30.RESPONSIBILITIES AND MUTUAL

RELATIONSHIPS OF A FAMILY

Family is the natural and fundamental unit of life.Infact this unit of society can be concieved as the nucleus of the civilization.Islam,therefore demands the strengthinig of family ties in order to ensure the over all progress of the society.

As already said,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. This then produces ties of kinship and community, which, in turn, gradually develop further ties. The family is an instrument of continuity which prepares the succeeding generation to serve human civilization and to discharge its social obligations with devotion, sincerity and enthusiasm. This institution does not merely recruit cadets for the maintenance of human culture, but positively desires that those who are to come will be better members of society. In this respect the family can be truly called the source of the progress, development, prosperity and strength of human civilization. Islam therefore devotes much attention to the issues relating to the family and strives to establish it on the healthiest and strongest possible foundations.According to Islam the correct relationship between man and woman is marriage, a relationship in which social responsibilities are fully accepted and which results in the emergence of a family.

Within the family itself Islam has assigned to the man a position of authority so that he can maintain order and discipline as the head of the household. Islam expects the wife to obey her husband and look after his well-being; and it expects the children to behave accordingly to their parents. Islam does not favor a loose and disjointed family system devoid of proper authority, control and discipline. Discipline can only be maintained through a central authority and, in the view of Islam, the position of father in the family is such that it makes him the fittest person to have this responsibility.

But this does not mean that man has been made a house-hold tyrant and woman has been handed over to him as a helpless chattel. According to Islam the real spirit of material life is love, understanding and mutual respect. If woman has been asked to obey her husband, the latter has been called on make the welfare of his family his top priority.

Although Islam places great emphasis on the marital bond, it only wants it to remain intact as long as it is founded on the sweetness of love or there exists at least the possibility of lasting companionship. If neither of these two conditions obtain, it gives man the right of divorce and woman the right of separation; and under certain conditions, where married life has become a source of misery, the Islamic courts of justice have the authority to annul the marriage.

OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

An expanded definition of family includes other kindred like brothers, sisters, near relatives and even domestic servants. Islam has prescribed duties of family members unto each other. The duties towards parents are uppermost among all relations.

They rank only next to Allah as transpires from the following Qur'aanic injunction:

'And thy Lord has decreed that you should worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents ......" (Bani Israel: 23).

The parents, in turn, are required to be kind and caring to their children (Al-Inam : 151, AnNahl : 58, etc.). The Holy Qur'aan devoted one full chapter (Surah An-Nisa) dealing with mutual rights and duties of husbands and wives. Husbands should treat their wives in a loving and benign manner. The Holy Qur'aan ordains:

"...... And live with them (your wives) honourably, (even) if you dislike them perhaps you detest a thing and yet Allah has placed abundant good therein." (An-Nisa : 19)

Islam concerns itself with the happiness, welfare and well-being of a family. Hence, at the same time, it stipulates some fundamental traits in a good wife.

The Holy Qur'aan asserts:

So the righteous women are obedient (to their husbands) and watchers (of the honour and property of their husbands) in husbands' absence by the aid and protection of Allah ---." (An-Nisa: 34).

With regard to the rights and duties of other family members in general, Islam gives a guiding and abiding principle. The Messenger of Allah (r) urged, "He is not of us who is not kind to our juniors and shows no respect to our elders. He regarded two brothers "like two hands which wash each other". As to the eldest brother, the Holy Prophet (r) said, "The right of the eldest brother upon the youngest is the right of the father upon his son." The status of maternal aunt has been held next to mother herself. Regarding household servants, the Holy Prophet (r) advised, "Your brethren-Allah has placed them under your hands: whosoever's brother Allah has placed under his hand, let him feed him out of what he himself eats, let him clothe him out of what he clothes himself of..."

By ensuring a happy and peaceful family, Islam aims at securing peace for a nation and peace for the world at large. Disorder in facilities will eventually lead to disorder in the nation and disorder in the world at large. This is because individuals compose families, families compose nations and nations compose the whole world. This is what in modern sense is known as "Peace within, and peace without."