Lesson 4: Quran and Islamic Society
Allah has defined the limits of human behavior in his Divine message (Quran), believers cannot transgress these limits at any cost, otherwise they will be subjected to a sin. The Quranic teachings for a Muslim society are designed to strengthen and protect the bonds of family living with great care. For example, the purpose of marriage, according to Quran, is to build a family so that the spouses meet the sexual needs of one another, and to bring up children, so as to give rise to future generations. Everybody in Islam, whether man or woman, is assigned specific duties, failure to perform them may lead to God’s displeasure. It assigns leadership roles, financial responsibilities and support maintenance of women, men and children’s rights.
Role of the Family/Kin
Social conduct, manners, and respect for everyone’s rights form an important part of Islamic teachings. A true Muslim observes the social code of Islam, i.e. mode and manner of behavior and respect between man and man and between man and society. The most primary relationship is between a man and his parents. Quran has considered the respect and kindness to parents as equal to a sincere belief in God and a following of His commands:
"Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents."(31:14)Among the parents, the status of the mother is three times higher than that of the father. Quran says“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents.” (46:15)
“Be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them thy mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.”(17:23 – 24)
“Treat with kindness your parents and kindred and orphans and those in need.” (2:83)
“In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning.” (31 :14)The prophet greatly stressed mothers’ rights by saying
“Heaven is beneath the feet of mothers.”The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) lost his mother at a very tender age (6 years). After his birth he was given to the custody of Halima bint Harith who loved him very much. After many years, when Prophet met his foster mother, he welcomed her with love and spread his mantle on the ground for her. Someone inquired about the rights of parents from the Prophet. He answered:
”For you they can be Heaven or Hell.”Quran entitles parents to be recipients of an extremely kind attitude. Their necessities should be fulfilled, whether material or emotional. They should be dealt with in intense humility and care but if they are non-believers and want their child to follow their faith, one ought to decline their wish but kind treatment and care towards them should continue. To disobey, disregard or to ignore the feelings and emotions of parents has been characterized as a grievous sin by the Prophet. He said
“Every time a dutiful child looks with affection and respect towards his/her parents, God writes the reward of an approved Hajj (Pilgrimage) on behalf of that person.”The Prophet said that the most heinous sins of the world are:
- To associate partners with Allah.
- To disobey parents.
- To give false evidence.
Islam lays equal stress on the rights of children. Children are the blessing of God to the people. The parents must not to be careless and neglectful towards their children. Apart from clothing and feeding, they must be trained with moral and religious education and upbringing. The Prophet said
“No father has given his child anything better than good manners.”Quran says
“O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from the Hell fire.”Before the advent of Islam, the birth of daughters was dreaded, so female infanticide was common. Islam has condemned this act and has extolled the upbringing of daughters as an act of great virtue. The Prophet said
“Anyone who has a daughter or sister and he treats her well and looks after her welfare and training carefully and marries her at the right place, God will reward him with Paradise.”Husband and wife:
This relationship occupies a wide space in the area of human affairs. As husband/wife relationship is based upon understanding, respect, intimacy and love for each other; it is furnished with complete guidance by Quran in all dimensions.
“And they (women) have rights similar to those of men over them.”(2:228)Quran gives man and woman equal rights. It says“He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts.”(30:21)
“Therefore, the righteous women are obedient and guard (in husband’s) absence” (4:34)
“Live with your wives on a footing of kindness and equity” (4:19)
“Man has dominance over the woman” (Al – Baqarah 2:228). But if the element of subordination to the husband is not present in the wife, life becomes a trouble, so Quran asked women to remain obedient (Surah Al- Nisa 3:34).”Woman is ordered to look after the house, property, and children of her husband in his absence and also to keep herself chaste and pure. Husband, on the contrary, is required to provide sustenance to his wife. He is made responsible to provide her food, clothing, shelter and security.
Neighbors and relatives:
Besides family life, there exists a bridge of kinship between us and our relatives. A Muslim owes great responsibility to the kinsmen.
“Worship none but Allah and treat with kindness your parents and kindred and orphans and those in need.” (2:83)The Quran and the prophet equally concentrated on the rights of relatives and said that those who disregard and pay no heed to kinship are the worst sinners and will not go to Paradise. There is a constant association between man and his neighbors. Quran says
“Neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the companions by your side.” (4:36)The prophet, whose life was the reflection of the teachings of Quran, preferred good and kind attitude towards neighbors rather than a person who remembers Allah all the time but has no good relations with neighbors. He said
“He who believes in God and the Day of Judgment will never harm his neighbor.”“He is not a Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbor go hungry.”
