Family’s Functions Based on Quran
This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Muhammad Haj Abulqasem Dulabi who made the remarks in a local event. Here are excerpts from his speech:
According to the verse 35 of Surah Al-Baqarah “To Adam We said: ‘Dwell with your wife in Paradise and both eat of it as much as you wish and wherever you will. But neither of you should come close to this tree or else you shall both become transgressors.’” The creation of human has been based on the family system from the beginning and God, the Almighty, has created human beings in the framework of a family. We can rise or fall spiritually within the family and with the family.
When human beings are in paradise, God says: “Dwell with your wife in Paradise”, and when they are going to leave paradise and descend to the earth, He says: “Go down [from paradise to the earth], all together” (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 38). Both cases show the importance and the lofty status of family.
One of the most important functions of family in social life is to maintain chastity. Family is the way that human beings can fulfill their natural, physical needs and avoid sexual misconduct and its consequences in society. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “One who marries has already guarded half of his religion, therefore he should fear Allah for the other half.”
The second function of family is to raise children and educate them. Family is a safe place for taking care of children. This care is not limited to physical health but also it is very important to take care of their mental and moral health.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Woe unto the children of the end of the world because of their believing fathers who do not teach them any of their obligatory acts”.
The third function of family is to take care of the elders. This is one of the benefits of a healthy family. The elders will be less harmed if they are cared for and respected in the family. Islam has advised us to take care of our parents and treat them kindly. “If either or both of them [parents] attain old age with you, do not say: "Fie on you", nor rebuke them, but speak to them with words of respect.” (Surah Al-Isra, verse 23)
The other function of family is social supervision. Usually, crimes and deviations are committed by those who do not have a stable and consistent family.
And the next function of family is economic management. This means that by dividing responsibilities among the family members and their mutual services for each other, they will also benefit financially.
