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One of the reasons that the Islamic family works is because of its clearly defined structure, where each member of the household knows his or her role.\u00a0 The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:<\/p>\nOne of the reasons that the Islamic family works is because of its clearly defined structure, where each member of the household knows his or her role.\u00a0 The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cEach of you is a shepherd, and all of you are responsible for your flocks.\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim<\/em>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The father is the shepherd over his family, protecting them, providing for them, and striving to be their role model and guide in his capacity as head of the household.\u00a0 The mother is the shepherd over the house, guarding it and engendering in it the wholesome, loving environment that is necessary for a happy and healthy family life.\u00a0 She is also the one who is primarily responsible for the children\u2019s guidance and education.\u00a0 Were it not for the fact that one of the parents assumed the leadership role, then inevitably there would be perpetual disputation and fighting, leading to family breakdown \u2013 just as there would be in any organization which lacked any single hierarchical authority.<\/p>\n \u201cGod puts forth a similitude: a (servant) man belonging to many partners, disputing with one another, and a man belonging entirely to one master. \u00a0Are those two equal in comparison? \u00a0All the praises and thanks be to God! \u00a0But most of them know not.\u201d (Quran 39:29)<\/p>\n It is only logical that the one who is naturally the physically and emotionally stronger of the two parents is made head of the household: the male.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026And they (women) have rights (over their husbands) similar (to the rights of their husbands) over them – according to what is equitable.\u00a0 But men have a degree (of responsibility, etc.) over them\u2026\u201d (Quran 2:228)<\/p>\n As for the children, the fruits of their parents love, Islam lays down comprehensive morals enjoining parental responsibility and the child\u2019s reciprocal dutifulness to its parents.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd treat your parents with kindness. \u00a0If one or both of them attain old age in your care, never say to them a word (suggesting) disgust, nor reproach them, but address them with reverent speech. \u00a0And humble yourself out of mercy before them, and pray: \u00a0\u2018My Lord! \u00a0Be merciful to them for having cared for me in my childhood.\u2019\u201d (Quran 17:23-4)<\/p>\n Obviously, if the parents fail to inculcate the fear of God within their children from an early age because they are themselves heedless, then they cannot expect to see righteous gratitude returned to them. \u00a0Hence, God\u2019s severe warning in His Book:<\/p>\n \u201cO you who believe! \u00a0Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones.\u201d (Quran 66:6)<\/p>\n If the parents do indeed strive to raise their children upon righteousness, then, as the Prophet said:<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the son of Adam dies, all his actions have ceased except [three, a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge and]\u00a0 a righteous child who prays for their parent.\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim<\/em>)<\/p>\n Regardless of how the parents raise their children, and irrespective of their own religion (or lack, thereof), the obedience and reverence that a Muslim son or daughter is required to show them is second only to the obedience due to the Creator Himself. \u00a0Thus His reminder:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): \u2018Worship none but God and be dutiful and good to parents, and to kindred, and to orphans and to the poor, and speak good to people, and perform the prayer, and give the alms.\u2019\u201d (Quran 2:83)<\/p>\n In fact, it is quite common to hear of elderly non-Muslims converting to Islam as a result of the increased care and dutifulness their children gave them following their (i.e. the children\u2019s) becoming Muslims.<\/p>\n \u201cSay (O Muhammad): \u2018Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty – We provide sustenance for you and for them\u2026\u2019\u201d (Quran 6:151)<\/p>\n While the child is obliged to show obedience to both parents, Islam singles out the mother as being the one deserving the lion\u2019s share of loving gratitude and kindness. \u00a0When the Prophet Muhammad was asked, \u201cO Messenger of God! \u00a0Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me?\u201d \u00a0he replied: \u201cYour mother.<\/strong>\u201d \u00a0The man asked: \u201cThen who?\u201d \u00a0The Prophet said:\u00a0\u201cYour mother.\u201d<\/strong> The man asked: \u201cThen who?\u201d \u00a0The Prophet repeated:\u00a0\u201cYour mother.<\/strong>\u201d \u00a0Again, the man asked: \u2018Then who?\u2019 \u00a0The Prophet finally said:\u00a0\u201c(Then) your father.\u201d<\/strong>[1]<\/p>\n \u201cAnd We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. \u00a0His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: \u2018My Lord! \u00a0Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good.\u00a0 Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will).\u2019\u201d (Quran 46:15)<\/p>\n There exists in Islam a general principle that states that what is good for one is good for another.\u00a0 Or, in the words of the Prophet:<\/p>\n \u201cNone of you truly believes until he loves for his (believing) brother what he loves for himself.\u201d (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim<\/em>)<\/p>\n As could be expected, this principle finds its greatest expression in a Muslim family, the nucleus of the Islamic society. \u00a0Nevertheless, the dutifulness of the child to its parents is, in truth, extended to all the elders of the community. \u00a0The mercy and concern that the parents have for their children is likewise extended to all the young ones.\u00a0 Actually, it is not as if the Muslim has a choice in such matters. \u00a0After all, the Prophet did say:<\/p>\n \u201cHe who does not show compassion to our young, nor honor our elders, is not from us.\u201d (Abu Dawood, Al-Tirmidhi<\/em>)<\/p>\n Is it any wonder, then, that so many people, raised as non-Muslims, find what they are looking for, what they have always believed to have been good and true, in the religion of Islam? \u00a0A religion where they are immediately and warmly welcomed as members of one loving family.<\/p>\n \u201cRighteousness is not that you turn your faces to the east and the west.\u00a0 But righteous is the one who believes in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Scripture and the Prophets; who gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the wayfarer, to those who ask, and to set slaves free.\u00a0 And (righteous are) those who pray, pay alms, honor their agreements, and are patient in (times of) poverty, ailment and during conflict.\u00a0 Such are the people of truth.\u00a0 And they are the God-Fearing.\u201d (Quran 2:177)<\/p>\n Footnotes:<\/p>\n [1] Narrated in\u00a0Saheeh al-Bukhari <\/em>and Saheeh Muslim<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Parenting One of the reasons that the Islamic family works is because of its clearly defined structure, where each member of the household knows his or her role.\u00a0 The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon … Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=240"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":243,"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240\/revisions\/243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.whoismohamed.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Conclusion<\/h2>\n
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