Blog - To Aid in Seeking Knowledge
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all that exists, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger Muhammad, his family, his Companions and his followers till the Day of Judgement.
From the greatest of responsibilities and trusts placed upon us is the obligation of cultivating our children. Allah, the Most High, said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. [ at-Tahreem: 6 ]
Mothers, fathers, teachers, and the society as a whole, will all be accountable in front of Allāh for the tarbiyyah (education and upbringing) of this generation. If its tarbiyah is good, then there will be happiness – both in this world and the Hereafter. If it is not, then there will be misery, and it will be a rope around your necks – since there occurs in the ḥadīth: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about those who you are responsible for.” [Related by al-Bukhārī (13/111) and Muslim (no. 1829)]
(troid.org)
Why must children wear modest clothes?
'Mothers who put their young daughters in short skirts that expose their legs – is this allowed?'
Question: Some women, may Allah guide them, dress their young daughters in short dresses that expose their shins [and legs]–and when we advise them, they say: ‘We used to dress like that ourselves, and it did us no harm once we became older.’
So what is your opinion regarding this?
Answer: I hold that it is not permissible for a parent to dress his daughter in this clothing when she is a small child because if she gets accustomed, she will carry on on that path, and the affair [of the hijāb] will be taken lightly. However, if she gets accustomed to modesty [in clothing] from an early age, she will proceed upon that, as she reaches adulthood. And I advise our Muslim sisters with this – that they should avoid the garments (fashions) of the non-Muslims and enemies of the Religion – and that they should return their daughters to clothes that cover them, and nurture them on shyness and modesty.
Ash-Shaikh al-‘Allāmah Muhammad Al-‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullāh)
(Ref: Fatāwa ‘Ulamā Al-Balad Al-Harām, p. 1212, slightly adapted)
(abukhadeejah.com)
Question: My brother dresses his 4 -Year old daughter in a veil and says :" He who grows up upon something grows old upon it." , and he tries to force this upon my children. Whereas I disagree with him in this and say to him, when they reach menses. What is your opinion about this severity by which he has chained the childhood of this child at the age of four? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: There is no doubt that your brothers statement is the common occurrence. He who grows up upon something grows old upon it, this is why the Prophet ﷺ has ordered the one who reached the age of seven years to perform the prayer even though he is not yet responsible for his actions, rather this is in order that he be accustomed to it. As for a young girl, there is no ruling concerning her private zone, it is not obligatory upon her to cover her face, neck and hands or feet and it is not befitting that she should be forced into this. Whereas if she reaches a stage at which men start to become attracted to her, then she should wear the Hijaab to prevent trials and evil. This varies with different women, for there are some who develop very rapidly, whilst others are the opposite of this. Allaah is the one who gives success.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaimeen.
[Fataawa Manaar al-Islaam: 3/810]
Book: Islamic Fataawa Regarding the Muslim Child.
It is also forbidden to clothe a child in a garment that contains pictures of living beings .
The scholars say: It is forbidden to clothe a child in that which is forbidden for an adult to wear and that containing pictures of living beings is forbidden for an adult to wear, hence it is forbidden for a child to wear it as well and it is so. It is upon the Muslims to boycott such clothing and footwear so that wicked people do not subject us to evil from this front. If they are boycotted these people would not find a way to import it into this country and it would become non profitable for them.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaimeen.
[Majmu' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il ash-Sheikh: 3/158]
Book: Islamic Fataawa regarding the Muslim Child.
Question: There are many different types of dolls ,some are made of cotton and are merely a sack with different sections, as a head, two arms and two feet. Whilst some accurately resemble a human and others speak, cry or walk. What is the ruling on making or buying such types of dolls for small girls designed for their education and amusement?
Answer: As for the inaccurately detailed doll, such that it consists of some limbs, a head and doesn't show any close resemblance to a human, there is no doubt as to its permissibility. It is of the types of dolls that 'A'isha رضي الله عنها used to play with. Whereas if it is complete in it's resemblance to a human, as if you were looking at one, especially if it moves or speaks, then I have a doubt about it's permissibility because it totally emulates that created by Allaah. It is apparent that the dolls that 'Aaisha رضي الله عنها used to play with were different to this, therefore to avoid it is more worthy, but I do not affirm that it is forbidden. Bearing in mind that it is permitted for children in such matters that not permitted for adults. For it is created within the nature of children to like playing and amusement and they are not responsible for any type of worship, so that we could have possibly argued that their time is wasted in such playing and amusement. If a person wants to be safe in such matters, let him cut the dolls head off or heat it up over fire until it becomes soft and then press away its features.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaimeen.
[Majmu' Fataawa wa Rasaa' il ash-Sheikh: 3/155]
{It is apparent from this Fatwa that the Sheikh had such a toy infront of him, as an example which contained cartoon like characters, and Allah knows best.}
Book: Islamic Fataawa Regarding the Muslim Child.