The main duties of the wife in a Muslim family are to contribute to the success of the marriage. She must be considerate, thoughtful and caring to the well being of her husband. The wife in a Muslim family should never offend or hurt her husband’s feelings. She must be faithful, trustworthy and honest. House welfare is very important part of the wife’s responsibilities towards her husband and children. As a wife she is responsible for managing her house, which includes many duties such as: cleaning, cooking, managing and socialisations. It is also the wife’s responsibilities to look after the children and give them the attentions they need. It is also the wife’s duty to dress appropriately and keep her legs and arms covered so that she does not tempt other men’s other than her husband. The wife is expected to worship Allah everyday and to pray.
Muslim parents are expected to be role models for their children. As parents, they are expected to love, care and discipline their children. They are also expected to make sure the child is happy, honest and religious. Parents are to provide their children with basic human necessities, such as food, clothes, shelter, education and medical support. Also parents should provide their children with love, warmth and compassion. Parents must provide their children with the life skills. But one of their most important duties is to teach their children about Islam and to tell them the purpose of life. Parents should send their child to a madrasa (school) to give their children guidance to be a good Muslim also to make sure their child knows how to read the Qu’ran. When a child is born it is important that the parents give him or her a good meaningful name. Muslim parents should provide a pleasant environment for their children so that they feel secure and loved. They ought to protect their children from danger in addition to keeping them safe. Parents have the responsibilities of up bringing their children in the correct ways, this includes teaching them good manners, telling them to give respect to the community and to encourage them to do house chores so that it will be easy for them in the future. Parents are persuaded to help children make appropriate decisions especially the younger ones.
In Islam, Muslim children are considered as precious gifts from Allah. As well as parents, children also have responsibilities they have to do. Children must love and respect their parents, elderly and neighbours. Children should obey their parents and be grateful for everything they do for them. Muslim children are expected to go to madrasa (school) and learn how to read the Qu’ran. They should start practising Islam around age six. They also have a responsibility of helping their parents with the house works. Islam teaches that it is the duty of children to care for their parents when they are old, and Muslims believe that the place for elderly people is with the rest of the family. Especially the mothers: the prophet teaches that
‘Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.’ (Hadith)
In a Muslim family, each individual member plays an equally significant role in his or her own capacity, which is related to the other members of the family. Each member of the family is special and yet different this helps to build up the relationship between the families and also to make them become better Muslims. For example, when a baby is born, his father, another man in the family speaks the call to prayer into the baby’s ears. This is done to introduce the child to its religion and shows that the parents want to bring it up within Islam. By doing this, the father is preparing his child to worship Allah. Parents also teach their children at a young age how to read the Qu’raan; this is helping the child to become a better Muslim. Reading the Qu’ran together is something that is very important for many Muslim families this helps each member to recite the saying of Allah.
The Muslim society has many ceremonies; this includes the marriage ceremonies, which brings all family members together. The marriage ceremony is considered to be a social activity for the family. It is very important that Muslims get married. In some Muslim communities the parents generally arrange the marriage. During this ceremony, the Bride and groom arrive at the Mosque. The Imam takes consent of the couple, the Bride normally does not sit among the crowd, she is inside another room, so, her Father, Uncle or some other relative with a couple of witness go there and seek her permission and consent for marriage. The witnesses go and tell the Imam what the Brides consent is. The Imam recites verses from the Holy Qu’ran and Quotes the Sayings (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad. The groom is asked if he accepts the bride as her wife, and he accepts loudly, and they are declared husband and wife. Dry Fruits and sweets are offered to participants of the occasion. The bride goes with the family of her husband to her in laws. The husbands have to invite family and friends at a Lunch Dinner or reception next day or within few days of marriage, this event is called Walima that is when they have a lavish dinner and listen to music. This is a social and religious life of the Muslim family because it is part of the Muslim religion to get married and it is social because friends and family gather together to celebrate.
Another ceremony important to the Muslim family is the naming ceremony. This takes place when the baby is seven days old. According to the hadith, a goat or a sheep should be sacrificed and at least a third should be given to the poor. Then the baby is given a decent name. At the naming ceremony, the baby’s head is shaved and olive oil is rubbed on as a symbol of cleanliness. This is important in the Muslim family because it shows that a new member has joined the family and he or she too would worship Allah. The whole family and friends attend this special ceremony and enjoy the company of each other.
The Ramadan festival takes place during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. All Muslims over twelve years of age is required to fast during this month. Muslims fasting are not allowed to eat, drink, and smoke between dawn and sunset. A meal is eaten before sunrise. They fast during Ramadan because Allah asked them to. Ramadan can be a very tough month for Muslims fasting but with the encouragement and support of other Muslims it becomes easier for Muslims to fast. ‘Id ul-Fitr marks the end of the fast of Ramadan. The festival occurs during the first day of the tenth month. The first day of the festival begins with a light meal. Then Muslims meet at the mosque for a special prayer. ‘Id ul-Fitr is a time for when Muslims meet their friends and families and it involves everyone that is Muslim. After the prayer, families and friends meet in each other’s homes or sometimes stay in the mosque. ‘Id ul-Fitr is important to Muslim families because it is a time when people who have not seen each other for a long time can talk and rejoice the end of a success Ramadan together. There are parties to celebrate ‘Id ul-Fitr, food are provided and given to all, Islamic music are also played for little children to enjoy. This festival is also a way for Muslims to dress up and wear new clothes. This is a way families communicate with each other and children have fun. It is also a day when families spend time together, they decorate their houses, plus purchase presents and cards are sent to neighbours, relatives and friends.
Muslims regard all followers of Islam as being members of one big family. This is called the Ummah. The idea of the Ummah is very important, and helps to explain why Muslims are so concerned about other Muslims wherever they live in the world. The Muslim community requires the other Muslims to help one Muslim if he or she needs help. Muslim families stick together and have fun with each other.
‘Young Muslims in Britain today have many problems in following their religion.’
In my opinion, I think that it is harder for young Muslims in this country to practise Islam than in a Muslim country. My reasons for this are that, it is difficult for a Muslim girl to do PE when a male teacher teaches it. But in a Muslim country a female teacher will be in charge of doing PE. In addition, part of the dress code in Islam is that girls are expected to keep their arms, legs and head covered. This sometimes can cause problem at non-Muslim school, especially in lessons such PE and swimming. Some Muslims believe that children should not be allowed to listen to ‘hip-hop’ music, but it is very difficult for children not to listen to ‘hip-hop’ as it is being played everywhere around them plus it is something they can enjoy.
Several foods are forbidden for Muslims to eat, these are known as haram foods. Unfortunately, for Muslims this can be very tough for them, as many shops in Britain do not sell halal products. Particularly for the young Muslims that live in Britain because school lunches do not always provide halal foods, therefore they have to eat food that they do not wish to eat. As a young Muslim that lives in Britain, sometimes I think that it will be a lot easier if everyone in this country were all-Muslims. Then everyone will encourage each other and no one will make fun of the way they are dressed because everybody will be dressed the same way.
Islam teaches that Muslims should obey the teachings of Allah in every part of life. This means that religion has more effect on their lives than it has on other people. For example, Muslims have to pray five times a day. The majority of young Muslims in Britain attend public schools, which do not give them the opportunity to pray during school times. This can affect young Muslims prayer and they can find it difficult to cope with prayer when they get home and also do their homework’s. In Muslims countries when it is time for prayer and there are in public places it is okay for Muslims to pray there but if a Muslim was to do that in Britain, non-Muslims would probably stare at them or even laugh this can upset Muslims and it can make it harder for them to practice their religion.
It is also very hard for young Muslims to follow their religion in Britain because of the events that took place in London on the 7th of July. This makes non-Muslims feel that young Muslims in particular are dangerous and they exclude them from things. This can be tough for young Muslims and might change the way they worship Allah. For example they might decide not to wear the Muslims traditional clothing so that they wouldn’t be recognised as Muslims.
Islam teaches that Muslim children should not mix up with the opposite sex once they have become teenagers. This can be a problem for young Muslims in Britain to practice their religions because in mix schools both gender are to work together. As a young Muslim that lives in Britain, sometimes I think that it will be a lot easier if everyone in this country were all-Muslims. Then everyone will encourage each other and no one will make fun of the way they are dressed because everybody will be dressed the same way.
However, young Muslims in Britain today should put all the problems they face in Britain aside and just try the best that they could in following their religion and Allah would make it easier for them. Furthermore, some people will disagree with my opinion and say that young Muslims in Britain today do not have many problems in following their religion. Their reason for this is that young Muslims do not have to eat foods that are not halal. There is always a choice of foods that do not contain meat and gelatine for them to eat. They can eat vegetarian foods at school and when they get home they can eat halal foods. This is a solution they can use to carry on following their religion. Young Muslims can also sort out the issue about the swimming and P.E by their parents discussing this matter with the school and they can be allowed to wear long waterproof vest and long trousers for swimming. They can also wear long clothes for P.E. They also do not have to listen to ‘hip-hop’ music as Muslim people nowadays are producing their own ‘hip-hop’ music but talking about Allah and Islam.
In conclusion, I have looked at the whole aspect of a Muslim family and I have also given my opinion about whether I think that it is hard for young Muslims in Britain today in following their religion. I have also learned that Family is very important to Muslims and they support each other in worshipping Allah. Without Family love, most people would not become what they have become today.
