Europe's Acceptance Of The Islamic Family Institution
07-06-2008
Based on a new research, it is predicted that a majority of
the babies to be born in Britain by 2012 would be those that are out of wedlock,
if the current trend of moral disintegration continues to get out of hand.
Britain has become the fourth country in Europe after Sweden, Denmark and France
to have the biggest rate of babies born out of wedlock. The London city however
is reported to have recorded a small number, which is only one third of the
total due to the large number of Muslim's presence who are still upholding the
pure religious values which forbid the practice of living together for unmarried
couples. This report has become an automatic acceptance of the Islamic
lifestyles that still maintain the requirement of the shariah (Islamic law).
Islamic families in the West have become the living example of strong family
institution and they are more respected in this regard. The concept of marriage
and family as taught by Islam has become the role model for the people who still
want to preserve the moral lifestyles. They feel more peaceful having Muslim
neighbors who they can take on as examples. The west nowadays is facing the
problem of moral corruption that are getting more serious due to the free
lifestyles practiced by both men and women. Having sex out of marriage is no
longer considered as embarrassing and it is no longer a taboo if done with the
consent of both parties.
It is different from the Muslim youths who place great emphasis on moral
lifestyles despite being looked at as old fashioned by some quarters. The female
Muslim youth also wear dress that covers their bodies and this keeps them away
from being the victims of sexual crimes. Muslim youth do not go to any place of
entertainment where the boys and the girls mix freely. This in turn avoids them
to fall into the influence of alcohol, drugs and free sex that can easily be
found in such places. If there wasn’t any sentiment of phobia towards Islam by
some Western people, there would surely be more respect given and the teachings
of Islam would easily be accepted. Nevertheless this condition is somehow being
improved and the positive evidence can be seen by the increasing conversion of
Europeans to Islam.
According to the report again, nearly one half of the family institution in
Britain involved unmarried couples and up to one third of it involved single
mothers or fathers. So many couples in the west tied the knot only after a child
is born. Even in that case the exact father of the child could not be
ascertained considering the common practice of free sex. The western society
does not emphasize much on the importance of the child’s lineage. What is
important to them is what’s recorded as personal identification is according to
the order of the law.
Reports by the UK Office for National Statistics of Social Trend shows that the
number is increasing to 42.3 percent last year. That number is very much higher
compared to 32 percent in 1994 whereas in early 1970’s it was less than 10
percent.
One of the main factors is the increase in the number of couples living together
without any legitimate bond. Other than that, the issue concerning single
mothers or fathers is also on the increase. Activists or groups who are pro
‘proper marriage’ has raised concerns over this matter. They believe it can
disrupt the social structure that they consider as very important. It cannot be
denied that all communities in the world hold the importance of family
institution as a foundation to excel in life. As what the report shows, children
who are brought up by both husbands and wives excel more in life compared to
kids who are raised by only a mother or a father. Love obtained from both father
and mother is surely more complete than if only obtained from either one.
The report also reveals that the lifestyles of the western people are getting
more imbalanced each day. The family system as according to Islam, give emphasis
to moral and society codes of conduct for social orders as required by the
shariah law. Marriage is a way fixed by the shariah which aims at regulating and
channelizing the sexual needs of human being in a healthy way as well as to
mutually fulfill the spiritual/psychological needs of men and women. In fact,
with correct intention marriage in Islam can become an act of worship (ibaadah)
that will get continuous rewards from God. These benefits should in fact
encourage Muslims to start forming marriage and family institutions early.
Partners who are ready to enter the phase of marriage should be more responsible
by doing things according to Islam.
In the present time, we have to guard ourselves against the illness spread by
this culture from the West which is affecting Muslim countries. Young people who
desire free lifestyles would easily be influenced by this odd culture by putting
aside the requirement of the shariah. This could be seen by the rising number of
cases of abortions, abandoning newborns and the registration of babies born out
of wedlock. This should not be overlooked even though the total percentage is
still at a low level. Living together without the bond of marriage, that does
not need the consent of the families and no involvement of any legal process has
become the tool of choice for fulfilling their sexual needs. With this concept,
if any partners agree to live together to fulfill their sexual desires, they can
make an instant decision. The same applies if they want to split, no legal
process required. They do not have any right to claim inheritance and other
things that normally occur in a lawful marriage. This culture is said to offer a
form of relationship that is free and it is regarded as a symbol of man’s
absolute right to freedom. Religious regulations are regarded as no longer
appropriate in this era of the millennium. That concept in reality is exactly no
different than the life of a 'community' of animals. The freedom that they adore
so much is actually a symbol of the disintegration of humane values. Mankind are
returning to the ancient and uncivilized world where there are no rules to
regulate our lives.
Consequently , the society in Muslim countries should look at this lifestyle
with contempt. Adherence to religious values needs to be made more intensively
so that it will serve as a fortress in order to stop the bestial society’s way
of life from infecting our Ummah. Don’t let our society be adulterated and
influenced by their culture. Extra efforts should be made to make them aware of
its ugliness. The efforts of inviting them to goodness and guarding against evil
(amal maruf and nahi munkar) has to be made a top priority in our daily lives.
We need a society which are based on strong family institution in order to enjoy
life that is peaceful, serene, mutually respecting, has clean offspring and is
pleasing to Allah. This in turn will produce a Ummah whose people will not
submit to any force or pressure coming from tyrants and imperialistic powers. A
nation of jihad.
Submitted by a Mujahid