Islamic Teachings on Ideal Family Life — Page 39
~ 39 ~ of the Promised Messiah, peace be on him. I was in the mosque. She had to wait for a very long time. When I came home after offering my prayers, she called me, and pointing to Mub ā rakah Begum, addressed me in a very emotional tone, “I am giving my orphan daughter in your custody. ” With a heavy heart, she departed quickly saying Assal ā mu ‘Alaikum! (A ḥ mad, Volume 2, pp. 252-253) Obligations of a Married Couple to Parents and Children In the Holy Qur’ ā n, all human beings are mentioned as members of a single large family unit. Members of this large family have some obligations and rights towards each other as well as to the unit itself. The smallest family unit starts with husband and wife, and with the birth of a child they become father and mother. In due course, this small unit expands to many other relations and keeps enlarging and energizing through their mutual cooperation and support. With the expansion of the family, the husband and wife assume different roles. Their biggest and most important role is their parenthood as they have to prepare future generations. Peace and happiness reigns supreme in the family unit as long as parents remain their guide and pivotal center. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for the husband and wife to know and comprehend the role, responsibilities and rights of parents. In connection with Isl ā mic family unit, parents and children, Ḥ a ḍ rat Mirza Tahir A ḥ mad, Khal ī fatul-Mas īḥ IV (All ā h’s mercy be on him), has stated in his writings, briefly but beautifully, with which qualities the youth of our community should harness themselves. He states, “To build a family life around the pivotal figure of a mother requires the strengthening of other blood relationships and the restoration of a genuine affinity