Principles of Marriage and Family Ethics

Description

The human society is comprised of families. Islam attaches great importance to real pleasure and prosperity of human beings through Islamically balanced, highly ethical, well-educated and well-behaved families and happy homes. Like in all the fields of human activity, Islam has laid down clearly and in detail the rights and duties of men and women, husbands and wives and also parents and children. The happy homes having pleasant environment, in which husband, wife, children and other relatives live together merrily with good mutual understanding, tolerance and respect as well as fulfilling their respective duties towards each other, is indeed an index of the highest status the Almighty Allah has blessed, among the creatures, to all human beings. Unfortunately, the lack of appreciation about these aspects, particularly by husbands and wives, leads to many problems for themselves as well as for the children-the future generations. In advanced and western countries, with more and more progress, greater technological and scientific achievements and very fast and ultramodern way of life, the rate of divorces and separations is alarming. The greatest desire of all young men and women who reach the age of puberty is to marry. Through the establishment of a joint marital life, they would earn more independence, as well as have a kind and trustworthy partner. They regard marriage as the beginning of their lives of prosperity. Man has been created for woman and vice versa. They are attracted to each other like magnets. Marriage and establishing a joint life is a natural desire of human beings responding to their instincts. It is considered one of the greatest Divine blessings. In fact, where else could one find a better shelter for the youth than a sincere family unit? It is the desire of raising a family which preserves the youth from pursuing irrational dreams and internal anxieties. The marital union enables them to find a kind and faithful partner who could share the hard and difficult times Foreword i Preface iii Part 1: The Duties of Women 1 The Purpose of Marriage 1 Living with Husband 5 Kindness 6 The Husband's Respect 9 Complaints and Grievances 11 Pleasant Dispositions 13 Wrong Expectations 16 Be a Comfort for Your Husband 18 Be Appreciative 20 Do not Look for Shortcomings 22 Don't Look at Anyone Other Than Your Husband 25 Islamic Hijab 27 Forgive Your Husband's Mistakes 30 Coping with Your Husband's Relatives 31 Coping With Your Husband's Job 33 If You Have to Live Away From Your Hometown 36 If Your Husband Works at Home 38 Help Your Husband to Make Progress 40 Be Careful That He is Not Misled 42 Suspicious Women 45 Do Not Pay Attention to Slanderous Talks 56 The Satisfaction of Your Husband and Not Your Mother 59 Be Clean and Beautiful at Home Also 63 Be a Mother to Him 65 Accept His Management 67 Be Resourceful when Times are Hard 70 Do not Refuse to Talk and do not Sulk 71 Remain Silent when he is Angry 74 Men's Hobbies 76 Housekeeping 77 Cleanliness 79 A Tidy House 82 Preparing Food 85 Receiving Guests 90 The Trustee of the House 96 Careers of women 97 Do not Waste your Spare Time 101 Motherhood (Caring for Children) 103 Nutrition and Hygiene 107 Part 2: The Duties of Men 111 The Guardian of the Family 111 Taking Care of your Wife 112 Be Loving towards Her 112 Respect Your Wife 116 Be Well-mannered 118 Complaining Unnecessarily 124 Picking up Quarrels 125 Appease Her and Sympathize with Her 127 Do not pick up Faults 129 Do not Pay Attention to Slanderous Talk of the Critics 131 Overlook Her Mistakes 136 Be Attentive 144 The Disciplinary Rights of the Husband 148 Suspicious Men 153 The Unfaithful Woman 160 Do not Go After Other Women 162 Be Grateful 165 Be Clean at Home Also 167 Nurse Your Wife 170 Family Economy 172 Extend Your Help in the Household Works 175 Return Home Soon 176 Be Faithful 177 Education and Training 179 Having A Child 182 Pregnancy and Childbirth 189 Assistance in Bringing up Children 192 The Major Obstacle in Settling down Disagreements 194 Divorce 196