Rights in Islam

Rights in Islam

Duties we owe to Allah and His creation

Rights of Allah

Tawḥīd — worship Him alone

«I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me» — the right of Allah above all rights: to worship Him alone with no partner.

51:56

Gratitude

Be grateful to Allah for every blessing — gratitude increases it: «If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.»

14:7

Repentance

Return to Him constantly; He loves those who repent: «Truly Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.»

2:222

Trust (Tawakkul)

«And upon Allah rely, if you are believers» — entrust your affairs to Allah after taking the means.

5:23

Fear and hope

Worship Him with a balance of hope (rajaʾ) and fear (khawf) — «They used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear.»

21:90

Rights of Parents

The highest after Allah

«Your Lord decreed: worship none but Him, and be excellent to parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say «uff» to them.»

17:23

Speak no harsh word

Do not say «uff» to them — the lightest expression of annoyance. Speak honourable, generous words.

17:23

Lower the wing of humility

«Lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.»

17:24

After prayer, serve them

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ to fight; he said: «Your mother has the most right — serve her» — then his father, then other relatives.

Bukhārī & Muslim

Even after their death

Honour their friends, keep ties with their relatives, and make duʿā for them — service to parents continues beyond their passing.

Muslim

Rights of Spouses

Kindness and companionship

«Live with them in kindness» — even in disagreement, maintain dignity and mercy. «Or if you dislike them, perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes in it much good.»

4:19

The best of you

«The best of you are those best to their wives» — the Prophet ﷺ was the best to his family, gentle, patient, and serving.

Tirmidhī

Mahr — the right of the wife

«Give the women their dowry as a gift» — the mahr is the wife's right, not to be withheld. It is a gift, not a purchase.

4:4

Mutual consultation

Decisions in family life are taken through mutual consultation — even the weaning of a child is by agreement.

2:233

Financial provision

The husband is obligated to provide for the wife according to his means — food, clothing, and shelter — «Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth.»

65:7

Rights of Children

A good name

Give your child a good name — it is their first right. «The best of your names to Allah are ʿAbdullāh and ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān.»

Abū Dāwūd, Muslim

Teaching and adab

Teach them the Quran and good manners; command prayer at seven and separate beds at ten — the parent is the first teacher.

Abū Dāwūd

Justice between children

«Fear Allah and be just among your children» — do not favour one over another, even in gifts. Nuʿmān's father was rebuked for giving him a gift without equal for his siblings.

Bukhārī & Muslim

Provision and care

Provide for them without extravagance or stinginess — «Do not let your hand be chained to your neck, nor spread it fully.»

17:29

Duʿā for them

Make duʿā for your children daily — Ibrāhīm's duʿā for his descendants: «My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer and of my descendants.»

14:40

Rights of Neighbours

Honour the neighbour

«Jibrīl kept telling me to be good to the neighbour until I thought he would assign him a share of inheritance» — forty houses in every direction.

Bukhārī & Muslim

Do not harm

«By Allah he does not believe — the one whose neighbour is not safe from his harm» — repeated twice for emphasis.

Bukhārī

Share food

«If you cook a stew, add water and give some to your neighbours» — even the smallest act of sharing is Sunnah.

Muslim

The rights of the neighbour

The neighbour has a right even if they are not Muslim — kindness is a universal duty, not conditional on faith.

Bukhārī

Rights of the Self

Your body has a right

«Your body has a right over you» — rest, eat, and do not exhaust yourself in worship beyond your capacity.

Bukhārī

Your family has a right

Balance worship with giving your family their due of time and companionship — «Give everyone who has a right their right.»

Bukhārī

Guard your tongue and limbs

«Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent» — protect your soul from sin.

Bukhārī & Muslim

Seek knowledge

«Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim» — the right of the self to grow in understanding and faith.

Ibn Mājah

Marjan Islamic Academy

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