: A continuing charity, or some knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous son who makes supplication for him.” [Muslim].
«إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له» رواه مسلم
From the bounteous favors of Allah with regards to one’s offspring, He has made the child a source of good for its parents in all conditions, since if he lives longer than them he benefits them by supplicating for them and asking them for forgiveness for them - as occurs in the above Hadith.
On the other hand, if the child dies before them, then he will intercede for them and be a precursor for them in Paradise, and this can be seen clearly in the following Hadiths:
The Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said to the women: “There is not amongst you a woman of whose children three die except that they will be a shield for her from the Fire. A woman said: “And two?” and she repeated that twice, So he said, “And two, And two, And two.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
«ما منكن امرأة تقدم بين يديها من ولدها ثلاثة، إلا كان لها حجابا من النار. فقالت امرأة منهن: يا رسول الله؟ اثنين؟ قال: فأعادتها مرتين، ثم قال: واثنين واثنين واثنين» رواه البخاري ومسلم
A woman came with a child of hers and said, “O Prophet of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) supplicate for him, for I have already buried three.” So he said, ‘You have buried three!’ She said, “Yes.” He said, ‘You have indeed protected yourself with a strong shield from the Fire.” [Muslim].
«أتت امرأة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بصبي لها. فقالت: يا نبي الله! ادع الله له. فلقد دفنت ثلاثة. قال: دفنت ثلاثة؟ قالت: نعم. قال: لقد احتظرت بحظار شديد من النار» رواه مسلم
And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) said to a man whose son had died:
“Do you not love that you will not come to any gate from the gates of Paradise except that you will find him awaiting you?” So a man said, ‘Is that for him in particular O Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him), or for all of us?’ He said, “Rather for all or you.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani].
«ألا تحب أن لا تأتي بابا من أبواب الجنة إلا وجدته ينتظرك؟ فقال رجل: يا رسول الله! له خاصة، أم لكلنا؟ قال: بل لكلكم» صححه الألباني
The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Your small children will roam freely in Paradise when one of them meets his father - or he said; his parents - he will take hold of the edge of his garment or his hand, as I now take hold of the edge of your garment, and not let go until Allah admits him and his father into Paradise.” [Muslim].
«صغارهم دعاميص الجنة يتلقى أحدهم أباه -أو قال أبويه-، فيأخذ بثوبه -أو قال بيده-، كما آخذ أنا بصنفة ثوبك هذا. فلا يتناهى -أو قال فلا ينتهي- ، حتى يدخله الله وأباه الجنة» رواه مسلم
And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “By Him in whose Hand is my soul the miscarried fetus will bring his mother by his umbilical cord into paradise if she patiently awaits reward.” [Reported by Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani].
«والذي نفسي بيده إن السقط ليجر أمه بسرره إلى الجنة إذا احتسبته» رواه ابن ماجة وصححه الألباني
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