پژوهش نامه اسلامی زنان و خانواده
سال چهارم شماره 9 (تابستان 1390)

Given the fact that Culture is central to all aspects of our lives and it affects us individually and as a community, this article aims to explain the role of Fatima Zahra (s.a.) as a prominent lady of Islam in promoting the components of Islamic culture. Not deviating from the main path of Islam and joining others on the axis of Islam are some of the factors affecting culture. The writer endeavors to discuss and investigate how far these factors influence culture. The present study relying on historical and narrative sources shows that Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.) played multiple roles as a child, mother and wife, yet her attention was not focused only on these roles. She played her role as a child, mother and wife in a purposeful manner and at the same time she made every necessary effort to help materialize lofty goals such as promotion of Islamic culture and values. She took all necessary actions in every situation and in various events to protect and uphold the important components of culture, beliefs and values.

The Karbala movement and revolution is considered to be among the most important events in the history of Islam, an event that can be studied and analyzed from different angles. This movement which has sifted truth from falsehood left a very profound impact on Muslims awakening them on the one hand and foiling the several years’ propagation on the part of the Amawid dynasty on the other. Without doubt, it was the Wise Lady of Banu Hashim, Zainab bin Ali (a.s.) who with her relentless and clear propagations especially her fiery and exposing sermons in Kufa and Syria, managed to influence Muslims’ thoughts and minds waking them from a deep sleep and exposing the real face of the Amawids. The most important aftermaths of the sermons delivered by Lady Zainab (s.a.) are: humiliation of the enemy, protection of the dignity Ahlul-bayt (a.s.), exposing the true nature of Banu Umayyah, explaining the innocence of Imam Hussein (a.s.), the injustice committed against him, unmasking the oppressors, confirming and reaffirming Imamah (leadership) etc. In fact, if Zainab (s.a.) were not there to awaken Muslims and to explain the Ashura epic, the Ashura movement would not last for such a long time.

Today, any dysfunction in the family system and disregard to its essential principles and values will destroy and demolish the main pillars of life. It is for the same reason that the contemporary era has been called the era of "alienation of man from man” which has led to the incurable disease of "alienation of man from his human essence". In Islam’s value system, the family enjoys a special status and it is considered to be a holy institution. In a family environment, women are responsible for internal management of this small community. In this article, first the philosophy of creation of woman and the reason behind her dignity have been studied. Then the necessity of the existence of family, serenity, calm, welfare and psychological security which are some of the basic human needs have been discussed. Finally, the role of woman in restoring and maintaining peace and tranquility in the family and her status as wife and mother have been studied.

The present study seeks to view the position of "family" in the feminist thought to find out at the end what the family, which is the first human social institution, has been through in the logic of feminism. On the whole, based on what is perceived from the feminism literature and feminist actions, the family unit is the first place where women are subjected to violence and injustice. As a result, the strategies, which the different waves of the feminist movement put forth in a bid to give an end to injustice and oppression of women, have directly or indirectly led to weakening of the position of family and disintegration of ordinary bonds in the family resulting eventually in enormous social crises in the bio-social structure of human societies. Thus, the basic objective pursued by this article is to study the aftermaths of feminist thinking on “family value developments” in Western societies. Comparatively, it seeks to study Islam’s evaluation and criticisms of feminist thinking. That is because in Islam’s social thought, the feminist attitude and function about the family system and the issues surrounding it are unacceptable as they lead to destruction of this sacred institution. Islam considers feminists’ understanding of certain concepts like freedom, equality, oppression and inequality as invalid, and it introduces a new logic characteristic of Islamic features about the position, status and role of woman in the family.

Chastity (or modesty) is an essential doctrine of Islam that guarantees protection of the individual and society against material and psychological afflictions. The Quran stresses on abiding by certain codes in the three important aspects of chastity i.e. modest covering, conduct and speech. All throughout her political – social life, Fatima Zahra (s.a.) as a Muslim lady and daughter of the Prophet (pbuh) and Islamic ruler was a chaste woman in all the three aforementioned aspects. In terms of modest covering, she would wear a head scarf and a veil over it. Female companions accompanied her so that she could play a political role. When in home, she would cover herself and observe modesty even in front of a blind man. She even stressed that her soulless body be covered properly and in the Realm of Resurrection also, her Hijab would be distinct from others. In terms of educating children, taking care of her husband and children and her presence at home, she demonstrated a modest behavior without being exposed to strangers. Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was needless of people in terms of expressing her material or worldly needs. The child of the Medina ruler managed a simple house with minimums facilities. The contents of her words, the way she uttered and arranged words to address someone were modest. She never spoke idle, vain and irrelevant words. Her last strategy in the face of her opponents was ‘modest silence’. Lady Fatima (s.a.) had a productive political – social life during the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and after his demise.

Hijab literally means 'covering' screen, curtain, partition and concealment. In Islamic Shariah (Law) the word Hijab refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general. Here in this article, it refers to a woman’s obligation to cover, conceal or hide herself from the view of nonmahram (stranger). Immodesty as opposed to modesty has caused more than a few problems for the family; it has weakened the family basis and led to an increase in divorce rates. The present study considers cultural assaults and change of values to be the causes of immodesty or improper Hijab. It maintains that psychological factors and their negative effects are menacing the family as they may lead to psychological disorder or may deprive women of security and promote corruption. To do away with the negative impacts of immodesty, it is necessary to identify and study its causes. This article studies those causes with reliance on exegetic sources. The general conclusion drawn up at the end is that we have to better and further understand the causes of immodesty and its impacts on society.

A stable economy and a source of income for one’s livelihood are the most basic and essential issues affecting man’s life continuously and constituting his serious concern. The economic system dominating the family should be in a way such that it should be able to improve human life at any age and overcome difficulties and obstacles. In this connection, studying the family economy and management practices, explaining the economic fundamentals of the family and the role of each member of the family in its management are of special importance. Identifying the correct consumption pattern in the family and describing successful strategies in family business management with inspiration from the Quran and the seerah (lifestyle) of the Infallible (a.s) are very essential. Undoubtedly, every member of the family that makes recourse to proper arrangements plays a major role in the family's economic management. The women, keeping in view their status and responsibility, play a much more important role in this regard. Identifying and assessing the costs and managing the avenues in the home atmosphere, necessitate proper consumption and good use of all means which resultantly lead to a balance, removal of problems, reduction of stress and anxieties and prevalence of peace and calm in family atmosphere. Simplicity and staying away from pompousness, showing solidarity and intimacy, reducing wastefulness, creating a spirit of patience and perseverance and attention to the poor are some of the effects of proper economy in the family and Islamic society. These effects are visible in the words and sayings of the Infallibles (a.s.). Hence, this research highlights the way the families can be financially managed so that it would be able to do away, to some extent, with the economic problems existing in the families.