Religious Education – Islam Coursework

i) What does Islam teach about the family?

Family in Islam is very important and crucial for Muslims. The Qur’an itself have guidelines for family life, how that no child should hurt or disrespect their parents. The reason for this is, your parents have cared and love for you since the day you was born, and looked after you when you got ill and so on. Family life in Islam is very tight compared to western families, where their children is allowed to go out and do whatever they please, to sleep with whoever they want, which results in broken families, children born outside marriage, and elderly parents who are not looked after and forgotten in elderly homes, hospitals as such.. This is why, as your parents get older and less able; they will need their children’s support, just as when they were babies they needed their parents. Ways the children help is to live with them and help them out financially also. This continues until the parent’s death. However the parents do expect this to happen, and expect their children to obey them, because for what they have done for them all their life, which is why Muslim families are so tightly bonded with each other.

Children are expected to treat their elders, and parents with high respect:

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  • They should listen when they speak
  • Not to walk in front of them
  • Not to sit down before they do
  • Do not speak badly of them or any others parents.
  • However much you disagree, do not say something to hurt them
  • When they get old, be aware of their increased physical weakness, be patient with them.
  • Help them without being asked to

In return to this parents are also expected to treat them equally:

  • They should give their children the best possible education, not just for intelligence but for future earnings.
  • Help them have happy marriages
  • ...

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