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THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHILDREN
By: Sabiha Kasmani
To many people it seems that children do not have rights or responsibilities, though we children do have rights and many responsibilities! In this essay I will mention many rights and responsibilities that us children have.
It is the children’s right to correct younger ones and teach them as well. It is the children’s right to have proper food and clothing. Also us children have the right to eat and drink (halal only), we have the right to read and write, we have the right to try new things, we have the right to play (only at the right time), we have the right to do things only if our parents allow us, we have the right to meet new kinds of people, we have the right to ask and answer questions, we have the right to determine and motivate. It is the children’s right to be educated in Islam and worldly matters, the right to be taught skills (correctly), and the right to be given a proper name when born. It is the children’s right to be treated equally with siblings and at school, and the right to be brought up with good proper manners. It is a child’s right to live.
It is the responsibility of a child to look after parents when they get older and be there for them when needed, to pray five times a day (if at a proper age), fast (if at proper age), respect elders, obey elders, and pray Qur’an. Another responsibility is to show love and gratitude to elders (parents), speak with respect and kindness, and do anything that will make our elders (parents) happy. When someone is sick we should take care of them; stop, look and listen when your parents call you; act your age; do what elders tell you; and help everyone. If parents give us chores, it is our responsibility to do them. It is our responsibility to clean up our own mess, help younger ones, to be polite, be a good role model for younger ones, take care of things (don’t leave it on others).
It is the responsibility of children to take care of their pets. If you have a cat then you have to make sure it has food to eat, you should also clean up after it. The cat has to know that it is being wanted, and that it wants to live with you, it has to have freedom, has to be well taken care of, not left alone, to be loved and cared for.
It is the children’s responsibility to dress properly. It is also the children’s responsibility to make sure they keep good company (good friends that have a good influence on you), to work hard in their studies and at school.
It is the children’s responsibility to learn about Islam, the Qur’an, Zikr (remembrance of Allah), and Du‘a. It is the responsibility of children to know their religion, not to be afraid to say it, to pray Salah, and to recite the ninety-nine names of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala).
It is the responsibility of a child to be kind and respectful to neighbors, to greet them everyday, to clean up their own part of the front and back yard, to be equal and fair, to keep in good touch and share good news with them.
If our parents and those older than us ask us to get something for them, it is our responsibility to get it. If we ask someone to lend us something, it is our responsibility to use it with care and give it back in good condition. It is our responsibility to behave, have good manners, and teach younger ones to do it too. It is also the responsibility of children to talk to our parents if we have a problem. It is the responsibility of children to know what they are doing.
I think these are important, because we have the right to do something and not to do others. We have some responsibilities now, and others are for when we are older.
Sha‘ban 1422, October 2001