The family has always been and is still regarded as being the primary social institution and the origin of cultures, civilizations and human history. So, Islam, as a school of thought that aims towards human development, pays the utmost attention to the significance of the family. It, therefore, considers this sacred institution to be the center of education. It also opines that the happiness and misery of human society are deeply connected to the well-being and corruption of this institution. Further, Islam considers the purpose of family formation to be crucial in the fulfillment of man’s emotional and spiritual needs, one being the attainment of tranquility.
The Glorious Qur’an speaks about the subject of family in varying ways. Some verses mention the peace that spouses feel when they are together, while other verses speak about the reciprocal rights of spouses, children and so on. Hence, when all of these verses are combined together, they constitute a comprehensive framework for the establishment of an Islamic and Quranic family.
The word “bayt”, which translates literally as “house”, and its derivatives, such as its plural form “buyut”, appear 71 times within the Glorious Qur’an. It appears twelve times referring to “baytullah” (The House of God), i.e., the Kaaba, two times in referring to “Bayt ‘Atiq” and two times in referring to “Bayt Ma‘mur”. In the other instances, it refers to a house, i.e., the environment that is specific for family life.
If several of these Quranic verses where the word “Bayt” appears were to be taken into consideration together, it will be seen that this enclosed covered space, which is the place of human dwelling, communal life and the first environment where growth and development occurs, has a special esteem and significance in the sight of God. Therefore, its functionality and position within human life hold great importance. What follows is a sample of some of these functions. |
