The Prophet of Islam has said...

The Prophet of Islam has said: When the child reaches the age of seven years, arrange a separate bed for him. [1] Imam Sadiq narrates from his ancestors: The women and children of ten years must have separate individual beds. [2] If a mother rubs her body against the body of her own daughter, she is doing a sort of molestation. [3] A man should not kiss his six year old daughter, and a woman should not kiss her seven year old son.

[4] It is a practice in many households that the women move around in partially revealing dresses. Many men too are not far behind in this. They will have loincloth up to their knees and keep moving around in the house with the sons and daughters present. They think that they are all members of the same family, or close relations, from whom the women dont have to hide.

The parents also think that their exposed limbs will not affect their children and that they are still very young to be conscious of any such thing. They think that their daughters breasts not covered with a cloth (chador) and exposed limbs will not affect their son in any way. This they think because the children are brother and sister to one another. This is not the right thinking. The instinct [1] Makaarim al-Akhlaaq, Vol. 1, 256. [2] Wasaail al-Shiah Vol. 14, Page 268. [3] Ibid., Page 170.

[4] Ibid., Page 170. of sex is one of the strongest instincts and when aroused it may not allow the person to think of any relationship. Hazrat Ali says: It is very much possible that at a glimpse the instinct of love and sex might awaken. [1] Such mercurial urges might become the cause of grave consequence to the innocent children. Perhaps in such circumstances the child might commit rape or incest. For any such thing the parents will be squarely responsible for their careless attitude.

Here it will be in place to quote the writing of an intellectual: For the psychic welfare of the children, we should not expose our bodies to them. Sometimes the children might peep through the crevices in the bathroom door while we are bathing. or changing our clothes. We must ensure that the children dont develop such habits. [2] This is true that the parents are Mahram for their children and can live in the same house together.

But the parents should not sacrifice the collective rights of the children for their pleasure and freedom. This way they would be exposing their children to ruination. As a consequence their lives will be condemned to shame and melancholy.