the islamic family structure

THE ISLAMIC

FAMILY

STRUCTURE

Introduction	11
Author’s Preface	12
Translators’ Forward	13

CHAPTER 1

THE PRINCIPLE OF MARRIAGE IN THE COSMOS	15
The System of Joining and Coupling in Inanimate Objects	15
The System of Plant Symbiosis	18
The Pistil	18
Reproduction	19
The System of Animal Copulation and Reproduction	19
Man and Marriage	20
Let's Be Lenient in Making Preparations for Marriage	21
Traditions on the Value and Importance of Marriage	23

CHAPTER 2

DIVINE VIRTUES IN THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY	25
True Concept of Piety	25
Piety and Its Praiseworthy Degrees	26
Hajji Sabzevary and Moderation	27
Luxury-Loving and Wastefulness	27
Let's Invite Each Other to Piety	29
Signs of the Pious	30
A Pious Man and Wife	31
Exemplary Shopkeeper	32

CHAPTER 3

THE LOFTY GOALS BEHIND MARRIAGE IN ISLAM	33
An Honorable Household	33
The Worst People	34
The Blooming of Talents	35
Striving for the Well-Being of the Household and the Home	36
Establish the Loftiest Goal for Marriage	37
The Family Structure in the West	38

CHAPTER 4

WOMAN'S POSITION IN HUMAN HISTORY AND ISLAM	41
Mental Deviation of Corrupt Men Regarding Women	41
Islam's Response to the Corrupt Men's Deviations Regarding Women	42
Another Look at History Regarding Women’s Life and Status	47

CHAPTER 5

MAN AND WOMAN'S INDEPENDENCE IN ISLAM	51
Human Freedom and Independence	51
A Strange Story About Freedom	52
An Important Matter	53
A Dignified and Worthy Spouse	54
One's Independence in Marriage	58

CHAPTER 6

WOMAN'S STATUS IN THE LOGIC OF REVELATION	59
God's Pure Religion	59
The Supplication of the Divine Prophets for God's Sovereignty and Mercy	61
The Grand Status of Worshipping God	62
Woman in the Logic of Revelation	63
Intellect and Lust as Measures for Prosperity or Misery	64

CHAPTER 7

OBSTACLES TO MARRIAGE	67
Strictness in Marriage	67
Use Your Own Case to Judge for Others	68
Haughtiness is a Satanic Attribute	70
An Amazing Story about Leniency in Marriage	72
Perils of Keeping up With the Joneses	74
Expensive Nuptial Gift	74
The Quran as a Nuptial Gift	75

CHAPTER 8

THE DIVINE AND ISLAMIC CONDITIONS FOR MARRIAGE	77
Religion and Piety	77
Being Matched	79
Imam Sajjad's Views on Being Matched	81
Those Whom You Should Not Let Your Daughters Marry	82
Do not Marry Such Women	83

CHAPTER 9

HOW TO CHOOSE A SPOUSE	85
The Evil-Doer is Deprived of God's Mercy	85
The Path to Perfection	86
How to Choose a Spouse in Islam	87
An Amazing Story	88
Islamic and humane Conditions in Choosing a Spouse	89

CHAPTER 10

ISLAM'S ORIGINAL PLANS ON MARRIAGE	93
Marriage Negotiations	93
The Necessity to Pay the Nuptial Gift	94
The Wedding Trousseau	95
A Divine, Spiritual Model for the Wedding Trousseau	96
Praying at the Wedding Threshold	97
The Time and Etiquette for Wedding	98
Nuptial Night Customs	99

CHAPTER 11

HYGIENE IN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE	103
The Worth of Cleanliness and Hygiene in Islam	103
Oral and Dental Hygiene	106
Orderliness and Hygiene in Food	107
The Harms of Overeating	108
An Educational Story	108

CHAPTER 12

ISLAMIC ETHICS IN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE	111
The Value of Good Morality	111
Love and its Expression	112
Lowering Expectations	114
Forgiving	115
Feigning	116
Anger	117
Arrogance	118
Behavior	119
Talking	120
Kanzulemal	120

CHAPTER 13

THE MODEST COVERING AND WOMAN'S CHASTENESS	123
A Surprising Fact	126
The View of Some Eminent Westerners in Regards to the situation of Western Society	127
A Case From Imam Husayn’s Life	128
Veil and Dirty Looks as Viewed by the Quran	129
Who Can See Women as Stated by the Quran	130

CHAPTER 14

SECURITY IN LIFE	131
The Good and the Bad	131
Ignorance and Illiteracy	132
Knowledge and Wisdom	133
The Heart is the Source of Truth	134
Torture in the Expanse of the Hereafter	137
Good Mothers and Fathers	138

CHAPTER 15

THE ASPECTS OF VIRTUE IN THE FAMILY	139
The Sincerity of One's Intentions	139
The Peak of Sincere Intention	139
A Surprising Example of Sincerity	140
Piety and Justice	142
The Manifestations of Virtue in the Family	142
A Virtuous Countenance	144
An Instructive Story	145
An Amazing Event	146

CHAPTER 16

THE MATERIAL ISSUES OF THE HOUSE AND THE FAMILY	149
The Virtues and Vices of Wealth	149
The Forbidden and the Unforbidden	150
Don't Deprive Yourself of the Lawful Things	151
Provide Your Family's Needs Through Lawful Means	151
The Prophet of Islam and Lawfully Obtained Food	152
How to Increase One's Daily Bread	153
Unlawful Property	154
One Who Repents is Loved by God	154

CHAPTER 17

THE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUALITY IN THE FAMILY	157
Spiritual Blessings	157
Intellect	157
Quran	159
Prophethood	160
Leadership	161
Religious Scholars	162
Prayers	162

CHAPTER 18

REPONSIBILITIES OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD	165
Protect Yourself and Your Family From the Fire of Hell	165
A Scented Heaven	167
Four Important Duties	168

CHAPTER 19

THE RIGHTS OF WIVES AND HUSBANDS IN ISLAM	171
An Outlook on Family Rights	171
The Rights of the Wife	172
The Rights of the Husband	174

CHAPTER 20

PREGNANCY	181
The Period of Pregnancy	181
Duties During Pregnancy	183
Delivery	184
New-Born Clothing	184
The First Food for the Baby	185
Adhan and Iqamah (The General Call To Prayer and The Specific One)	185
Childbirth Etiquette	186
Mother's Milk	186
Naming	187

CHAPTER 21

RAISING CHILDREN IN ISLAM	189
The Position and Worth of Children	189
Love for Children	191
Kissing the Children	191

CHAPTER 22

THE WORTH OF RAISING A DAUGHTER IN ISLAM	193
God's Will in Granting a Child	193
Highly Important Traditions Regarding Raising a Daughter	194

CHAPTER 23

THE ROLE OF THE MOTHER IN CHILD REARING	199
A Child as the Result of a Mother's Efforts	199
The Fruit of the Garden of Purity	201
My Mother Ruined My Life	201
Sometimes Worshipping Diminishes	202
A Bright Marriage	202
Sheik Shooshtary's Mother	202
The Effect of Physical and Spiritual Purity in Upbringing	203

CHAPTER 24

THE ROLE OF THE FATHER IN CHILD REARING	205
Consider the Following Four Facts	205
The Commander of the Faithful Cried	206
People of Torture	206
An Amazing Point Regarding Mother of Hajj Sheik Fazlollah Noory	207
Youth Beware	208
Deviated Fathers and the Children's Duties	209
A Noble Father	209
Bad Fathers and Good Children	210
A distinguished Father	210
Ali Akbar Will Not be Raised With Forbidden Food	211

CHAPTER 25

THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN	213
The Path to Prosperity	213
Children’s rights	214
The Effects of Lawfully or Unlawfully Obtained Food	214
Sheik Zahed	215
A Good Memory	216
A Note to Parents	217

CHAPTER 26

THE RIGHTS OF THE PARENTS	219
A Heavy Burden	219
An Amazing Point	220
A Delicate Issue	220
Traditions Regarding Parent's Rights	221
Zacharias Serves His Parents	221
Sheik Ansari and His Mother	223
Mother's Damnation	223

CHAPTER 27

A COUPLE'S DUTIES TO THEIR RELATIVES	225
Relatives	225

CHAPTER 28

OBSERVING THE RELATIONS OF THE WOMB	229
The Quran and Visiting Relatives	229
A Good Plan	230
An Amazing Story	230
Traditions About Visiting Relatives	231
Traditions About Cutting Off Relations	232

CHAPTER 29

PROSPERITY OR RUIN OF A FAMILY	235
Prosperity or Ruin	235
Justice	236
Being Kind	236
Advice	237
Politeness	237
Protection of the Family from Accusations	238
Honoring One's Oath	238
Consultation	239
Humbleness	240
Kindness to Younger Ones and Respecting the Elders	240
Hospitality	241
Cause of Getting Ruined	241

CHAPTER 30

DIVORCE AND INHERITANCE	243
Divorce is Despised	243
Causes for Divorce	244
Gossip	244
Accusations	245
A Lesson	245
Divorce as Viewed by Quran	246
Termination of Life	247