Family Values in Islam

The great danger for family life, is in the midst of any society whose desire are pleasure, comfort and indulgence, and lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish. Cherish your relationships with your family, a happy family is but an earlier pathway to heaven.

The basis of the family is the division of labour between husband and wife, and the upbringing of children is the most important function of the family, then such a society is indeed civilised. In the Islamic system of life, this kind of a family provides the environment under which human values and morals develop and grow in the new generation; these values and morals cannot exist apart from the family unit.

The family system and the relationship between the sexes determine the whole character of a society and whether it is backward or civilised, jahilia or Islamic. Those societies which give ascendance to physical desires and animalistic morals cannot be considered civilised, no matter how much progress they may make in industry or science. This is the only measure, which does not err in guarding true family values.

In all modern jahilia societies, the meaning of 'morality' is limited to such an extent that all those aspects, which distinguish man from animal, are considered beyond its sphere. In these societies, illegitimate sexual relationships even homosexuality, are not considered immoral. The meaning of ethics is limited to economic affairs or sometimes to political affairs, which fall into the category of 'government interests'.

Among jahilia societies, writers and journalists advise both married and unmarried people that free sexual relationships are not immoral. However, it is immoral if a boy uses his partner, or a girl uses her partner, for sex, while feeling no love in his or her heart. It is bad if a wife continues to guard her chastity while her love for her husband has vanished; it is admirable if she finds another lover...

From the point of view of 'human' progress, all such societies are not civilised but are backward. Thus, only Islamic values and morals, Islamic teachings and safeguards, are worthy of humankind, and formed this unchanging and true measure of human progress, Islam is the real civilisation. The Quran says:

"O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded."

"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Peliharalah diri kamu dan keluarga kamu dari neraka yang bahan-bahan bakarannya: manusia dan batu (berhala); neraka itu dijaga dan dikawal oleh malaikat-malaikat yang keras kasar (layanannya); mereka tidak menderhaka kepada Allah dalam segala yang diperintahkanNya kepada mereka, dan mereka pula tetap melakukan segala yang diperintahkan."

(QS 66:6)

Wallahu'alam