Family Values and Parent-Child Relationship in Islam (Muslim Family Stories)

It seems that terrorism is the only projection of Islam that the media likes to display; non-Muslims are rarely introduced to any meaningful aspects of Islam. And yet, one of the growing attractions to Islam is the family values that are upheld by Muslims.

The foremost and fundamental institution of human society is the family unit. A family is established by the coming together of a man and a woman and their contact brings into existence a new generation. It then produces ties of kinship and community, which gradually develop into a large society. The family is the institution through which a generation prepares the succeeding generation for the service of human civilization and for the discharge of its social obligations with devotion, sincerity and enthusiasm.

Islam has emphasized the importance of the family unit, and has laid down its governing rules and regulations in great detail in Noble Qur'an and in the Sunnah. This highlights the importance of the family with regards to the well-being of the individual, society and Muslim Ummah.

One of the most striking features of Muslim society is the importance attached to the family. The family forms the basic building block of Muslim society. The family unit is regarded as the cornerstone of a healthy and balanced Muslim society. Despite the many pressures it faces, the family institution remains strong in any Muslim society.

Muslim families around the globe have adopted many of the traditions inherent in the culture of the country they live in. But still, there are many Islamic traditions that unite Muslim families regardless of ethnic or cultural background.

Islam devotes much attention to those relating to the family and strives to establish this important social unit on the healthiest and strongest foundations. According to Islam, the correct form of relationship between a man and woman is marriage, that is, the one in which full social responsibilities are undertaken by them and which results in the emergence of a family. Irresponsible behaviour are not condoned by Islam as innocent past times or ordinary transgressions. Rather, they are acts that strike at the very roots of human society.

Muslims strive to maintain close family and community ties. These bonds are strengthened during life-changing events, when Muslims turn to each other for support and sometimes celebration. Muslim community usually observes important personal and family milestones together. They may gather to welcome a new member of the community (through birth or conversion), congratulate a young person upon reaching adulthood or mourn the loss of a community member who has passed away.

Islam places the roles of the man, women and children into the proper perspective that will best serve the family and society. The woman is not subjugated or inferior to the man, rather each has a proper place in the creation that Allah (SWT) intended. The Family Values in Islam are ordained and highly esteemed; while the rest of the world is falling apart around us we will always have our Muslim family.

In the traditions of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) good treatment of relatives has been emphasized and counted among the highest virtues. Maintaining the bonds of kinship (silatur-rahim) indeed enjoys extraordinary importance in Islam. Conversely, severing the ties (qata-ur-rahim), is very high on the list of enormities. At two places in Noble Qur'an (3:25, 47:22-23), Allah (SWT) has cursed the one severing family ties.

We aspire to have Muslim families - as Almighty Allah (SWT) intended them to be - as entities of compassion, mercy, care and love, and capable of issuing forth righteous generations, who can act as role models to societies in general, proving that Islam places humanity on the right path and offers a life of contentment.

By listing wide array of well-written articles (Muslim Family Stories) appeals to all ages of Muslim Families, we hope to assists Muslims around the globe in forming and maintaining a healthy family values based on Islamic beliefs and principles, by building strong family structures, promoting healthy marriages, helping reduce divorces, eradicating domestic violence.