Sehemu ya muundo wa familia inahusu kuzaliwa kwa watoto. Mara tu wanandoa wanapopata watoto, uhusiano thabiti wa kifamilia na uhusiano wao na mtoto unafafanuliwa na kudhibitiwa kulingana na Shari‘ah. Mama na baba wote wana majukumu kwa watoto wao, na watoto nao wana majukumu kwa wazazi wao.

Part of the family structure involves the birth of offspring. Once a married couple have children, the strong familial bond and the relationship they have with their child is defined and regulated according to the Shari‘ah. Both the mother and father have responsibilities to their children, and the children too have responsibilities to their parents.

Jukumu la mke kama mama halihusishi tu malezi na ulinzi wa watoto, bali pia kuwafundisha watoto dini ya kweli.

The role of the wife as a mother not only includes rearing and protecting the children, but also to teach the children the true deen.

Mtume ﷺ alisema, "Kila mtoto huzaliwa katika fitrah, kisha wazazi wake huifanya awe Myahudi au Mkristo au Mpagani." Anas ameeleza kuwa Mtume ﷺ alisema, "Kuweni wakarimu kwa watoto wenu, na mkaze kuwafundisha tabia njema zaidi." Ibn Majah.

The Prophet (saw) said, “Every child is born on the fitrah, its parents later on making it a Jew or a Christian or a Pagan.” Anas reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “Be generous to your children, and excel in teaching them the best of conduct.” Ibn Majah.

Thawabu ya mama kwa dhabihu anazozitoa na juhudi anazozitumia kwa ajili ya kuwatunza na kuwalea watoto wake ni kubwa.

The reward for the mother for the sacrifices she makes and the efforts she spends for the sake of looking after and rearing her children are great.

Anas alisimulia kwamba Salamah, muuguzi wa Ibrahim, alimwambia Mtume (saw): “Ewe Mjumbe wa Allah, umewaletea wanaume habari njema, lakini si wanawake.” Akasema: “Je, marafiki zako wa kike ndio walikusukuma kuniuliza swali hili?” Akasema: “Ndio, walifanya hivyo.” Akasema (saw): “Je, haimpendezi hata mmoja wenu kwamba akiwa na ujauzito kutoka kwa mumewe, na mume akaridhika naye, anapata thawabu ya mtu anayefunga na kuswali kwa ajili ya Allah? Na wakati uchungu wa kujifungua unapokuja, hakuna aliye mbinguni wala duniani anayejua kilichofichwa tumboni mwake ili kumfariji. Na anapojifungua, hakuna tone la maziwa linalotoka kwake wala tendo la mtoto kunyonya, isipokuwa anapata, kwa kila tone na kila kunyonya, thawabu ya tendo moja jema. Na akiwekwa macho usiku na mtoto, anapata thawabu ya mtu aliyemwacha huru watumwa sabini kwa ajili ya Allah.” [Imepokewa na Tabarani.]

Anas narrated that Salamah, the nurse of Ibrahim said to the Prophet (saw), “O Messenger of Allah, you brought tidings to men but not to women.” He said, “Did your women friends put you up to asking me this question?” She said, “Yes, they did.” He (saw) said, “Does it not please any of you that if she is pregnant by her husband and he is satisfied with her that she receives the reward of one who fasts and prays for the sake of Allah? And when the labour pains come none in heaven or earth knows what is concealed in her womb to soothe her. And when she delivers, not a mouthful of milk flows from her and not an instance of child’s suck, but that she receives, for every mouthful and every suck, the reward of one good deed. And if she is kept awake by the child at night, she receives the reward of one who frees seventy slaves for the sake of Allah.” Tabarani.

Msisitizo hapa kwa baba kuhusu watoto wake ni kwamba amewapa msaada wote wa kimwili wanaouhitaji mpaka wawe na uwezo wa kujitegemea. Uislamu unahimiza baba awatendee watoto wake kwa wema, na unapendekeza kudumishwa kwa mahusiano mazuri kati yao.

The emphasis here for the father with regard to his children is that he should provide for them all the material support that they require until they are able to fend for themselves. Islam encourages kind treatment of the children by the father, and recommends good relations be kept between them.

Mtu mmoja aitwaye al-Aqr‘a ibn Habis alimtembelea Mtume ﷺ, akashangaa kumwona akiwabusu wajukuu zake, Hasan na Husayn. "Je, wewe huwabusu watoto wako?" alimuuliza, akiongeza kwamba yeye alikuwa na watoto kumi na hajawahi kumbusu hata mmoja wao. Mtume ﷺ akajibu: "Hiyo inaonyesha kwamba huna huruma wala upole kabisa. Yule ambaye hamuonyeshi huruma mwingine, Allah hatamuonyesha huruma."

A man named al-Aqr‘a ibn Habis visited the Prophet (saw) and was surprised to see him kissing his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn. “Do you kiss your children?” he asked, adding that he had ten children and never kissed one of them. The Prophet (saw) replied, “That shows that you have no mercy and tenderness at all. Those who do not show mercy to another will not have Allah’s mercy shown on them.”.

Ibn ‘Abbas alisimulia kwamba Mtume ﷺ alisema: “Hakuna Muislamu ambaye binti zake wawili wamefikia umri wa kubaleghe, naye akawatendea wema kama mwandamani, wasimsababishie kuingia Peponi.” Ibn Hibban.

Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet (saw) said, “There is no Muslim, whose two daughters reach the age (of maturity), and he is good to them as a companion, and they do not cause him to enter Paradise.” Ibn Hibban.

Uislamu unawaagiza watoto kuwaheshimu wazazi wao na kuwatendea kwa wema na upendo. Mtoto lazima awatii wazazi wake. Utii huu umegawanyika katika makundi mawili:

Islam enjoins that children are respectful to their parents and treat them with kindness and affection. The child must obey his or her parents. This obedience falls into two categories:

Masuala yanayohusu haki ya mzazi: Haya ni pamoja na mambo yanayowahusu wazazi wenyewe, kama vile kuwahudumia mama au baba. Kwa mwanamke ambaye baba yake ni waliy (mlezi wake), ni haki ya baba kwamba yeye atafute ruhusa yake ili kutoka nje ya nyumba, na lazima amtii hili na haki zote alizo nazo kama waliy wake. Katika hali zote hizi, ni fardh (wajibu) kwa mtoto kutii.

Issues which are the right of the parent : These include areas which are of the concern to the parents themselves such as to serve the mother or father. For a woman whose father is her waliy (guardian) it is the father’s right that she seeks his permission to go out of the house, and she must obey this and all the rights he has as her waliy. In all these cases, it is fard (obligatory) for the child to obey.

Masuala yanayohusu haki ya mtoto: Haya ni pamoja na mambo yanayomhusu mtoto mwenyewe, kama vile anachopaswa kula, na ni nani atakayemuoa au kumuolewa, n.k. Katika hali hizi, ni mustahabu (inapendekezwa) kwa mtoto kuwatii wazazi wake.

Issues which are the right of the child : These include areas which are the concern of the child him or herself, such as what they should eat, who they should marry, etc. In these cases, it is mandub (recommended) for the child to obey the parents.

Hata hivyo, kama ilivyo kwa mume anapomwamrisha mke, ikiwa mzazi anamwamrisha mtoto amtii katika jambo ambalo ni kumwasi Allah (swt), kama kufanya jambo lililoharamishwa au kuacha faradhi, basi haiwi wajibu wala mustahabu kwa mtoto kumtii. Badala yake, katika hali hizi, ni haramu kwa mtoto kumtii. Allah (swt) anasema: "Na tumemuusia mwanadamu kuwafanyia wema wazazi wake wawili. Mama yake alimbeba kwa taabu juu ya taabu, na kumnyonyesha kwake ni miaka miwili. Nishukuru Mimi na wazazi wako wawili; marejeo ni kwangu. Lakini wakikushinikiza unishirikishe na kitu ambacho huna elimu nacho, basi usiwatii." [TMQ 31:14-15]

However as is the case when the husband orders his wife, if the parent orders the child to obey them in something that is a disobedience to Allah (swt), like to do something haram or to neglect a fard, then it is neither obligatory nor recommended for the child to obey. Rather, in these cases, it is haram for the child to obey. Allah (swt) says, “And we have enjoined upon man to be good to his parents. In travail upon travail did his mother bear him. And in years twain was his weaning : (Hear the command) Show gratitude to Me and your parents : To Me is (your final) goal. But if they strive to make you join worship with Me things of that which you have no knowledge, obey them not.” [TMQ 31:14-15]