Family life Flashcards
Islamic life rituals
Like many religions, Islam has specific rites for key life events. Birth rituals and naming ceremonies involve the family. Mothers play a key role in teaching prayers and Quran recitation, both at home and in mosques. Children learn Islamic traditions, including etiquette, modesty, and dining manners. Families often approve marriage partners, treating weddings as contracts between families rather than just romantic unions. Strong ties with extended family persist after marriage. In death, funeral arrangements are a collective effort, with the wider family assisting in preparations.
Modern nuclear family in Islam?
The traditional extended family was once central to Muslim communities, providing support for the elderly, raising children, and preserving traditions. Migration to the UK from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh maintained this structure. Elders played a key role in upholding cultural values. However, the shift to nuclear families has challenged this dynamic. While the immediate family now preserves traditions, modern Muslims also engage with wider society, creating new challenges for family roles in the 21st century. Islam also views all humanity as one family, with the ummah fostering a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among believers.
Family and foundational islamic principles?
Family plays a vital role in shaping a Muslim child’s life. At birth, the Shahadah is recited, usually by a grandfather or elder, marking the child as Muslim. Around seven days later, the Aqiqah ceremony takes place, where the baby’s hair is shaved, weighed, and its equivalent in gold is given to the poor as thanks to God. A lamb is sacrificed, and the meat is shared in celebration. Boys are also circumcised, following the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim.
Muhammad and his care for children?
Muhammad deeply cared for children and never used corporal punishment, making kindness a Sunnah. He introduced Islam gently, allowing children to fast for part of the day and distracting them with toys. He played with his grandsons, prioritizing their joy even over prayer. As an orphan who lost his own sons, he had great compassion for children, encouraging adoption and fostering.
Islam views children as a gift from God, though opinions on family planning vary. Children are expected to learn prayers, the Quran, and Islamic rituals while being taught good manners and helping others. Respect for parents is essential, as neglecting them is considered a major sin.
What happens when a person dies?
When a Muslim dies, the body is washed, shrouded, and buried facing Mecca, with funeral prayers seeking Allah’s mercy. Cremation is avoided as Muslims believe in physical resurrection.
There is no universal commitment ceremony in Islam, though Sufi Muslims practice Bayah, pledging loyalty to their Shaykh.
Views on when to follow the Five Pillars vary—some encourage prayer from age 7, others from puberty, marriage, or personal maturity.
Muslims are expected to resolve conflicts peacefully, especially before communal prayers or Eid. However, pre-Islamic tribal traditions, such as honour crimes, persist in some cultures, though they are not justified by Islam.
Abuse?
The Quran 4:34 is often debated, with interpretations ranging from male dominance to separation or protest. Islam does not condone rape or adultery, but justice can be difficult under Sharia law, leading some reformists to advocate for secular legal systems.
FGM, a harmful cultural practice, has been condemned by scholars like Egypt’s Grand Mufti, who declared it un-Islamic. Despite this, it persists in some communities.
Gender roles?
The Quran emphasizes gender equality in religious duties. Forced marriage is illegal in both British law and Islam, where marriage requires free consent. The groom must provide a mahr as financial security for the bride. Muhammad upheld women’s rights, allowing a girl forced into marriage to seek divorce.
Women can keep their name, property, and businesses. While polygamy exists in some Muslim countries, it is declining, as women increasingly refuse it. Child marriage, once common for social care, is now widely opposed, with the Quran emphasizing maturity for marriage.
Education for Muslim women has grown, with figures like Malala Yousafzai advocating for girls’ schooling. In Indonesia and Malaysia, women now hold careers and academic roles, reflecting shifting gender roles in modern society.
