Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 110
110 islam’s response to contemporary issues Again, the parents are warned not to murder their own children in the sense that the parents become instrumental and responsible in some way in destroying their character. 35 Not only one’s own children but that the younger generation as a whole must be treated with love, kindness and respect is the strong word of advice given by the Holy Prophet sa of Islam: Always be kind to your children. 36 One cannot help observing that this is exactly what the contemporary world needs today. There is a serious debate going on in Britain, nowadays, regarding possible legislation which would make parents vicariously responsible, in the eyes of the law, for crimes committed by their children and thus as delinquents dealt with by juvenile courts. It is strongly felt that had the parents discharged their responsibility to discipline their children more seriously, there would be much less crime seen in the streets of Great Britain. But the question is how far punitive and restrictive measures can improve the quality of society when there is no background of religious ethics at work in every sphere of life? Wasteful, Vain Pursuits Discouraged The Holy Quran goes on developing this subject of society by declaring: