What rights do children have over their parents in Islam?

Children in Islam are considered a trust (amanah) rather than property, and parents bear real obligations toward them from before birth through adulthood. These include being given a good name, being nursed and provided for, being treated fairly among siblings, and being educated in both faith and practical life skills - the Quran commands believers to "protect yourselves and your families from a Fire" (66:6), which scholars read as a mandate for active religious upbringing, not merely food and shelter. Financially, parents must support their children until they can support themselves, and Islam firmly prohibits neglect or harm to children out of fear of poverty, reminding parents that "We provide for you and for them" (17:31). Emotional rights matter too: the Prophet was known for embracing and playing with children, modeling affection alongside guidance. Favoritism among children in gifts or attention is explicitly discouraged in the hadith literature, since perceived unfairness among siblings is one of the most common sources of lasting family rifts, sometimes persisting into adulthood as resentment or inheritance disputes.

Ask your own question → All questions