The Virtue of Nurturing Girls - I

This article in its two parts, Allaah willing, will be about a
righteous good deed, and whoever performs it perfectly, according to
its required conditions, will attain three things:
First : he will be veiled from Hell and never enter it.
Second : on the Day of the Greatest Terror, (i.e. the Day of
Judgment), he will be gathered inthe company of the Prophet .
Third : Paradise will be guaranteed for him, where he will be in the
company of the Prophet .
What an excellent and great reward this is! This great reward, O
believers, requires that certain conditions be fulfilled perfectly.
What is this deed and what are its conditions?
I say, seeking the help of Allaah The Exalted, that it is to take
careof girls, being in charge of them and looking after their affairs
andinterests. That is the position of our religion with the woman whom
it honors, maintains, and guards; it encourages men to enter Paradise
and receive great rewards should they take care of her and guard her.
How great the favors of Allaah The Almighty are on the daughters of
Eve and how sad that some people show ingratitude and deny them!
The Prophet said in an authentic Hadeeth on the authority of the
Mother of the Believers 'Aa'ishah : "Whichever (people) are tried by
any of them (girls), and he treats them kindly, they will screen him
from the fire (of Hell)." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
He further said: "Whoever has three girls and is patient with them and
clothes them from what he has, they will veil him from the fire (of
Hell)."
That is the first reward that you, O slave of Allaah, would receive
for that work, which is to be screened and veiled from the fire of
Hell, and whoever is drawn away from the fire and admitted to Paradise
has indeed attained his desire.
May Allaah make us all among those who attain that reward!
Concerning the second reward, which is to be gathered in the company
of the Prophet it was narrated on the authority of Anas that he said,
"The Messenger of Allaah said: 'Whoever looks after two girls until
they attain the age of maturity, would come on the Dayof Judgment with
me and him being (as close to each other) as these (and he joined his
fingers).'" [Muslim]
As for the third reward, then consider the following texts:
It was narrated on the authority of Jaabir that the Prophet said:
"'Whoever has three daughters whom he gives refuge to, provides for
and shows mercyto, Paradise is certainly guaranteed for him." A man
asked, "And (for) two, O Messenger of Allaah?" He replied: "And also
(for the one who has) two (daughters)." [Ahmad] [Al-Bukhaari in
Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet said:
"No one has three or two daughters or sisters, and he fears Allaah
regarding them and is kind to them, except that he will enter
Paradise."
It was narrated on the authority of Anas that he said, "The Messenger
of Allaah said: 'Whoever has two daughters or sisters to whom he is
kind as long as they are with him, he andI will be in Paradise (as
close to each other) as these (and then heput two of his fingers
together).'"
What a great reward this is! And, what an excellent position this is!
However, such great rewards have heavy qualifications and various
objectives that must be realized by great striving and patience.
What are these conditions and restrictions?
All the conditions are included in his (the Prophet's ) saying: "And
he is kind to them."
To be kind to girls in such a way as to befit the Sharee'ah is the
all-inclusive condition and the greatest qualification. The narrations
previously mentioned came to explicate and clarify in detail this
general reference. The Prophet said: "…Whom he gives refuge to,
provides for and shows mercy to."
Al-Haafith said, "All these terms are included under the term "Ihsaan"
(to be kind)."
What is the meaning of giving refuge to them? What is intendedby
providing for them? And, how should we show mercy to them?
Giving refuge has three facets:
First: Giving her refuge with a good righteous mother, to be an
example for her to follow. The first stage of giving refuge to girls
is to keep them with a righteous pious chaste mother tomaintain and
guard them. Have you not heard the advice of the Prophet : "Then,
succeed (by choosing) the religious woman lest you would lose (good)"?
Second: Giving her refuge in her boudoir, inside her house, which is
to teach her to abide in her house and not to come out unless there is
a necessity, an urgent need or an act of worship.In other words: "To
attend the goodness and supplications of Muslims."
That is the significance of the statement of Allaah The Almighty(which
means): {And abide in your houses.} [Quran 33:33]
Allaah The Almighty commands women to abide in their houses, for it is
more suitable to screen them and guard their lives.
(To be continued)