The Relationship between Family Support and Social Capital and their Impact on Social Control: A Quranic Perspective

As a social capital, family relationships are important factors in social health and social control. Industrial transformation and individualism have an impact on this relationship so that it is weakened both from the within and from the outside. The rise of social ruptures and generation gaps has also threatened family identity and put it at risk. This study examines the relationship of family support on three levels: spiritual, social and economic. Many verses in the Quran point out to functions of family support having direct relationship with socialization and social control. From the standpoint of the Holy Quran, all family members are responsible for every single civic and social action. The core of emphasis in Quran is on the “relationships” among family members as an essential element of social capital. Social capital has the largest contribution to social control with a minimum cost. Considering changes in functions and family relationships in today’s world and by citing the opinion of many scholars and Quranic verses, this article concludes that family as an important and basic institution of social life will not disappear, and its fundamental role in the generation of social support will continue.