Islamic Family Life Ethics

248 Pages·2012·1.283 MB·English

by  Ayatullah Husayn Mazaheri

Islamic Family Life Ethics

A Series of Talks by

Ayatullah Hus ayn Mazaheri

Transla ted by

Sayyid Tahir Bilgrami

Published by

i
World Islamic Network

Islamic Family Life Ethics

A Series of Talks by

Ayatullah Husayn Mazaheri

Translated by

Sayyid Tahir Bilgrami

Published by

World Islamic Network

Contents
Translator’s Note ................................................................................. i
The First Talk ..................................................................................... 1
1. Compatibility Between Faith and Nature ................................... 1
2. The Nature of Knowing or Understanding Allah ....................... 2
3. Prayer is Instinctive .................................................................... 5
4. Importance of Prayer .................................................................. 8
5. The Prayer of Hadhrat Fatima Zahra (s.a.) ............................... 10
The Second Talk ............................................................................... 13
1. Islam and Human Inclinations.................................................. 13
2. Life Under Islamic Purview ..................................................... 19
Basic Life ................................................................................. 19
Comfortable Life .......................................................................... 21
Luxurious Life .............................................................................. 23
The Third Talk .................................................................................. 25
1 Biological Scientists on Matrimony .......................................... 25
2. Qur’anic View of Matrimony ................................................... 26
3. Matrimony in the Light of Tradition ........................................ 27
4. Importance of Sexual Instinct in Islam .................................... 29
5. Moderation in Dowry ............................................................... 31
The Fourth Talk ................................................................................ 35
1. Obstruction to Matrimony ........................................................ 35
2. Making Lame Excuses ............................................................. 35
3. Unnecessary Show ................................................................... 40
4. Excessive Mahr ........................................................................ 44
5. Lavish Walima or Reception .................................................... 45
A Wrong Practice ......................................................................... 46
The Fifth Talk ................................................................................... 49
1. The Dowry (From the Bride) ................................................... 49
2. Miserliness ............................................................................... 53
3. Summary of Discussion ........................................................... 57
The Sixth Talk .................................................................................. 59
1. The Sanctity of Home .............................................................. 59
2. Household Chores .................................................................... 64
3. The Effect of Ill-Gotten Wealth ............................................... 65
The Seventh Talk .............................................................................. 69
1. Mutual Understanding at Home ........................................... 69
2. Blaming Each Other ............................................................. 69
3. Spirit of Understanding at Home ............................................. 72
The Eighth Talk ................................................................................ 79
1. Cultivating the Habit of Sin ..................................................... 79
2. Abandoning the Veil is a Moral Exhibitionism........................ 80
3. The Second Trait ...................................................................... 82
4. To Make Excuses for Sin ......................................................... 83
5. Backbiting and Slander ............................................................ 84
The Ninth Talk ................................................................................. 89
1. Formation of a Household ........................................................ 89
2. Modesty and Bashfulness ......................................................... 94
3. Giving Virtuous Progeny to the Society .................................. 95
The Tenth Talk ................................................................................. 99
1. The Benefits of Matrimony ...................................................... 99
2. Peace of Mind .......................................................................... 99
3. Man and Wife - Ornaments for Each Other ........................... 100
4. Man and Wife - Source of Comfort for Each Other ............... 102
The Eleventh Talk .......................................................................... 107
1. Training Oneself ................................................................. 107
2. Need of Patience .................................................................... 108
3. Home, a School ...................................................................... 113
4. More than the Late-Night Prayer ........................................... 114
The Twelveth Talk ......................................................................... 117
1 Love and Blessings at Home .................................................. 117
2 Actions that Reduce the Love - Anger .................................... 118
3. Abusive Language and Beating.............................................. 119
4. Insulting Talk ......................................................................... 121
The Thirteenth Talk ........................................................................ 127
1. The Birth of Imam Hasan (a.s.) .............................................. 127
2. Conceit ................................................................................... 128
3. Types of Conceit .................................................................... 129
4. Stubborness ............................................................................ 131
5. Unrealistic Expectations ......................................................... 132
6. Not Accepting Criticism ........................................................ 134
The Fourteenth Talk ....................................................................... 135
1. The Causes of Continued Love and Affection ....................... 135
2. Trivial but Important .............................................................. 135
3. Taking Care of Cleanliness and Hygiene ............................... 135
4. Expressing Friendship ............................................................ 137
5. Giving Gifts ............................................................................ 138
6. Asmayee and the Patient Woman ........................................... 139
The Fifteenth Talk .......................................................................... 143
1. Polygamy and the Reasons Therefor ...................................... 143
2. Need of Having More than One Wife .................................... 143
3. Marriage for Carnal Satisfaction ............................................ 143
4 Marriage of Compulsion ......................................................... 146
The Sixteenth Talk ......................................................................... 151
1. On Divorce ............................................................................. 151
2. Types of Divorce .................................................................... 151
Divorce of Necessity .............................................................. 151
Divorce for Carnal Satisfaction ............................................. 153
Exchanging Glances and Meeting Each Other ...................... 154
Divorce of Compulsion .......................................................... 156
The Seventeenth Talk ..................................................................... 161
1. Need of a Family .................................................................... 161
2. Condemning Stinginess in Material Needs ............................ 161
3. Need of Satisfying the Sexual Instinct ................................... 163
4. Need of Sympathy .................................................................. 164
The Eighteenth Talk ....................................................................... 169
1. Spiritual and Intellectual Needs ............................................. 169
The Nineteenth Talk ....................................................................... 179
1. Interference of The Parents .................................................... 179
The Twentieth Talk ........................................................................ 187
1. Obeying the Husband ............................................................. 187
2. Home and The Rule of Law ................................................... 192
The Twenty-first Talk ..................................................................... 197
1. Compatibility at Home ........................................................... 197
2. Love ....................................................................................... 197
3. Favouritism ............................................................................ 201
The Twenty Second Talk ................................................................ 205
1. Forgiveness and Forbearance ................................................. 205
The Twenty- third Talk .................................................................. 213
1. Suspicion ................................................................................ 213
2. Misunderstandings Crop Up .................................................. 213
3. Effects of Waswasa: Negative Thoughts ............................... 214
4. Grief ....................................................................................... 215
5. Suspicion ................................................................................ 216
6. The Dangers of Suspicion ...................................................... 217
The Twenty-fourth Talk ................................................................. 223
1. Waswasa of Action ................................................................ 223
The King of mankind ................................................................. 230