Quran Verses about Children
Allah grants daughters and sons to whom He wills and leaves barren whom He wills; wealth and children are an adornment of this world and a trial that must not distract from remembering Allah. Prophets and believers pray for righteous offspring, and parents such as Ibrahim, Ya'qub and Luqman counsel their children in tawhid, prayer and good character. The verses forbid killing children for fear of poverty, condemn the pre-Islamic dislike of baby daughters, and set out the nursing of a child for two years, with the father providing for the mother who nurses it.
Children as a gift from Allah
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةٗ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِۚ أَفَبِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ يُؤۡمِنُونَ وَبِنِعۡمَتِ ٱللَّهِ هُمۡ يَكۡفُرُونَ ٧٢
Wallāhu jaʿala lakum min anfusikum azwājaw wa jaʿala lakum min azwājikum banīna wa ḥafadataw wa razaqakum minaṭ-ṭayyibāt, afabil-bāṭili yuʾminūna wabiniʿmatillāhi hum yakfurūn.
And Allāh has made for you from yourselves mates and has made for you from your mates sons and grandchildren and has provided for you from the good things. Then in falsehood do they believe and in the favor of Allāh they disbelieve?
لِّلَّهِ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ إِنَٰثٗا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ٱلذُّكُورَ ٤٩
Lillāhi mulkus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, yakhluqu mā yashāʾ, yahabu limay yashāʾu ināthaw wa yahabu limay yashāʾudh-dhukūr.
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what He wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.
أَوۡ يُزَوِّجُهُمۡ ذُكۡرَانٗا وَإِنَٰثٗاۖ وَيَجۡعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٞ قَدِيرٞ ٥٠
Aw yuzawwijuhum dhukrānaw wa ināthā, wa yajʿalu may yashāʾu ʿaqīmā, innahū ʿalīmun qadīr.
Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.
Children as adornment and trial
وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّمَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَأَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ فِتۡنَةٞ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجۡرٌ عَظِيمٞ ٢٨
Waʿlamū annamā amwālukum wa awlādukum fitnatuw wa annallāha ʿindahū ajrun ʿaẓīm.
And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allāh has with Him a great reward.
ٱلۡمَالُ وَٱلۡبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ وَٱلۡبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابٗا وَخَيۡرٌ أَمَلٗا ٤٦
Al-mālu wal-banūna zīnatul-ḥayātid-dunyā, wal-bāqiyātuṣ-ṣāliḥātu khayrun ʿinda rabbika thawābaw wa khayrun amalā.
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord1 for reward and better for [one's] hope.
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., in His sight or evaluation.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُلۡهِكُمۡ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَلَآ أَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ ٩
Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū lā tulhikum amwālukum wa lā awlādukum ʿan dhikrillāh, wa may yafʿal dhālika fa ulāʾika humul-khāsirūn.
O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allāh. And whoever does that - then those are the losers.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ مِنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِكُمۡ وَأَوۡلَٰدِكُمۡ عَدُوّٗا لَّكُمۡ فَٱحۡذَرُوهُمۡۚ وَإِن تَعۡفُواْ وَتَصۡفَحُواْ وَتَغۡفِرُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٌ ١٤
Yāʾayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū inna min azwājikum wa awlādikum ʿaduwwal lakum faḥdharūhum, wa in taʿfū wa taṣfaḥū wa taghfirū fa innallāha ghafūrur raḥīm.
O you who have believed, indeed, among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
إِنَّمَآ أَمۡوَٰلُكُمۡ وَأَوۡلَٰدُكُمۡ فِتۡنَةٞۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجۡرٌ عَظِيمٞ ١٥
Innamā amwālukum wa awlādukum fitnah, wallāhu ʿindahū ajrun ʿaẓīm.
Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allāh has with Him a great reward.
Praying for righteous children and offspring
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةٗ طَيِّبَةًۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ٣٨
Hunālika daʿā zakariyyā rabbah, qāla rabbi hab lī mil ladunka dhurriyyatan ṭayyibah, innaka samīʿud-duʿāʾ.
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ هَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدَ ءَامِنٗا وَٱجۡنُبۡنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعۡبُدَ ٱلۡأَصۡنَامَ ٣٥
Wa idh qāla ibrāhīmu rabbijʿal hādhal-balada āminaw wajnubnī wa baniyya an naʿbudal-aṣnām.
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city [i.e., Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.
رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّيٓ أَسۡكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيۡرِ ذِي زَرۡعٍ عِندَ بَيۡتِكَ ٱلۡمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجۡعَلۡ أَفۡـِٔدَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهۡوِيٓ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَٱرۡزُقۡهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَشۡكُرُونَ ٣٧
Rabbanā innī askantu min dhurriyyatī biwādin ghayri dhī zarʿin ʿinda baytikal-muḥarrami rabbanā liyuqīmuṣ-ṣalāta fajʿal afʾidatam minan-nāsi tahwī ilayhim warzuqhum minath-thamarāti laʿallahum yashkurūn.
Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.
رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡنِي مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِيۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلۡ دُعَآءِ ٤٠
Rabbijʿalnī muqīmaṣ-ṣalāti wa min dhurriyyatī, rabbanā wa taqabbal duʿāʾ.
My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٖ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ٧٤
Wal-ladhīna yaqūlūna rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wa dhurriyyātinā qurrata aʿyuniw wajʿalnā lil-muttaqīna imāmā.
And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes1 and make us a leader [i.e., example] for the righteous."
Footnotes (1)
- i.e., a source of happiness due to their righteousness.
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ١٥
Wa waṣṣaynal-insāna biwālidayhi iḥsānā, ḥamalathu ummuhū kurhaw wa waḍaʿathu kurhā, wa ḥamluhū wa fiṣāluhū thalāthūna shahrā, ḥattā idhā balagha ashuddahū wa balagha arbaʿīna sanatan qāla rabbi awziʿnī an ashkura niʿmatakal-latī anʿamta ʿalayya wa ʿalā wālidayya wa an aʿmala ṣāliḥan tarḍāhu wa aṣliḥ lī fī dhurriyyatī, innī tubtu ilayka wa innī minal-muslimīn.
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me1 to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
Footnotes (1)
- Literally, "gather within me the utmost strength and ability."
Parents' counsel to their children
وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَآ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعۡقُوبُ يَٰبَنِيَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ ١٣٢
Wa waṣṣā bihā ibrāhīmu banīhi wa yaʿqūbu yābaniyya innallāhaṣṭafā lakumud-dīna falā tamūtunna illā wa antum muslimūn.
And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allāh has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims."
أَمۡ كُنتُمۡ شُهَدَآءَ إِذۡ حَضَرَ يَعۡقُوبَ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِذۡ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِيۖ قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدٗا وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ ١٣٣
Am kuntum shuhadāʾa idh ḥaḍara yaʿqūbal-mawtu idh qāla libanīhi mā taʿbudūna mim baʿdī, qālū naʿbudu ilāhaka wa ilāha ābāʾika ibrāhīma wa ismāʿīla wa isḥāqa ilāhaw wāḥidaw wa naḥnu lahū muslimūn.
Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God.1 And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
Footnotes (1)
- Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) alone.
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا لُقۡمَٰنَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِلَّهِۚ وَمَن يَشۡكُرۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٞ ١٢
Wa laqad ātaynā luqmānal-ḥikmata anishkur lillāh, wa may yashkur fa innamā yashkuru linafsih, wa man kafara fa innallāha ghaniyyun ḥamīd.
And We had certainly given Luqmān wisdom [and said], "Be grateful to Allāh." And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] - then indeed, Allāh is Free of need and Praiseworthy.
وَإِذۡ قَالَ لُقۡمَٰنُ لِٱبۡنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَٰبُنَيَّ لَا تُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٞ ١٣
Wa idh qāla luqmānu libnihī wa huwa yaʿiẓuhū yābunayya lā tushrik billāh, innash-shirka laẓulmun ʿaẓīm.
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Luqmān said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allāh. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice."
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٖ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ فِي عَامَيۡنِ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيۡكَ إِلَيَّ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ١٤
Wa waṣṣaynal-insāna biwālidayhi ḥamalathu ummuhū wahnan ʿalā wahniw wa fiṣāluhū fī ʿāmayni anishkur lī waliwālidayka ilayyal-maṣīr.
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
وَإِن جَٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشۡرِكَ بِي مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٞ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَاۖ وَصَاحِبۡهُمَا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَعۡرُوفٗاۖ وَٱتَّبِعۡ سَبِيلَ مَنۡ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّۚ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ١٥
Wa in jāhadāka ʿalā an tushrika bī mā laysa laka bihī ʿilmun falā tuṭiʿhumā, wa ṣāḥibhumā fid-dunyā maʿrūfā, wattabiʿ sabīla man anāba ilayy, thumma ilayya marjiʿukum fa unabbiʾukum bimā kuntum taʿmalūn.
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge,1 do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
Footnotes (1)
- See footnote to 29:8.
يَٰبُنَيَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّةٖ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٖ فَتَكُن فِي صَخۡرَةٍ أَوۡ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ أَوۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَأۡتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٞ ١٦
Yābunayya innahā in taku mithqāla ḥabbatim min khardalin fatakun fī ṣakhratin aw fis-samāwāti aw fil-arḍi yaʾti bihallāh, innallāha laṭīfun khabīr.
[And Luqmān said], "O my son, indeed if it [i.e., a wrong] should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allāh will bring it forth. Indeed, Allāh is Subtle1 and Aware.
Footnotes (1)
- Refer to footnote of 6:103.
يَٰبُنَيَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأۡمُرۡ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَٱنۡهَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ ٱلۡأُمُورِ ١٧
Yābunayya aqimiṣ-ṣalāta waʾmur bil-maʿrūfi wanha ʿanil-munkari waṣbir ʿalā mā aṣābak, inna dhālika min ʿazmil-umūr.
O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] resolve.1
Footnotes (1)
- For the reason that they are enjoined by Allāh.
وَلَا تُصَعِّرۡ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٖ فَخُورٖ ١٨
Wa lā tuṣaʿʿir khaddaka lin-nāsi wa lā tamshi fil-arḍi maraḥā, innallāha lā yuḥibbu kulla mukhtālin fakhūr.
And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people1 and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.
Footnotes (1)
- Rather, respect them by directing your face and attention to them.
وَٱقۡصِدۡ فِي مَشۡيِكَ وَٱغۡضُضۡ مِن صَوۡتِكَۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلۡأَصۡوَٰتِ لَصَوۡتُ ٱلۡحَمِيرِ ١٩
Waqṣid fī mashyika waghḍuḍ min ṣawtik, inna ankaral-aṣwāti laṣawtul-ḥamīr.
And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."
Not killing children or despising daughters
وَكَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ قَتۡلَ أَوۡلَٰدِهِمۡ شُرَكَآؤُهُمۡ لِيُرۡدُوهُمۡ وَلِيَلۡبِسُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ دِينَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُۖ فَذَرۡهُمۡ وَمَا يَفۡتَرُونَ ١٣٧
Wa kadhālika zayyana likathīrim minal-mushrikīna qatla awlādihim shurakāʾuhum liyurdūhum waliyalbisū ʿalayhim dīnahum, wa law shāʾallāhu mā faʿalūh, fadharhum wa mā yaftarūn.
And likewise, to many of the polytheists their partners1 have made [to seem] pleasing the killing of their children in order to bring about their destruction and to cover them with confusion in their religion. And if Allāh had willed, they would not have done so. So leave them and that which they invent.
Footnotes (1)
- Their evil associates.
قَدۡ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَتَلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَهُمۡ سَفَهَۢا بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٖ وَحَرَّمُواْ مَا رَزَقَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱفۡتِرَآءً عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ قَدۡ ضَلُّواْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهۡتَدِينَ ١٤٠
Qad khasiral-ladhīna qatalū awlādahum safaham bighayri ʿilmiw wa ḥarramū mā razaqahumullāhuftirāʾan ʿalallāh, qad ḍallū wa mā kānū muhtadīn.
They will have lost who killed their children in foolishness without knowledge and prohibited what Allāh had provided for them, inventing untruth about Allāh. They have gone astray and were not [rightly] guided.
۞ قُلۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ أَتۡلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ أَلَّا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡـٔٗاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَٰنٗاۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُم مِّنۡ إِمۡلَٰقٖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُكُمۡ وَإِيَّاهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلۡفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا وَمَا بَطَنَۖ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِي حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ ١٥١
Qul taʿālaw atlu mā ḥarrama rabbukum ʿalaykum, allā tushrikū bihī shayʾā, wabil-wālidayni iḥsānā, wa lā taqtulū awlādakum min imlāqin naḥnu narzuqukum wa iyyāhum, wa lā taqrabul-fawāḥisha mā ẓahara minhā wa mā baṭan, wa lā taqtulun-nafsal-latī ḥarramallāhu illā bil-ḥaqq, dhālikum waṣṣākum bihī laʿallakum taʿqilūn.
Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلۡأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجۡهُهُۥ مُسۡوَدّٗا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٞ ٥٨
Wa idhā bushshira aḥaduhum bil-unthā ẓalla wajhuhū muswaddaw wa huwa kaẓīm.
And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief.
يَتَوَٰرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ مِن سُوٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِۦٓۚ أَيُمۡسِكُهُۥ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمۡ يَدُسُّهُۥ فِي ٱلتُّرَابِۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ ٥٩
Yatawārā minal-qawmi min sūʾi mā bushshira bih, ayumsikuhū ʿalā hūnin am yadussuhū fit-turāb, alā sāʾa mā yaḥkumūn.
He hides himself from the people because of the ill of which he has been informed. Should he keep it in humiliation or bury it in the ground? Unquestionably, evil is what they decide.
وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ خَشۡيَةَ إِمۡلَٰقٖۖ نَّحۡنُ نَرۡزُقُهُمۡ وَإِيَّاكُمۡۚ إِنَّ قَتۡلَهُمۡ كَانَ خِطۡـٔٗا كَبِيرٗا ٣١
Wa lā taqtulū awlādakum khashyata imlāq, naḥnu narzuquhum wa iyyākum, inna qatlahum kāna khiṭʾan kabīrā.
And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتُ يُبَايِعۡنَكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن لَّا يُشۡرِكۡنَ بِٱللَّهِ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يَسۡرِقۡنَ وَلَا يَزۡنِينَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأۡتِينَ بِبُهۡتَٰنٖ يَفۡتَرِينَهُۥ بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِنَّ وَأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعۡصِينَكَ فِي مَعۡرُوفٖ فَبَايِعۡهُنَّ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُنَّ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ ١٢
Yāʾayyuhan-nabiyyu idhā jāʾakal-muʾminātu yubāyiʿnaka ʿalā al lā yushrikna billāhi shayʾaw wa lā yasriqna wa lā yaznīna wa lā yaqtulna awlādahunna wa lā yaʾtīna bibuhtāniy yaftarīnahū bayna aydīhinna wa arjulihinna wa lā yaʿṣīnaka fī maʿrūfin fabāyiʿhunna wastaghfir lahunnallāh, innallāha ghafūrur raḥīm.
O Prophet, when the believing women come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with Allāh, nor will they steal, nor will they commit unlawful sexual intercourse, nor will they kill their children, nor will they bring forth a slander they have invented between their arms and legs,1 nor will they disobey you in what is right - then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Footnotes (1)
- This is an allusion to pregnancy and childbirth, i.e., to falsely attribute a child (whether adopted or born of adultery) to a woman's husband.
Nursing the child and providing for the nursing mother
۞ وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِۖ لِمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفۡسٌ إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةُۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوۡلُودٞ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡوَارِثِ مِثۡلُ ذَٰلِكَۗ فَإِنۡ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٖ مِّنۡهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٖ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَاۗ وَإِنۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذَا سَلَّمۡتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ ٢٣٣
Wal-wālidātu yurḍiʿna awlādahunna ḥawlayni kāmilayn, liman arāda ay yutimmar-raḍāʿah, wa ʿalal-mawlūdi lahū rizquhunna wa kiswatuhunna bil-maʿrūf, lā tukallafu nafsun illā wusʿahā, lā tuḍārra wālidatum biwaladihā wa lā mawlūdul lahū biwaladih, wa ʿalal-wārithi mithlu dhālik, fa in arādā fiṣālan ʿan tarāḍim minhumā wa tashāwurin falā junāḥa ʿalayhimā, wa in aradttum an tastarḍiʿū awlādakum falā junāḥa ʿalaykum idhā sallamtum mā ātaytum bil-maʿrūf, wattaqullāha waʿlamū annallāha bimā taʿmalūna baṣīr.
Mothers may nurse [i.e., breastfeed] their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is their [i.e., the mothers'] provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is Seeing of what you do.