16. Upbringing of Daughters

The Prophet of Islam (SAW) said: “Whoever raises three daughters, teaches them good manners, arranges their marriages, and treats them well, for him is Paradise.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 5147)

A common attitude is that if a father has several daughters and no son, he begins to regard his daughters as less valuable. This hadith rejects such a mindset. Whether a father has a son or a daughter, his responsibility is the same: to give his children the best possible education and upbringing. He should prepare them in such a way that they are able to face life successfully.

A father often thinks that the best thing he can do for his children is to provide them with every comfort and leave them as much wealth as possible. But this is not the right approach. The best gift a father can give his children is not wealth, but education. Wealth earned by the father comes to the children as easy money, and such money often has a negative effect on a person.

The right approach is to educate one’s children and enable them to build their own lives through their own effort and hard work.