Parents Obligations towards Children (2/2)

It explicitly reveals that   Islam is completely against the despotic and tyrannical   attitude of father and male members of the family over wives and children.  Islam expects from man a gentlemanly behavior not harsh approach towards his family.    

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“The best of you is he who is the best to his family, and I am the best to my family.”

The relationship between man and woman in Islam is not therefore the  relationship of master and servant but that of garments to each other and also protecting  friends of one another. 

The Qur'an says:

“They are garments for you and you are garments for them.”

Thus the very basis of family in Islam is faith, love, concern and care for each other so that it turns out to be a civilizing ground for children.   

Husband and wife who live in peace and love with each other can concentrate well over their children and can bring them up with moral excellence, best education and spiritual orientation.

Such children  would not only contribute their potentialities towards the construction of society in future, but will remain as a blessing  ior  their  parents  even  after  the  death   of their parents.

Parents of such children will continue to enjoy the rewards of their best education and training, which they imparted to their children. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“The actions of man cease with his death. But there are three deeds whose reward and blessing continue to reach him even after death. One  that  he  should  make  a  sadaqa jariah (recurring  charity); Secondly,  he  should  leave  behind  a  legacy of knowledge from which people may continue to derive  benefit;  Thirdly,  pious offspring who continuously invoke mercy of Allah upon him.”

Children are the blessings which Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) bestow to parents. But if these children are not educated and trained properly, they become nuisance to the parents and the society.  Whereas, if the children are adequately educated and trained, they shall become bearers of Islamic mission,  transmitters of Islamic culture in the society and also best rewards for their deceased parents.

Islam forbids abortion and infanticide.

The Qur'an says:

“Slay not your children fearing poverty.  We shall provide for them and for you.  Lo! The slaying of them is great sin.”

Those who kill their children out of their foolishness are the greatest losers.

Thus, abortions, child-abuse and infanticide are all considered as heinous sins in Islam. Islam by its very nature is against cruelty and barbarity. Any use of contraception loop, shield, plastic or anything to cause abortion is forbidden. 

Even if abortion is done in seven   days, it is unlawful, since the fertilized ovum is going to be a human being.  However, only on one condition abortion is allowed to save the life of the mother.

It is also important to point out here that Islam is not against technology, but misuse of technology.

For instance, if technological devices help mothers to lessen some of their complications during prenatal period and childbirth, Islam has no objection.

But, if the technological devices are discovered and used to let unmarried women or teenage girls to have babies if the wish to, Islam strongly objects it.

Similarly, if such contraceptive devices are invented through which unmarried women or teenage girls can engage in sexual relationships without becoming pregnant, Islam rejects it completely.

Likewise, Islam condemn high-tech reproductive aids developed  to  produce artificial  mothers,  fathers  and   children, as well as, technological ways and means through which lesbians and homosexuals  engage in  their  deviant  sexuality to get children.  

In fact, Islam is totally against all deviant forms of sexuality. 

The Qur'an says:

“Would you really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant.”

Islam, no doubt encourages man to beget children, but through rightful mean not by unlawful act.  The Qur'an points out how one of the Prophets Zakaria (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) for the pious offspring even in a very old age:

“Lord! Bestow upon me by Thy bounty goodly offspring - Lo! Thou art the Hearer of Prayer.”

As  far  as  the  'invitro fertilization' (IVF) and test tube babies are concerned,  Islam  allows  only  if the 'ova' comes from the mother and  the 'sperm'  from the father and the embryo is transferred  into the  uterus  of one's  own  wife. Any other usage of the 'invitro' fertilization' by any woman or man who are not married with each other  but  would like to follow this technology  is not acceptable in Islam.

Islamic stance on artificial insemination is also quite clear. It forbids the use of the sperm of anyone other than that of the husband to be used in the process of artificial insemination. Such an act tantamount to adultery, from Islamic perspective, since it falls outside the martial union of man and woman.