What is Wa'd al-Banat (burying daughters alive) in Islamic history?

Wa'd al-Banat was the pre-Islamic Arab practice of female infanticide, where newborn daughters were buried alive. According to classical scholars, this was driven by a false sense of shame, fear of poverty, or the perceived disgrace of daughters being captured in tribal wars. Islam vehemently condemned and abolished this barbaric custom.

Why did Arabs bury their daughters alive before Islam?

In the pre-Islamic era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), some Arab tribes buried daughters alive for several reasons: fear of poverty, as sons were seen as more productive; a perverted sense of honor, fearing daughters could bring shame or be captured by enemies; and false pride, believing daughters were a sign of weakness.

How did Islam stop the practice of burying daughters alive?

Islam eradicated female infanticide through a revolutionary shift in values. The Quran condemned it as a heinous sin (Quran 81:8-9) and addressed the shame associated with daughters (Quran 16:58-59). The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) promised Paradise for fathers who raise daughters with love and kindness, transforming them from a perceived burden into a source of immense blessing.

Burying Daughters Alive (Wa'd al-Banat): The Quranic Condemnation of a Pre-Islamic Practice

burying daughters alive

Explore Verses Related to burying daughters alive

🕋An-Nahl16:58 🕋An-Nahl16:59

At a Glance

According to the consensus of classical Islamic scholarship, the practice of **burying daughters alive (Wa'd al-Banat)** was a barbaric custom of the pre-Islamic era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) that was unequivocally condemned and abolished by Islam. Tafsir of verses like Quran 16:58-59 by authorities such as Ibn Kathir explains that this act stemmed from a society that viewed female offspring as a source of shame, economic burden, or potential dishonor. The Quran vividly captures the father's anguish and evil contemplation, framing the societal attitude as a profound moral failing. Islam's arrival marked a revolutionary social reform; it not only prohibited this heinous crime but completely transformed the status of daughters from a liability to a blessing. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) further reinforced this by promising Paradise as a reward for raising daughters with kindness and care, thus establishing the sanctity of every female life and cementing their honored position within the Islamic social fabric.

📖 Quranic Context

A prime example of the ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and social injustice that Islam came to abolish.

This act is portrayed as a heinous crime and a great sin, signifying a complete disregard for Allah's creation and sanctity of life.

References: 16:58-59 directly describe the attitude leading to this act. 81:8-9 describe the questioning of the murdered girl on the Day of Judgment.

💭 Theological Perspective

Represents the depths of cruelty and ignorance humans can fall into without divine guidance.

Demonstrates the destructive power of false pride, shame, and societal pressure.

The prohibition of this act is a fundamental aspect of Islamic morality and social reform, highlighting the value of every soul.

Rejecting the mindset behind this practice is a prerequisite for developing compassion, justice, and true faith.

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) vehemently condemned female infanticide and promised great rewards for raising daughters.

The prohibition of burying daughters alive.
The virtue and reward of raising daughters with kindness.
The Prophet's personal sorrow and anger upon hearing of such acts.

There is universal agreement (ijma) among all Islamic scholars on the absolute prohibition and sinfulness of female infanticide.

💎 Deeper Insights

The Quran's rhetorical genius in Surah 81:8-9 is that on the Day of Judgment, Allah gives a voice to the voiceless infant girl, asking *her* why she was killed. Classical scholars explain this bypasses the murderer entirely, showing Allah's profound anger and signifying that the killer is too contemptible to even be addressed directly. It's the ultimate empowerment of the victim and humiliation for the perpetrator.

— Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Jalalayn

Islam's solution to female infanticide was not merely a legal ban but a complete 'rebranding' of daughters from a source of shame into a source of salvation. The Prophetic hadith promising Paradise for raising two daughters directly repurposed the primary motivation (social status/honor) into a spiritual one. The ultimate honor was no longer in having sons, but in earning Paradise through daughters.

— Prophetic Hadith Collections (Bukhari, Muslim)