Islam and children

The topic of Islam and children includes the rights of children in Islam, children's duties towards their parents, and parent's rights over their children, both biological and foster children. Also discussed are some of the differences regarding rights with respect to different schools of thought.

In the Qur'an

The Qur'an uses various terms for children (e.g. Arabic terms dhurriyya; ghulām; ibn; walad; walīd; mawlūd; ṣabī; tifl; saghir), but, according to Avner Giladi, the context seldom makes it clear whether it is exclusively referring to non-mature children, or simply offspring. The Quranic statements about children, Giladi states, are mainly concerned with "infanticide, adoption, breast-feeding, and an orphan children." These statements were of a normative-ethical significance for later Muslim jurists who formed the foundations of Islamic legislation.

Muhammad

Muhammad established laws and examples (sunnah) in respect of which is obligatory for the Muslim community to follow.