Prophetic Compassion and the Rights of Children in Islam: A Comparative Analysis of Divine Mercy and Modern Crises

Abstract

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was divinely titled “Raḥmatan li’l-ʿĀlamīn” (a mercy to all the worlds), a reality that was manifested not only in his compassion toward all creation but particularly in his affectionate treatment of children. His ﷺ words, actions, and prayers offer a living model for moral, emotional, spiritual, and legal support to the youngest members of society. The Qur’an and Sunnah emphasize children as blessings (niʿmah), trials (fitnah), and adornments (zīnah) of this worldly life. The Prophet ﷺ openly condemned ancient Arabian and other pre-Islamic practices such as female infanticide, child neglect, or treating children as parental property. In stark contrast, he laid down clear injunctions for love, mercy, naming rights, suckling (riḍāʿah), education, emotional well-being, and legal protection. This article explores the multidimensional approach of Islam to children's rights—spiritual, ethical, emotional, and legal—through the example of the Prophet ﷺ. It also examines pre-modern and contemporary violations of children's rights in Western civilization, from ancient sacrificial rituals to modern structural failures—such as child labor, broken family systems, and institutional neglect. The paper contextualizes children’s rights as part of ḥuqū