Islam Rediscovered
9. The Islamic Way of Life
~ 125 ~
B. Family Life
A sane society, from the Islamic point of view, is but
an extension of a sane family. Even human society
at large is nothing other than a single family
gradually extended throughout history. That is why
Islam has greatly emphasized the significance of
family life being disciplined and well organised so
that it may play its part in maintaining social
stability.
A family begins when a male and a female decide
as members of society to live together under one
roof. However, Islam does not allow such a relation
between a man and a woman, unless it is based on a
legitimate marital contract which is basically meant
to be a guarantee of a life-long partnership of rights
and duties, and not merely a temporary
entertainment. Hence, there is no room in Islam for
what is known, as pre-marital or extra-marital
affairs between the two sexes. And this is one of the
reasons that we do not find in Islamic society,
broken homes, illegitimate children, neglected or
abandoned parents, etc.—phenomena that are
prevalent in secular societies.
