مكانة الأسرة في الإسلام – رسالة 1

The Status of the Family in Islam – message 1

الحمد لله

قبل أن نعرف دور الإسلام في بناء وتنظيم الأسرة وحمايتها لابد أن نعلم ماذا كانت الأسرة قبل الإسلام وعند البعض في هذا الزمان .

كانت الأسرة قبل الإسلام تقوم على التعسف والظلم ، فكان الشأن كله للرجال فقط أو بمعنى أصح الذكور، وكانت المرأة أو البنت مظلومة ومهانة ومن أمثلة ذلك أنه لو مات الرجل وخلف زوجة كان يحق لولده من غيرها أن يتزوجها وأن يتحكم بها ، أو أن يمنعها من الزواج ، وكان الذكور الرجال فقط هم الذين يرثون وأما النساء أو الصغار فلا نصيب لهم ، وكانت النظرة إلى المرأة أماً كانت أو بنتاً أو أختاً نظرة عار وخزي لأنها كانت يمكن أن تسبى فتجلب لأهلها الخزي والعار فلذلك كان الرجل يئد ابنته وهي طفلة رضيعة كما قال تعالى : ( وإذا بشر أحدهم بالأنثى ظل وجهه مسودا وهو كظيم يتوارى من القوم من سوء ما بشر به أيمسكه على هون أم يدسه في التراب ألا ساء ما يحكمون ) النحل / 58 .

وكانت الأسرة بمفهومها الأكبر – القبيلة – تقوم على أساس النصرة لبعضها البعض ولو في الظلم  إلى غير ذلك فلما جاء الإسلام محا هذا كله وأرسى العدل وأعطى كل ذي حق حقه حتى الطفل الرضيع ، وحتى السقط من احترامه وتقديره والصلاة عليه .

لما جاء الإسلام حرص أشد الحرص على إرساء وتثبيت الأسرة والمحافظة عليها مما يؤذيها، والمحافظة على تماسكها مع إعطاء كل فرد من الأسرة دوراً مهماً في حياته :

فالإسلام أكرم المرأة أما وبنتا وأختا  ، أكرمها أماً : فعن عن أبي هريرة رضي الله تعالى عنه قال جاء رجل إلى رسول الله  صلى الله عليه وسلم  فقال : يا رسول الله من أحق الناس بحسن  صحابتي ؟ قال: أمك ، قال ثم من ؟ قال : ثم أمك ، قال : ثم من ؟ قال : ثم أمك ، قال : ثم من ؟ قال : ثم أبوك " .

رواه البخاري ( 5626 ) ، ومسلم ( 2548 ) .

وأكرمها بنتا : فعن  أبي سعيد الخدري أن رسول الله  صلى الله عليه وسلم  قال : " من كان له ثلاث بنات أو ثلاث أخوات أو ابنتان أو أختان فأحسن صحبتهن واتقى الله فيهن دخل الجنة" .

رواه ابن حبان في صحيحه ( 2 / 190 ) .

 وأكرمها زوجة : فعن عن عائشة قالت قال رسول الله  صلى الله عليه وسلم : " خيركم خيركم لأهله وأنا خيركم لأهلي " . رواه الترمذي ( 3895 ) وحسَّنه .

وأعطى الإسلام المرأة حقها من الميراث وغيره ، وجعل لها حقا كالرجل في شؤون كثيرة قال عليه الصلاة والسلام :" النساء شقائق الرجال " رواه أبو داود في سننه (236) من حديث عائشة وصححه الألباني في صحيح أبي داود 216 . 

وأوصى الإسلام بالزوجة ، وأعطى المرأة حرية اختيار الزوج وجعل عليها جزء كبير من المسؤولية في تربية الأبناء .

وجعل الإسلام على  الأب والأم مسؤولية عظيمة في تربية أبنائهم : فعن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله تعالى عنهما أنه سمع رسول الله  صلى الله عليه وسلم  يقول : " كلكم راع ومسؤول عن رعيته فالإمام راع وهو مسؤول عن رعيته والرجل في أهله راع وهو مسؤول عن رعيته والمرأة في بيت زوجها راعية وهي مسؤولة عن رعيتها والخادم في مال سيده راع وهو مسؤول عن رعيته " قال : فسمعت هؤلاء من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . رواه البخاري ( 853 ) ، ومسلم ( 1829 ) .

- حرص الإسلام على غرس مبدأ التقدير والاحترام للآباء والأمهات والقيام برعايتهم وطاعة أمرهم إلى الممات :

قال الله سبحانه وتعالى : ( وقضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه وبالوالدين إحسانا إما يبلغن عندك الكبر أحدهما او كلاهما فلا تقل لهما أف ولا تنهرهما وقل لهما قولا كريما )  الإسراء / 23 .

وحمى الإسلام الأسرة في عرضها وعفتها وطهارتها ونسبها فشجع على الزواج ومنع من الاختلاط بين الرجال والنساء .

وجعل لكل فرد من أفراد الأسرة دورا مهما فالآباء والأمهات الرعاية والتربية الإسلامية علي اساس المودة والرحمة والحب  والأبناء السمع والطاعة وحفظ حقوق الآباء والأمهات على أساس المحبة والتعظيم

والله اعلم

Praise be to Allaah.

Before we find out about the role of Islam in organizing and protecting the family, we should first find out what the situation of the family was before Islam, and what it is in the World in modern times.

Before Islam, the family was based on mistreatment and oppression. All affairs were controlled only by men or in other words, the males, and women and girls were oppressed and humiliated. An example of that is that if a man died and left behind a wife, his son by another wife had the right to marry her and control her life, or to prevent her from getting married. Men were the only ones who could inherit; women and children had no share. They viewed women, whether they were mothers, daughters or sisters, as a source of shame, because they could be taken as prisoners, thus bringing shame upon the family. Hence a man would bury his infant daughter alive, as is referred to in the Qur’aan, where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief!

He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision”

[al-Nahl 16:58]

The family in the broader sense, i.e., the tribe, was based on supporting one another in all things, even in wrongdoing.

When Islam came, it did away with all that and established justice, giving each person his or her rights, even nursing infants, and even the miscarried foetus who was to be respected and prayed for (i.e., given a proper funeral).

When Islam came it paid a great deal of attention to the establishment of  strong families and protecting them from things that could harm them, and preserving family ties whilst giving each member of the family an important role in life.

Islam honoured women, whether as mothers, daughters or sisters. It honoured women as mothers. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: A man came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, who among people is most deserving of my good company?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked, “Then who?” He said, “Your mother.” He asked, “Then who?” He said, “Then your father.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5626; Muslim, 2548)

Islam honours women as daughters. It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever has three daughters or three sisters, or two daughters or two sisters, and takes good care of them and fears Allaah with regard to them, will enter Paradise.”

(Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh, 2/190)

And Islam honours women as wives. It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives.”

(Narrated and classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi, 3895).

Islam gave women their rights of inheritance and other rights. It gave women rights like those of men in many spheres. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Women are the twin halves of men.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan, 236, from the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 216).

Islam encourages men to treat their wives well, and gives women the freedom to choose their husbands; it gives women much of the responsibility for raising the children.

Islam gives fathers and mothers a great deal of responsibility for raising their children. It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, “Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The man is the shepherd of his family and he is responsible for his flock. The woman is the shepherd of her husband’s household and is responsible for her flock. The servant is a shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for his flock.” He said, I heard this from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 853; Muslim, 1829)

Islam paid a great deal of attention to implanting the principle of respect for fathers and mothers, taking care of them and obeying them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour”

[al-Isra’ 17:23]

Islam protects the honour, chastity, purity and lineage of the family, so it encourages marriage as marriage is the only valid relationship in Islam.

Islam gives each family member an important role to play. So fathers and mothers take care of the children and give them an Islamic upbringing with kindness, love and respect; children are to listen and obey, and respect the rights of fathers and mothers, on a basis of mutual love and respect.

And Allaah knows best.