Parents, marriage, women, and children
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The home is a place where duties, rights, and affection meet. These entries cover parents, marriage, women’s consent and property, learning and communal participation, and tenderness toward children.
Kindness and duty toward parents
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The Qur’an places kindness to parents immediately after worship of God and forbids even a small expression of contempt toward them in old age.
“For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honour your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them ˹even˺ ‘ugh,’ nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully.” (Sūrat al-Isrāʾ 17:23), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ٢٣﴾ سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ -
When asked who most deserved a person’s good companionship, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ answered “your mother” three times before saying “your father.”
“Your mother.” He asked, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” Then, “Your father.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 597121343
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The Qur’an explicitly acknowledges the physical burden a mother bears in pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing.
“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.” (Sūrat Luqmān 31:14), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَـٰلُهُۥ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ ٱشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ١٤﴾ سُورَةُ لُقۡمَانَ -
When a man sought permission for voluntary warfare, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ redirected him to caring for his living parents instead.
“Are your parents alive?” He said, “Yes.” He replied, “Then strive in their service.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 597221343
Consent, property, and legal standing
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When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged Barirah to return to her former husband, she asked whether he was commanding her or merely interceding. He said he was only interceding, she declined, and her decision stood.
“Are you ordering me?” He said, “No, I am only interceding.” She said, “I have no need of him.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 528321343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a woman’s consent must be sought before marriage; a previously married woman must be consulted and a virgin’s permission must also be obtained.5455
“A previously married woman is not to be married until consulted, and a virgin is not to be married until her permission is sought.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 513621343
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When Khansa bint Khidam told Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that her father had married her against her wishes, he invalidated the marriage.
“Her father married her while she disliked it, so the Messenger of God ﷺ annulled that marriage.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 513821343
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The Qur’an forbids treating women as property that can be inherited against their will.
“O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:19), Saheeh International1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ١٩﴾ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ -
The Qur’an gives women as well as men legally defined shares of inheritance.5455
“For men there is a share in what their parents and close relatives leave, and for women there is a share in what their parents and close relatives leave—whether it is little or much. ˹These are˺ obligatory shares.” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:7), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنْهُ أَوْ كَثُرَ ۚ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا ٧﴾ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ -
The Qur’an requires the mahr [marriage gift owed to the bride] to be given to the woman herself rather than treated as family property.
“Give women ˹you wed˺ their due dowries graciously. But if they waive some of it willingly, then you may enjoy it freely with a clear conscience.” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:4), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَـٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۚ فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَىْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـًٔا مَّرِيٓـًٔا ٤﴾ سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
Affection, dignity, and good treatment in marriage
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When Safiyya was insulted because of her Jewish ancestry, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ comforted her, affirmed her dignity through the prophetic lineage of her people, and rebuked the insult.
“You are the daughter of a prophet, your uncle is a prophet, and you are married to a prophet. So what can she boast over you about?” — Jami at-Tirmidhi 389451643
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When women complained that their husbands had beaten them, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that those men were not the best Muslims. The report preserves a difficult legal sequence, but his moral judgment on the conduct is explicit.
“Many women have gone around Muhammad’s family complaining of their husbands. Those men are not the best among you.” — Sunan Abi Dawud 214641543
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Aisha remembered small gestures of affection in marriage, including Prophet Muhammad ﷺ deliberately drinking from the same place on a cup where she had just drunk.
“I would drink… then hand it to the Prophet ﷺ, and he would place his mouth where mine had been.” — Sahih Muslim 300314435455
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The Qur’an describes marriage as a relationship of tranquility, affection, and mercy.
“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Sūrat al-Rūm 30:21), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٢١﴾ سُورَةُ الرُّومِ -
The Qur’an describes spouses as garments for one another, using clothing as an image of mutual intimacy and protection.
“It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:187), Saheeh International1111236
﴿أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآئِكُمْ ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ ۖ فَٱلْـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدِ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ ١٨٧﴾ سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a man’s goodness is measured in part by how well he treats his family.
“The best of you are those best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.” — Jami at-Tirmidhi 389551643
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly instructed men to treat women well.
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told husbands not to reduce a wife to one disliked quality, since another quality may still be appreciated.
“A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one quality in her, he will be pleased with another.” — Sahih Muslim 1468b31443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that even an ordinary act of tenderness toward one’s spouse, such as placing a morsel of food in her mouth, can be rewarded when done sincerely.
“Whatever you spend seeking God’s pleasure is rewarded, even the morsel you place in your wife’s mouth.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 535421343
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The Qur’an requires men to live honorably with their wives even when their feelings toward them are difficult. The same verse also forbids treating women as property that can be inherited against their will (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:19).1111236
Separation and the hearing of marital complaints
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The Qur’an forbids using divorce to trap or injure a woman and requires a husband either to retain her honorably or release her honorably.5455
“And when you divorce women and they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or release them according to acceptable terms, and do not keep them, intending harm, to transgress [against them]. And whoever does that has certainly wronged himself. And do not take the verses of Allah in jest. And remember the favor of Allah upon you and what has been revealed to you of the Book and wisdom by which He instructs you. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Knowing of all things.” (Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:231), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ سَرِّحُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ ۚ وَلَا تُمْسِكُوهُنَّ ضِرَارًا لِّتَعْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ هُزُوًا ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ٢٣١﴾ سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ -
A woman’s marital complaint became the opening of a Qur’anic chapter: the passage begins by affirming that God heard her as she disputed with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about her husband.
“Indeed, Allah has heard the argument of the woman who pleaded with you ˹O Prophet˺ concerning her husband, and appealed to Allah. Allah has heard your exchange. Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (Sūrat al-Mujādilah 58:1), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿قَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّتِى تُجَـٰدِلُكَ فِى زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَآ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ ١﴾ سُورَةُ المُجَادلَةِ
Women as learners and members of the community
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told men not to prevent women from attending communal worship.
“Do not prevent the female servants of God from the mosques of God.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 90021343
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The Qur’an repeatedly addresses believing women and men together as responsible moral agents.
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Sūrat al-Tawbah 9:71), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ٧١﴾ سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ -
Qur’an 33:35 names believing, truthful, patient, humble, charitable, fasting, chaste, and God-remembering women and men side by side and gives both the same promise.
“Surely ˹for˺ Muslim men and women, believing men and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often—for ˹all of˺ them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (Sūrat al-Aḥzāb 33:35), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظَـٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ٣٥﴾ سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ -
When women told Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that men were taking most of his teaching time, he appointed a day specifically to teach them directly.
“The women said, ‘The men have taken all your time from us, so appoint for us a day.’ He promised them a day and taught them.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 10121343
Children, daughters, fairness, and tenderness
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When a father asked Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to witness a gift given to one child but not the others, he refused to validate the favoritism and required fairness among children.
“Be conscious of God and be just among your children.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 258721343
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Anas remembered that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ greeted children rather than treating them as beneath adult notice.
“Anas passed by a group of boys and greeted them, then said: ‘The Prophet ﷺ used to do so.’” — Sahih al-Bukhari 624721343
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The Qur’an condemns female infanticide and depicts the murdered girl herself being called forward on the Day of Judgment to expose the crime.
“And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked, for what sin she was killed.” (Sūrat al-Takwīr 81:8-9), Saheeh International1111236; also Sahih al-Bukhari 597521343
﴿وَإِذَا ٱلْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ ٨ بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍ قُتِلَتْ ٩﴾ سُورَةُ التَّكۡوِيرِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave special religious honor to people who cared well for daughters, linking that care with exceptional nearness to him in the next life.
“Whoever raises two girls properly until they grow up will come on the Day of Resurrection with me like this,” and he joined his fingers. — Sahih Muslim 263131443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ openly kissed and showed affection to children and treated a man’s lack of tenderness toward them as a moral problem.
“Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 599721343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ shortened a public prayer when he heard a baby crying because he knew the child’s mother would be distressed.
“I begin the prayer intending to lengthen it, then I hear a child crying, so I shorten it because I know how his mother suffers from his crying.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 71021343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ carried his granddaughter Umama while leading prayer, holding her while standing and putting her down for bowing and prostration.
“The Messenger of God ﷺ prayed while carrying Umama… when he stood he carried her, and when he prostrated he put her down.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 51621343
Children could interrupt him even in his most public and authoritative settings. On another occasion, he stopped a sermon, came down from the pulpit, picked up his stumbling grandsons Hasan and Husayn, and then resumed with them.
Sources for this page
The numbered citations identify the works in the complete bibliography. Verse and report numbers appear with the evidence; the source guide explains the distinctions between scripture, hadith, and early biography.
References used: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 36, 43, 54, 55.