Quran verses about children, a gift and a trust

لِّلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ إِنَٰثًۭا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ٱلذُّكُورَ ﴿٤٩﴾ أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًۭا وَإِنَٰثًۭا ۖ وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۭ قَدِيرٌۭ ﴿٥٠﴾

Lillaahi mulkus samaawaati wal ard; yakhluqu maa yashaaa'; yahabu limai yashaaa'u inaasanw wa yahabu limai yashaaa'uz zukoor Aw yuzawwijuhum zukraananw wa inaasanw wa yaj'alu mai yashaaa'u 'aqeemaa; innahoo 'Aleemun Qadeer

⁴⁹ To Allah 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. ⁵⁰ Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.

Children are a gift Allah gives as He wills: daughters, sons, both, or none. Daughters are mentioned first in the ayah.

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِٱلْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُۥ مُسْوَدًّۭا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌۭ ﴿٥٨﴾ يَتَوَٰرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ مِن سُوٓءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أَيُمْسِكُهُۥ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُۥ فِى ٱلتُّرَابِ ۗ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾

Wa izaa bushshira ahaduhum bil unsaa zalla wajhuhoo muswaddanw wa huwa kazeem yatawaaraa minal qawmimin sooo'i maa bushshira bih; a-yumsikuhoo 'alaa hoonin am yadussuhoo fit turaab; alaa saaa'a maa yahkumoon

⁵⁸ And when one of them is informed of [the birth of] a female, his face becomes dark, and he suppresses grief. ⁵⁹ 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.

The Quran condemns the pre-Islamic Arab who grieved at the birth of a daughter and thought of burying her alive.

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَٰقٍۢ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًۭٔا كَبِيرًۭا ﴿٣١﴾

Wa laa taqtulooo awlaadakum khashyata imlaaq; nahnu narzuquhum wa iyyaakum; inna qatlahum kaana khitan kabeeraa

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.

Do not kill your children for fear of poverty. Allah provides for them and for you.

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًۭا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًۭا ﴿٤٦﴾

Almaalu walbanoona zeenatul hayaatid dunya wal baaqiyaatus saalihaatu khairun 'inda Rabbika sawaabanw wa khairun amalaa

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.

Wealth and children are the adornment of this life, but lasting good deeds are better with your Lord.

وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌۭ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌۭ ﴿٢٨﴾

Wa'lamooo annamaaa amwaalukum wa awlaadukum fitnatunw wa annal laaha 'indahooo ajrun azeem

And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.

Wealth and children are a test: will they bring you closer to Allah or pull you away?

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَٰدِكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا لَّكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا۟ وَتَصْفَحُوا۟ وَتَغْفِرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤﴾ إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَٰدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥٓ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌۭ ﴿١٥﴾

Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanooo inna min azwaaji kum wa awlaadikum 'aduwwal lakum fahzaroohum; wa in ta'foo wa tasfahoo wa taghfiroo fa innal laaha ghafoorur Raheem Innamaa amwaalukum wa awlaadukum fitnah; wallaahu 'indahooo ajrun 'azeem

¹⁴ O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. ¹⁵ Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward.

Some spouses and children can pull a believer away from obedience. Even so, the ayah asks you to pardon, overlook and forgive.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾

Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena samanoo qooo anfusakum wa ahleekum naaranw waqoodu han naasu wal hijaaratu 'alaihaa malaaa'ikatun ghilaazun shidaadul laa ya'soonal laaha maa amarahum wa yaf'aloona maa yu'maroon

O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.

Protect yourselves and your families from the Fire. Ali explained it: teach them and give them good manners (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَٱصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْـَٔلُكَ رِزْقًۭا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَٱلْعَٰقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ﴿١٣٢﴾

Waamur ahlaka bis Salaati wastabir 'alaihaa la nas'aluka rizqaa; nahnu narzuquk; wal 'aaqibatu littaqwaa

And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the [best] outcome is for [those of] righteousness.

Command your family to pray, and be patient in it yourself. Allah provides; your job is the prayer.

وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَٰنُ لِٱبْنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌۭ ﴿١٣﴾

Wa iz qaala luqmaanu libnihee wa huwa ya'izuhoo ya bunaiya laa tushrik billaah; innash shirka lazulmun 'azeem

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."

Luqman's advice to his son begins with tawhid: do not associate anything with Allah.

يَٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍۢ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍۢ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌۭ ﴿١٦﴾ يَٰبُنَىَّ أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱنْهَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ ٱلْأُمُورِ ﴿١٧﴾ وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍۢ فَخُورٍۢ ﴿١٨﴾ وَٱقْصِدْ فِى مَشْيِكَ وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلْأَصْوَٰتِ لَصَوْتُ ٱلْحَمِيرِ ﴿١٩﴾

Ya bunaiya innahaaa in taku misqaala habbatim min khardalin fatakun fee sakhratin aw fis samaawaati aw fil ardi yaati bihal laa; innal laaha lateefun Khabeer Yaa bunaiya aqimis-Salaata waamur bilma'roofi wanha 'anil munkari wasbir 'alaa maaa asaabaka inna zaalika min 'azmil umoor Wa laa tusa'-'ir khaddaka linnaasi wa laa tamshi fil ardi maarahan innal laaha laa yuhibbu kulla mukhtaalin fakhoor Waqsid fee mashyika waghdud min sawtik; inna ankaral aswaati lasawtul hameer

¹⁶ [And Luqman said], "O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted. ¹⁷ 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] determination. ¹⁸ And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. ¹⁹ And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."

The rest of Luqman's advice: Allah sees even a mustard seed, so pray, call to good, be patient, do not be arrogant, walk humbly and lower your voice.

وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَآ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَٰبَنِىَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٢﴾

Wa wassaa bihaaa Ibraaheemu baneehi wa Ya'qoob, yaa baniyya innal laahas tafaa lakumud deena falaa tamootunna illaa wa antum muslimoon

And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims."

The legacy Ibrahim and Yaqub left their sons: Allah has chosen this deen for you, so do not die except as Muslims.

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِى سَٰجِدِينَ ﴿٤﴾ قَالَ يَٰبُنَىَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُءْيَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا۟ لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ﴿٥﴾

Iz qaala Yoosufu li abeehi yaaa abati innee ra aytu ahada 'ashara kawkabanw wash shamsa walqamara ra aytuhum lee saajideen Qaala yaa bunaiya laa taqsus ru'yaaka 'alaaa ikhwatika fayakeedoo laka kaidaa; innash Shaitaana lil insaani 'aduwwum mubeen

⁴ [Of these stories mention] when Joseph said to his father, "O my father, indeed I have seen [in a dream] eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating to me." ⁵ He said, "O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.

Yusuf told his father his dream, and Yaqub listened, then gently advised him to keep it from his brothers.

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤﴾

Wallazeena yaqooloona Rabbanaa hab lanaa min azwaajinaa wa zurriyaatinaa qurrata a'yuninw waj 'alnaa lilmuttaqeena Imaamaa

And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous."

The dua for spouses and children who are the coolness of our eyes. See the dua for children.

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ ﴿٤٠﴾

Rabbij 'alnee muqeemas Salaati wa min zurriyyatee Rabbanaa wa taqabbal du'aaa'

My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.

Ibrahim's dua: my Lord, make me and my descendants keep up the prayer.