The Obligation of Justice Between Male and Female Children

Question:

May Allah bless you. The female questioner says: My father differentiates between us girls and the boys. He heavily favors the boys, hates us girls, and is very pessimistic about us. What is the ruling on this action? May you be rewarded.

Answer:

This action is from the actions of the days of ignorance (Jahiliyyah); because the people of Jahiliyyah were the ones who had an aversion to females and preferred males. Allah Almighty said:

“And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.” [An-Nahl, 16:58-59].

So let this man fear Allah and be just between his children, because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, said:

“Fear Allah and be just between your children.”

And if we look at justice, we find that the girl is more deserving of gentleness and tenderness than the boy; because the boy can endure and be patient, whereas the girl is the opposite. Look at this in the event of a calamity: you will find the boy is patient while you find the girl crying, because she cannot bear it. Were it not that justice is obligatory, I would have said: gentleness towards the girl and accommodating her is more of a priority, but I say: justice is obligatory.

Justice is obligatory, and therefore if he gives the boy one dirham, he should give the girl half a dirham, and if he gives him two dirhams, he should give her one dirham; based on the saying of the Messenger: “Fear Allah and be just between your children.”

And there is no justice more perfect than the justice of Allah, and Allah Almighty has said:

“Allah commands you as regards your children’s (inheritance); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females…“ [An-Nisa, 4:11].