ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Family Life of Islam Separate Family System: Its Advantages and Disadvantages The Separate Family System does not suffer from the disadvantages mentioned above of Joint Family System, nor does it have its advantages. To remain aloof from one's own relatives is likely to kill the finest of human instincts. This system may breed selfishness and meanness.

Those who look upon mankind as if raised on a high pedestal feel that the whole of mankind is akin to the limbs of one body - humanity; but the Separate Family System turns brothers into strangers, who may meet several times a day but do not care for one another. 5.THE WISE SYSTEM OF ISLAMIC SOCIETY Now, let us look at the wise system of Islam.

Here we find that Islam has laid down a straightforward highway with such skill that a man walk ing on it may enjoy the sweet smell of both these systems, and still not be beset by the thorny problems of either. How? Islam removed the basic cause of lethargy by decreeing that everyone is responsible for the expenses of his own dependants: he has no right to put the burden of his children, for example, on the shoulders of other relatives.

Thus, the evil effects of the Joint Family System were avoided; at the same time, everyone was emphatically enjoined to "keep the bond of relationship intact." This prevented the tendency to selfishness and aloofness from one's own flesh and blood. 6. DEPENDANTS In principle, the dependants (whose responsibility MUST be borne in any case) was limited: al-Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.)* said: The ways to spend (one's) wealth are twentyfour in all . . .

Thus, the five ways in which spending money is obligatory (wajib) are the expenses of the maintenance of his dependants, of his children, his father and mother, his wife and his slave. These are obligatory upon him whether he be hard-up or affluent. But if he is affluent and well-to-do, then he has been emphatically enjoined to spend on other relatives also.

The same hadith (tradition) goes on to say (a.s.) is the abbreviation of -Arabic phrase `alayhi (or ha /himu)'s-saldm (may peace be upon him/her/them). And the five strongly recommended expenses are: Dedication of perpetual gift, doing good to one's relatives, doing good to other believers, recommended charity and emancipation of slaves. This hadith is narrated in Wasa'il ash-Shi `ah.