The Preservation of Honor, Family and Lineage (2/2)

Islam places special value on strong family bonds and good relations among relatives. Since the family is the basis and the foundation of the society, many rules help protect this family against break up and disintegration. Relatives have obligations and rights. One must recognize the rights of kith and kin and consequently satisfy the rights of each relative in the most appropriate fashion.

Mixing between the male and female members of the family - who are permitted to marry one another lawfully- may lead to many family social problems. To avoid any unwanted situation, Islam commands segregation between the male and female members of the family who are allowed to marry each other.

A woman is allowed to appear without her outer garments only before her father, brothers, uncles, grandfathers, father-in-law and sons.

In the pre-Islamic days of Jahiliyyah (Ignorance) the family system was corrupted and decadent. Islam initiated decisive reformations and annihilated all existent malpractice. Some of the institutions banned by Islam will be mentioned as examples.

Islam prohibits the kind of legal adoption whereby a child takes the family name of the adopting father or parents and will be entitled to all rights and duties of a blood child. Of course taking care of orphans and neglected children is strongly encouraged, and this form of charity has special merit.  The verse in the Glorious Qur'an says:

“Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body: nor has He made your wives whom you divorce by Dhihar[1] your mothers: nor has He made your adopted sons your sons. Such is (only) your (manner of) speech by your mouths. But Allah tells (you) the Truth, and He shows the (right) Way. Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is more just in the Sight of Allah. However, if you know not their fathers‟ (names, call them) your Brothers in Faith, or your Maulas[2]. However, there is no blame on you if you make a mistake therein: (what counts is) the intention of your hearts: and Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.”  (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:4-5)

Islam bans ascribing a child to a man as a son without the man’s admission to be the father because such a claim jeopardizes marital relationships as well as family life. A woman is to be protected from false accusations that blemish her honor and dignity of illegitimate sexual activities with a man other than her husband.

Moreover, such a false claim of a man may create doubts and in turn a rift between the rests of the children of the family, not knowing legitimate from illegitimate. 

Any child born who is a legitimate product of a marriage contract is attributed to the father with no need of any further proof or denial. A husband of a woman needs not to announce that child is his. This practice is based on the statement of Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him),

“The child (born as a result of a lawful marriage) belongs to the (bed of) his father.”[3]

The only exception to this rule is when it is proved, beyond a doubt, that the wife has betrayed her husband and is pregnant from other than her husband. In such a case, specific rules of disowning the child will apply.  After disowning, he will become as total stranger in relation to the husband. This means that if the disowned child is female, she must not appear before such a man at her leisure, travel with him, live with him or deal freely with him.

A Muslim woman, after marriage keeps her maiden name according  to   Islamic   jurisprudence.   According   to   Islamic teachings and law, it is unlawful for a woman to bear the family name of her husband after marriage. Looking at this closely one can comprehend the great honor, dignity and respect granted to the woman in Islam. This practice preserves the equality and equal right of a Muslim woman to the Muslim man of the right of carrying her own independent name, especially in the event of divorce.

Preserving and honoring the rights of the weak and the disabled:  Islam honors the elderly members in the Islamic society   and   mandates   their   respect   and   assistance. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

 “He is not considered among us Muslims, who does not show mercy to our youngsters and respect to our elders.”[4]

Islamic law obligates assistance to orphans, as Allah the Most Merciful says in the Glorious Qur'an:

 “Therefore treat not the orphan with harshness.”  (Surah Ad-Duha, 93:9)

And He, the Exalted, says:

 “Come not near to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfill (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be inquired (on the Day of Reckoning).” (Surah Al-Isra’, 17:34)

And He says:

“Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a fire into their own bodies:  they will soon be enduring a blazing fire!” (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:10)

Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) addressed the preservation of the rights of the innocent children whose parents might commit a crime against them due to poverty and total ignorance by killing them. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states in the Glorious Qur'an:

“Say (O Muhammad): "Come, I will recite what  Allah has prohibited you from": join not anything as  equal with  Him;  be  good  to  your  parents;  kill  not   your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them - come not near to  shameful deeds, whether open or secret; take not life,  which Allah has made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.”  (Surah Al-An’am, 6:151)

In this fashion we can see the utmost respect and preservation afforded to the weak, and less affluent and healthy people in the Islamic society.