PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND PROHIBITION OF CHILD ABUSE UNDER ISLAMIC LAW

Abstract

The Qur’an and Sunnah lay a strong ethical and spiritual foundation for protecting children. Islamic law provides concrete legal frameworks and mechanisms to identify, prevent, and respond to child abuse. These mechanisms include the establishment of legal responsibility, judicial authority, and societal institutions tasked with safeguarding vulnerable members of society, including children. The paper categorizes child abuse under Islamic law into physical, psychological, sexual, and economic dimensions and affirms that all forms of child abuse are not only morally reprehensible but legally punishable under Islamic law. It highlights the role of the Islamic judiciary (Qadi), parental accountability, and institutional mechanisms in protecting children and responding to child abuse. Despite the clear textual mandates, the paper acknowledges ongoing challenges in Muslim societies including poverty, weak enforcement, and lack of awareness. The study concludes with actionable recommendations for bridging the gap between Islamic principles and contemporary realities, emphasizing the urgent need for legal reform, community involvement, religious education, and socio-economic support to protect children and fulfill the Islamic mandate of mercy, justice, and trust. The approach is doctrinal.