Maria Akbar says that little Sara Sharif’s tragic death should remind us of our Islamic responsibilities to children, and also to speak up and intervene when we see signs of mistreatment or injustice.
The harrowing case of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who was brutally murdered by her father and stepmother last August in Woking, has devastated hearts as the chilling details of her short life of abuse have emerged.
Her father Urfan Sharif and step mother Beinash Batool were found guilty of her murder at the Old Bailey yesterday, while her uncle, Faisal Malik, was convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.
How could they? How could anyone inflict such horrific violence on a child? How could anyone beat another human being so violently to death? How could others witness this abuse and remain silent? These questions linger, accompanied by a collective sense of grief and disbelief.
In such cases, whereby the perpetrators hold an Islamic identity, it is also vital to clarify that Islam stands diametrically opposed to such cruelty. Islam is not defined by the actions of those who claim to follow it, but by its divine teachings as revealed in the Quran and Sunnah.
So let’s be clear: the abuse and suffering inflicted upon Sara could not be further from Islam.
Islam upholds the rights of children
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Islam places immense importance on the well-being of children, granting them rights over their parents. Children are considered an amaanah (a trust) and we are tasked with nurturing them in line with Quranic and Prophetic guidance.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) emphasised this balance, as mentioned in a hadith collected in Al-Adab al-Mufrad: “Just as your father has rights over you, so too your child has rights over you.”
Sharif and Batool violated this fundamental principle. It was upon them to raise Sara with love, care and understanding, yet they did the opposite. They committed a grave injustice for which they will be held accountable.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) demonstrated unparalleled kindness towards children. He taught: “He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young ones” (Sahih Bukhari).
In one instance, the Prophet (SAW) kissed his grandson Hasan (RA), prompting a man to remark that he had never kissed his own children. The Prophet (SAW) responded: “Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”
This profound emphasis on mercy demonstrates the responsibility of parents to avoid any form of harsh treatment. Yet the abuse Sara endured — being beaten with cricket bats, poles and rolling pins until her body was covered in bruises and fractures — is utterly antithetical to these teachings.
Islam explicitly forbids striking the face or causing undue harm to any person, so what would then be the case for a vulnerable child?
The responsibility of tarbiyah (nurturing)
Parents have a duty to instil moral and spiritual values in their children through exemplary conduct themselves and guidance. The Quran highlights the importance of this through the story of the advice Luqman gave to his son: to avoid shirk, practice kindness and embody patience and humility (Surah Luqman 31:13-19).
Reflecting on Sara’s case, one is left to wonder what kind of upbringing she really had that led to her fate. We have learnt how she spent years moving around between parents and social care settings which would have been extremely difficult for her. To then suffer physically and mentally at their hands for years, and ultimately be beaten to death.
There was no basic humanity in their treatment of her, let alone tarbiyah.
While Islam encourages disciplining children, it insists this is to be done with wisdom. For example, the Prophet (SAW) gently corrected a boy about eating with his right hand without harsh words. Harshness is discouraged at every turn.
Sara’s horrific injuries reveal a level of cruelty that is unimaginable and completely un-Islamic. Her death reminds us of the importance of discipline rooted in compassion, not violence.
The role of the mother and family stability
Another heartbreaking aspect of this case is the absence of Sara’s mother from her life. Stable family structures are critical in Islam, as both parents play vital roles in raising and protecting children. The alienation from her mother may have deprived Sara of the care and safety she needed.
The Quran and Sunnah emphasise the unique qualities Allah SWT has instilled in mothers, which could have prevented such a tragic outcome had she been present.
But perhaps the most haunting element of Sara’s case is the silence of those who knew. Islam commands believers to speak out against wrongdoing:
“Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”
The fact that multiple individuals knew about Sara’s abuse but failed to act is deeply troubling. Their silence stands in complete contrast to this Islamic duty as speaking up might have saved her life.
Sara’s death is a reminder of our responsibilities as individuals and as a society. We must treat our children well as Islam commands. We must also be vigilant, intervening when we see signs of mistreatment or injustice.
At times it can feel like the community brushes issues like child abuse under the carpet, to avoid embarrassment or shame to the family. However, it is better to speak out and be wrong than to stay silent and allow harm to prevail.
Let Sara’s suffering guide us to be better protectors of the innocent and advocates for justice. May Allah SWT grant Sara the highest ranks of Jannah for all the suffering she endured. Ameen.
