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Family - Basis for Society
by Sayyid Qutb
If the family is the basis of the society, and the basis of the
family is the division of labour between husband and wife, and the upbringing of children
is the most important function of the family, then such a society is indeed civilised.
In the Islamic system of life, this kind of a family provides the environment under
which human values and morals develop and grow in the new generation; these values and
morals cannot exist apart from the family unit. If, on the other hand, free sexual
relationship and illegitimate children become the basis of a society, and if the
relationship between man and woman is based on lust, passion and impulse, and the division
of work is not based on family responsibility and natural gifts; if the role of women is
merely to be attractive, sexy and flirtatious, and if women are freed from their basic
responsibility of bringing up children; and if, on her own or under social demand, she
prefers to become a hostess or a stewardess in a hotel or ship or air company, thus using
her ability for material productivity rather than the training of human beings, because
material production is considered to be more important, more valuable and more honourable
than the development of human character, then such a civilisation is 'backward' from the
human point of view, or 'jahili' in Islamic terminology.
The family system and the relationship between the sexes determine
the whole character of a society and whether it is backward or civilised, jahili or
Islamic. Those societies which give ascendance to physical desires and animalistic morals
cannot be considered civilised, no matter how much progress they may make in industry or
science. This is the only measure which does not err in guarding true human progress. In
all modern jahili societies, the meaning of 'morality' is limited to such an extent that
all those aspects which distinguish man from animal are considered beyond its sphere. In
these societies, illegitimate sexual relationships even homosexuality, are not considered
immoral. The meaning of ethics is limited to economic affairs or sometimes to political
affairs which fall into the category of 'government interests'.
Among jahili societies, writers and journalists advise both married
and unmarried people that free sexual relationships are not immoral. However, it is
immoral if a boy uses his partner, or a girl uses her partner, for sex, while feeling no
love in his or her heart. It is bad if a wife continues to guard her chastity while her
love for her husband has vanished; it is admirable if she finds another lover... From the
point of view of 'human' progress, all such societies are not civilised but are backward.
The line of human progress goes upward from animal desires toward higher values. To
control the animal desires, a progressive society lays down the foundation of a family
system in which human desires find satisfaction, as well as providing for the future
generation to be brought up in such a manner that it will continue the human civilisation,
in which human characteristics flower to their full bloom.
Obviously a society which intends to control the animal
characteristics, while providing full opportunities for the development and perfection of
human characteristics, requires strong safeguards for the peace and stability of the
family, so that it may perform its basic task free from the influences of impulsive
passions. On the other hand, if in a society immoral teachings and poisonous suggestions
are rampant, and sexual activity is considered outside the sphere of morality, then in
that society the humanity of man can hardly find a place to develop. Thus, only Islamic
values and morals, Islamic teachings and safeguards, are worthy of mankind, and form this
unchanging and true measure of human progress, Islam is the real civilisation and Islamic
society is truly civilised.
Received from Hedayah@aol.com November 14,
1998
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