Please express the opinion of Islam about motherhood and mention some points with regard to this matter

Saturday, 25 June 2011 00:00

Sayyed Roohullah Musavi

09192530560

10

ويرايش کلمات مرتبط و کليدي

Amateur

responsibility, marriage, children, lust, sexual drive, love, couple, parents, family, education, training, mother
motherhood, morals, vices, responsible parents, having a child, population control,good society, word and action, Ideal family

{\rtf1\fbidis\ansi\ansicpg1256\deff0\deflang1065{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}}
\viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\fi720\lang1033\f0\fs28 One of the important duties of women is caring for their children. This is not an easy task but one which is very sensitive and vital. It is the most sacred and most valuable responsibility which has been bestowed upon women by the order of creation. There are a few points which are briefly mentioned here with regard to this matter:
\par \pard\ltrpar
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720 (1) Fruit of Marriage
\par \pard\ltrpar
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720 Although a man and a woman get married for reasons such as love, sexual motives, etc., having a child is not one of the main reasons for marriage. But it is not long before the true motive of natural creation becomes apparent and the love for having a child grows in their hearts. The existence of a child is the fruit of the marital tree and a natural desire of men and women. A marriage without a child is like a fruitless tree. A child would strengthen the bonds of love between a couple. It serves as a drive to the man's working life and encourages the parents to care for their family.
\par \pard\ltrpar ab Marriage is sometimes initially founded on the basis of lust, love-making and instantaneous sexual interests. Such a foundation is false and not lasting and is always prone to destruction. The factor with which this foundation becomes strong is having a child. Lust and sexual drive soon subside. The only memory from days and nights of sexual desire would be the children, whose existence would be heart-warming to the parents.
\par ab
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440 Imam Sajjad (A) stated: "One's happiness is in having pious children from whom one can seek help." (1)
\par \pard\ltrpar
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440 The Prophet (S) of Allah stated: "A pious child is a sweet-smelling plant from among the plants of Paradise." (2)
\par \pard\ltrpar
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440 The Prophet (S) of Allah also stated: "Add to the numbers of your children, because I, on the Day of Judgment, will feel honored about the greatness of your numbers over the other Ummahs." (3)
\par \pard\ltrpar ab
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720 How ignorant are those who, with various excuses, refuse to have children, and thus fight the principle of creation!
\par
\par (2) Educating a Child
\par \pard\ltrpar
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720 The most sensitive responsibility of a mother is her duty to educate and train her children. Although both the parents should share this responsibility, it weighs more heavily on the shoulders of mothers. This is because a mother is able to constantly protect and monitor her child. If mothers, through a correct program, try to bring up their children, then a whole nation, and even the world, would undergo revolutionary changes.Thus the progress or deterioration of a society is in the hands of women.
\par \pard\ltrpar ab
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440 The Prophet of Allah (S) has stated: "Paradise is under the feet of the mothers." (4)
\par \pard\ltrpar ab
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720 The children of today are the men and women of tomorrow. Whatever lessons they learn now, they will practice in future societies. If families improve, society will progress because societies are no more than a collection of families. Tomorrow's world will suffer with today's bad-tempered, stubborn, ignorant, cowardly, materialistic, nasty, careless, selfish and cruel children.
\par \pard\ltrpar ab On the contrary, tomorrow's world will benefit from today's children who are honest, well-mannered, generous, brave, just, trustworthy, etc. Therefore, \b parents in general and mothers in particular are responsible for the future of their societies. They can serve their society by bringing up pious children.\b0 On the other hand, carelessness about their responsibility will be questioned on the Day of Judgment.
\par ab
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440 Imam Sajjad (A) said: "The right of your child is that you should know he is from you. Be it good or bad, he is related to you. You are responsible for his upbringing, education and showing him the path to Allah and helping him to be obedient. You should treat him in such a way that if you behave well towards him, you will be sure of being rewarded and if you behave badly towards him, you will be sure of receiving punishment." (5)
\par \pard\ltrpar ab
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720 Of course not all mothers are aware of the necessary skills of training a child and that is why they should set about learning them. It is not within the scope of this short article to present you with a detailed discussion on how to care for a child. Fortunately, there are many books which have been written on this subject by learned writers and scholars. Women can buy these books, and with the help of their own experience, they can educate their children and even become specialists in the field of child-rearing. She can then assist other mothers in their duties with regard to their children.
\par \pard\ltrpar ab Here one point should be mentioned. Many people misunderstand the phrases 'education' and 'training,' or think of them as having the same meaning. But one should know that teaching a child different subjects such as appropriate stories, poems, Quran, traditions of the Prophet (S), and the Imams (A) does not educate them. Such subjects are useful, but a child should not only learn about honest persons, but he should be honest himself.
\par ab Thus, we must create such an atmosphere and living environment that the child would naturally become an honest and pious person. If a child grows up in an environment of honesty, truthfulness, bravery, discipline, cleanliness, kindness, love, freedom, justice, patience, trustworthiness, faithfulness, and sacrifice, then he will learn all of those qualities. On the other hand, a child who grows up in a place of corruption, deception, anger, hate, hypocrisy, filth, and disloyalty would inevitably be affected by those qualities. Such a child may learn many stories about good and pious people, but they are to no avail. Dishonest parents cannot, by teaching Quran and Hadith, bring up honest children. A filthy mother and father actually teach their child to be filthy. A child pays more attention to his parent's deeds and not so much to their words.
\par ab Therefore, those of us who are seriously thinking of bringing up honest and good children should correct our own behaviour first. This is the only way to educate a child to be useful to himself and his society.
\par _______________
\par
\par References
\par
\par (1) \i Wasa'il al-Shi'a\i0 , vol. 15, p. 96.
\par (2) Ibid., p. 97.
\par (3) Ibid., p. 96.
\par (4) \i Majma'a al-Zawa'id\i0 , vol. 8, p. 138.
\par (5) \i Bihar al-Anwar\i0 , vol. 74, p. 6.
\par \pard\ltrpar\qr\fs24
\par }

Principles of Family Ethics by Ayatullah I. Amini

Principles of family ethics

121

121-09192530560-150

Kawther Rahmani

Careers of Women

Careers of Women 50%

The rights of mothers in Imam al-Sajjad's 'Treatise on Rights'
Pregnancy and childbirth

The rights of mothers in Imam al-Sajjad's 'Treatise on Rights' 50%
Pregnancy and childbirth 50%