© UIJIR | ISSN (O) – 2582-6417 July 2020 | Vol. 1 Issue.2 www.uijir.com Universe International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research Writings 39 UIJIR/20/205 ORIGINAL ARTICLE CHILD RIGHTS: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE Author name: Firdous Ahmad Reshi Research Scholar PhD, Department of Religious Studies, Punjabi University Patiala,Punjab India-147002 E-Mail: firdoussoibugh@gmail.com Abstract Human rights are the basic standards, social freedoms and moral principles that humans are supposed to enjoy from their birth to death. In addition to the rights that are generally available to all human society, there are some rights that specifically apply to children only. Children need these special rights owing to their unique needs; they need additional protection that adults don’t. The Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) form the basis and foundation of the Islamic perspectives of the children’s rights. Holy Qur’an not only provides us a number of verses regarding the child rights but also insists us in the strongest terms about their safeguarding. In Islam, securing the rights of the children is considered an admirable religious deed. The paper in general presents a general understanding of Islamic principles and in particular it seeks to provide an overview about the rights of children in present capitalistic society. Keywords Children, Protection, Rights, Shariah, Tarbiah, Amanah INTRODUCTION Children are the precious gifts to us from the Almighty Allah; they are a trust in our custody. Children are the hope for the existence of future. The child has a dual existence, existence as a child and also as a man which is the totality of life and humanity. Each child is attached with basic rights known as human rights that if ignored may lead to social crisis. The responsibilities of believers towards children are inviolable rights of the children because in Islamic jurisprudence rights and duties are correlated with each other. Children are enormous blessings from Allah; at the same time they are Amanah or trust from Him to us. The ultimate aim of preserving that trust is to do our best to protect them from hell-fire in the after-life, O You Who believes! Protect yourselves and Your Families from that fire, whose fuel will be humans and stones. (Al-Qur'an 66: 6) Islam regards safeguarding children's rights as important because all human life is sacred to Allah. We must therefore care well for their rights and preserve them by implementing the teachings of Islam, and follow what has been stated in the Noble Qur’an and what our Noble Prophet– Peace Be upon Him has stressed upon. Prophet (SAW) has guided us to be in his pure Prophetic tradition, where he says: Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is accountable for his or her flock. RIGHTS OF UNBORN CHILD Islam not only designates rights to children after their birth, but also before their birth as well. After conception, the rights that Allah has prescribed for unborn children in the Islamic Law also take effect before child birth. Allah describes the persons who kill their children, prior or after their birth, as lost, misguided and ignorant. Indeed lost are they who have killed their children, from folly without knowledge and have forbidden that which Allah has provided for them, inventing a lie against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and were not guided (Al-Qur'an 6:140) This is a clear prohibition against aborting the unborn. The person who aborts a child is punishable by paying ‘diyah’ reparation, known as Algharrah. Based on person’s understanding and assessment, some may accept varied reasons for aborting the unborn. However, Allah- the Almighty has decreed the right of the infant for sustenance and He guaranteed such rights. As a result, He soothes the hearts of those who may fear poverty,