The Islamic Way of Life

destructive instabilities from which modern societies are suffering nowadays. Guidelines for a healthy, happy and meaningful marital life, along with the rights and duties of parents and other members of the family, occupy a considerable space in both the Quran and Hadith. A few references in this regard are given below: 1. “Men should approach women with the sincere intention of entering into wedlock with them, not committing fornication.” (4:24) 2. “And your Lord had commanded you to serve none but Him, and to show goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, show them no sign of impatience and do not rebuke them, but speak to them a generous word. Treat them gently and with compassion, and say: ‘O my Lord! Have mercy on them as they brought me up when I was little.’” (17:23-24) 3. “No parents have ever given to their children any gift better than a good moral education.” (Al-Adab alMufrad) 4. “My Lord has enjoined me to do nine things,” the Prophet once said, and one of them, he stressed was “keeping on good terms even with those relatives who cut off ties of kinship.” (al-Hakim) C. Legitimate Livelihood So many social evils can be directly attributed to either some members of society having an insufficient means of livelihood or others having an excess of wealth. Islam urges that one earns one’s livelihood by all possible but lawful