How can daughters lead parents to Jannah (Paradise) - Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Women in Islam assume a great significance in terms of respect and dignity. While many non-Muslims see Muslim women dressed in complete body covering in a lose over garment as a sign of oppression and violation of human rights, they fail to understand how much respect the Muslim women get from their menfolk both inside and outside of their household. Our last post was about "The higher pedestal for women as MOTHERS in Islam," as a premise to write more about status of women in Islam.

Today, we will talk of the blessings that daughters bring to their parents and how they would pave their way to Jannah / Paradise on the Day of judgement, as mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This post is even applicable for parents today who dislike the birth of daughters and even are ashamed to break the news to their relatives that they have been blessed with a daughter.

Those interested in history would know that the era before advent of Islam in Arabia was the worst as far women were concerned. The girl babies used to be buried alive right upon their birth and the women in general were nothing but means of amusement and satisfaction of sex of their men. Even they paraded around the Kaabah during the annual rituals.

It was after the advent of Islam, that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ strictly disallowed burial of girls born to Muslim parents and later when Islam prevailed over the entire Arab, this unholy and gruesome practice was abolished altogether. Please refer to our earlier post "When the girl-child buried alive shall be asked for what offence was she killed" that explains these gruesome traditions and its abolishment. 

Today we share a hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as mentioned in This Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah / Book (33) of Etiquette كتاب الفتن / Chapter # 3 Honoring one's father and being kind to daughters /باب بِرِّ الْوَالِدِ وَالإِحْسَانِ إِلَى الْبَنَاتِ) as Hadith number # 3669. Besides references are also given to other hadiths that hinge on the same theme.

Uqbah bin Amir said, I heard the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) say:

"Whoever has three daughters and is patient towards them, and feeds them, gives them to drink, and clothes them from his wealth; they will be a shield for him from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection.'"

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ حَرْمَلَةَ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُشَّانَةَ الْمَعَافِرِيَّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ عَامِرٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ ثَلاَثُ بَنَاتٍ فَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهِنَّ وَأَطْعَمَهُنَّ وَسَقَاهُنَّ وَكَسَاهُنَّ مِنْ جِدَتِهِ - كُنَّ لَهُ حِجَابًا مِنَ النَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Imagine when baby girls were deemed a source of shame and buried alive, the Prophet came to rectify this grave wrong and brought relief and solace to mothers who had to part within their baby girls they had taken pains to bear them in their wombs for nine months and then bid them farewell forever.

As for the number of daughters, someone asked the Prophet, what if they are two daughters only. He replied, “[He gets that reward,] even if they are [only] two. “Some of those present believed that had the Prophet been asked about only one daughter, he would have answered that the reward was applicable too. (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

In another hadith, Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (pbuh) said: If anyone has a female child, and does not bury her alive, or slight her, or prefer his male children to her, Allah will bring him into Paradise.

The last hadith is specially for parents who prefer sons over daughters. In fact, it should be the other way around. Daughters bring blessings to their parents and blessed are those parents who welcome the baby girls, bring them up well and marry them off. Such are the parents who can be rest assured of being shielded from the hell fire and entered into Jannah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to our reference page:  Hadiths related to Muslim Women for more Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Muslim women

Please also refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah / Hadith of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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Surah As Saffat - Those Who Set the Ranks: Exegesis of 37th chapter of the Holy Quran - Part III

Sūrah Aṣ-Ṣāffāt is the 37th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 182 verses (āyāt) and five rukhu, part of the 23rd Juz'.

In the Overview of the Sūrah, it was explained that the exegesis / tafseer of this Sūrah will be segmented owing to its length as under:

• Part - I: Rukhu 1-2 (verses 1-74)
• Part - II Rukhu 3-4 (Verses 75-138)
• Part - III Rukhu 5 (Verses 139-182)

With exegesis / tafseer of rukhus 1-4 already given in the Parts I and II, this post covers the last ruku covering verses 139-182. 

The last verses of the Surah were not only a warning for the disbelievers of Makkah, but also a good news for the believers who were passing through highly unfavorable and discouraging conditions on account of their supporting and following the Holy Prophet. In these verses they were given the good news that they should not be disheartened at the hardships and difficulties they had to encounter in the beginning, for in the end they alone would attain dominance, and the standard bearers of falsehood, who appeared to be dominant at the time would be overwhelmed and vanquished at their hands. A few years later the turn the events took, proved that it was not an empty consolation but an inevitable reality of which they had been foretold in order to strengthen their hearts.

Let us now read the translation and exegesis / tafseer in English of the Rukhu 5 (Verses 139-182) of the Surah. For Arabic Text, please refer to the references given at the end and may also listen to its recitation in Arabic with English subtitles:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

Verses 149-166 mention allegations of the disbelievers of Makkah of Angels being daughters of Allah and Jinns having blood relations with Allah and a strong rebuttal by Allah for these claims being utterly false.

In fact, another theme starts from here. In the preceding theme that started from verse 11, the Quraish had been put this question: Ask them: what is more difficult: their own creation or of those things that We have created? Now, they are being asked this second question. The object of the first question was to warn the disbelievers of their deviation because of which they regarded life-after-death and the meting out of rewards and punishments as impossible, and therefore, mocked the Prophet (peace be upon him) for it. Now they are being asked this second question to warn them of their ignorance due to which they attributed children to Allah and would join anybody with Allah in any relationship they liked on mere conjecture.

149. Now ask them (O Muhammad ): "Are there (only) daughters for your Lord and sons for them?"

Traditions show that in Arabia the tribes of Quraish, Juhainah, Bani Salimah, Khuzaah, Bani Mulaih, etc. held the belief that the angels were Allah’s daughters. This belief of their ignorance has been referred to at several places in the Quran, e.g. in (Surah An-Nisa, Ayat 117); (Surah An- Nahl, Aytas 57-58); (Surah Bani-Israil, Ayat 40); (Surah Az- Zukhruf, Ayats 16, 19); (Surah An-Najm, Ayats 21-27).

150. Or did We create the angels females while they were witnesses? 151. Verily, it is of their falsehood that they (Quraish pagans) say: 152. "Allah has begotten offspring or children (i.e. angels are the daughters of Allah)?" And, verily, they are liars! 153. Has He (then) chosen daughters rather than sons? 154. What is the matter with you? How do you decide? 155. Will you not then remember? 156. Or is there for you a plain authority? 

157. Then bring your Book if you are truthful!

That is, there can be only two bases for regarding the angels as the daughters of Allah. Either such a thing could be said on the basis of observation, or the one who asserted it should possess a divine book in which Allah Himself might have stated that the angels were His daughters. Now, if those who held such belief could neither make a claim to have observed such a thing nor did they possess any divine book that might contain such a thing, there could be no greater stupidity than this that one should base his religious belief on mere conjecture, and attribute to Allah, Lord of the worlds, such things as were patently ridiculous

وَجَعَلُوۡا بَيۡنَهٗ وَبَيۡنَ الۡجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا ؕ​ وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمَتِ الۡجِنَّةُ اِنَّهُمۡ لَمُحۡضَرُوۡنَۙ‏ 

158. And they have invented a kinship between Him and the jinns, but the jinns know well that they have indeed to appear (before Him) (i.e. they will be brought for accounts).

Though the word used is al-jinnah instead of almalaikah, some major commentators have opined that here the word jinn has been used for malaikah in its literal sense (of hidden creation); malaikah (angels) also are, in reality, a hidden creation, and the following theme also demands that al jinnah here be taken in the sense of al-malaikah.

159. Glorified is Allah! (He is Free) from what they attribute unto Him! 160. Except the slaves of Allah, whom He chooses (for His Mercy i.e. true believers of Islamic Monotheism who do not attribute false things unto Allah). 161. So, verily you (pagans) and those whom you worship (idols). 162. Cannot lead astray [turn away from Him (Allah) anyone of the believers], 

163. Except those who are predestined to burn in Hell!

Another translation of this verse can be: Therefore, you and your worship: on this you cannot tempt into mischief anyone except him. According to this second translation, the meaning would be: O you who have gone astray, by this worship that you are performing before us, and regarding us as the children of Allah, Lord of the worlds, you cannot tempt us into mischief. By this you can only beguile a fool who might be working for his own doom. So, we refuse to fall into the trap that you have set for us.

164. There is not one of us (angels) but has his known place (or position);

That is, not to speak of being Allah’s children, we do not have the power to exceed in any way or degree the place and position and status appointed for each of us by Allah.

165. Verily, we (angels), we stand in rows for the prayers (as you Muslims stand in rows for your prayers); 166. Verily, we (angels), we are they who glorify (Allah's Praises i.e. perform prayers).

Verses 167-182 give glad tidings that Allah has promised to help His Rasools and His devotees:

167. And indeed they (Arab pagans) used to say; 168. "If we had a reminder as had the men of old (before the coming of Prophet Muhammad  as a Messenger of Allah).

169. "We would have indeed been the chosen slaves of Allah (true believers of Islamic Monotheism)!"

This same thing has already been mentioned in( Surah Fatir, Ayat 42). "Swearing by Allah their strongest oaths they claimed that if a warner came to them they would be better-guided than any other people. But when a warner did come to them, his coming only increased their aversion (to the Truth)."

170. But (now that the Qur'an has come) they disbelieve therein (i.e. in the Qur'an and in Prophet Muhammad  , and all that which he brought, the Divine Revelation), so they will come to know! 171. And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our slaves, the Messengers, 172. That they verily would be made triumphant.

173. And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors.

Allah’s army: implies the believers who obey Allah’s Messenger and side with him. This also includes those unseen powers by which Allah helps the followers of the truth.
This help and domination does not necessarily mean that in every age every Prophet of Allah and his followers must attain political dominance, but this dominance has many forms, one of which is political rule as well. Wherever the Prophets of Allah did not attain any such dominance, they did establish their moral superiority even in those places. The nations which did not accept their message and adopted a way contrary to their teachings were ultimately doomed to destruction. Whatever philosophies of error and misguidance the people invented and whatever corrupt and evil practices of life they enforced died out ultimately after they had their sway for some time. But the truths preached by the Prophets of Allah for thousands of years have been unalterable before as they are unalterable today. No one has been able to disprove them in any way.

174. So turn away (O Muhammad ) from them for a while,

175. And watch them and they shall see (the punishment)!

That is, it will not take long when they will see their defeat and your victory with their own eyes. This proved to be true as it had been foretold. Hardly 14 to 15 years had passed after the revelation of these vases when the pagans of Makkah witnessed the Prophet (peace be upon him) enter their city as a conqueror, and then a few years later the same people saw that Islam had overwhelmed not only Arabia but the mighty empires of Rome and Iran as well.

176. Do they seek to hasten on Our Torment?
177. Then, when it descends into their courtyard (i.e. near to them), evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!
178.  So turn (O Muhammad ) away from them for a while,
179. And watch and they shall see (the torment)!
180. Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him!
181. And peace be on the Messengers!
182. And all the praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

Here we come to the end of the Part III of the exegesis / tafseer of rukus 5 (verses 149-182) of the surah and the end of Surah As Saffat as well.. In the Part III exegesis / tafsir of the fifth ruku (verses 149-182) will be presented. May Allah help us to understand the Holy Quran better than before. Aameen.

You may now like to listen to Arabic recitation of Sūrah Aṣ-Ṣāffāt  with English subtitles:

You may refer to our post "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, meaning and summary / exegesis of other chapters (Though not complete but building up from 30th Juzʼ / Part backwards for chapters in 30th Juzʼ / Part are shorter and easier to understand). 

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Reading the Holy Quran should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. However, the exegesis of the chapters of the Holy Quran are basically based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook
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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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