In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Gracious

As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu

ISLAMIC

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION CENTRE

The Concept of Family

Family is a unit of a society. It is made up of individuals. So individuals, families and societies are interdependent on one another. They influence one another. So they must not be viewed separately. Family acquires the central position among them. As the health and well-being of individuals are necessary for the health and well-being of a family, so, the health and well-being of families are necessary for the health and well-being of a society.

Family comes into existence by living together either by blood relation or marital bond. Family is a support and security to the individuals. It is the family on which an individual is dependent. So we see an individual cannot have peace of mind even if he has all material comforts, fame, position, etc. if there is no peace in the family. So, Islam has given much importance to family system and forbidden all that, like intoxicants, gambling, pre-marital and extra-marital courtship and sex, angry, irresponsible behaviour, etc., which disturb family. To execute family properly, Islam has assigned different rights and responsibilities to the individuals of the family suitable to their sex and relation. For the health and well being of the family, all family members have to sincerely and patiently discharge their duties and responsibilities assigned to them by Islam. Remember the family members share certain Commitments, and no one is free from the commitments.

As no state and no institution can run systematically and properly without a head, so, no family can be executed properly and systematically without a head. Therefore, Islam has appointed the male as the head of the family. The position of the head of the family is not just the matter of respect, but also a great burden of responsibilities. He has to provide shelter, provisions, clothes, etc. for his family members and observe their other needs and legitimate demands. It is his responsibility to protect his family. He has to safeguard the rights and morals of his family members. He has to enforce Islam in his home, so as to establish peace and safety in the family.

If man is the king of the family, his wife is the queen of the family. She is not inferior to him. She is his partner, not his opponent or competitor. So, she must co-operate with him and must not compete with him if, at all, the family has to be effective and functional. The Holy Quraan says: “And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them (men), according to what is equitable; but men have a degree over them. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (2: 228)

 Dr. Hammudah Abdalati says:

“If woman is deprived of one thing in some aspect, she is fully compensated for it with more things in many other aspects. Woman enjoys certain privileges of which man is deprived. She is exempt from some religious duties, i.e. daily prayers, in her regular periods and at times of confinement. She is exempt from attending the congregation of daily prayers. She is exempt from all financial liabilities. As a mother, she enjoys more recognition and higher honour: she is entitled to three-fourths of the children’s love and kindness with one-fourth left for the father. As a wife she is entitled to demand of her prospective husband a suitable dowry that will be her own. She is entitled to complete provision and total maintenance by the husband. She does not have to work or share with her husband the family expenses. She is free to retain, after marriage, whatever she possessed before it, and the husband has no right whatsoever to any of her belongings. As a daughter and sister she is entitled to security and provision by the father and the brother respectively. That is her privilege. If she wishes to work or be self supporting and participate in handling the family responsibilities, she is quite free to do so, provided her integrity and honour are safeguarded.” (Islam in Focus pg. #. 189)

The positions that Allah has given to men and women in the family are suitable to their sex, nature, duties and responsibilities, and make them fulfill all the demands and commitments of the family. Thus, family life brings peace and happiness to individuals. And this is imperative for the well-being and development of individuals and human society.

Many people say, “Housewife plays no role in nation building activities.”

It is wrong to conceive that housewives do not contribute anything to human society. Because, as much, earning money is important to lead a happy and peaceful life, so much housework is also important. When a housewife works for the health and well-being of her family, it clearly means that she sustains and supports the men who participate in nation building activities. Housewives train their children in morality and prepare them mentally and provide the state with responsible, constructive minded citizens. This decreases the rate of crime and corruption to the considerable extent, helps in establishing peace and safety, law and order, and helps in the welfare of the state. So, Islam recognizes the work of housewives. But modernism does not recognize it. Thus it is doing injustice with housewives. Moreover, this has made women ignore their duties and responsibilities towards their children. So, we see that the rate of crime and corruption is increasing incredibly day by day where mothers are not discharging their duties and responsibilities towards their family according to Islam.

The position that modern ideologies have given to men and women, has made them totally independent of each other, and made them neglect mutual care and co-operation, responsibilities and liabilities. It has made each family member go his/her own way and behave irresponsibly irrespective of what effects his/her way may have on other family members. He/she does not want his/her own family members to interfere into his/her personal life although he/she uses all family members for his/her personal benefits, and all family members are concerned about him/her. The modern concept of family has shattered the whole family structure and created only unnecessary problems.

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