WOMEN IN ISLAM

SHAPING THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY be avoided at all costs as it develops unrealistic thinking in children. THE UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN A certain person had special arrangements made for the training of his children. A Maulvi would come daily to give them religious education, while he would urge them to say their prayers regularly. Every day, he would spend some time with them to help them memorize the basic Islamic creed, kalima, and the verses of benediction from the Quran. He would attempt to impart such moral values as respecting their elders, behaving with propriety towards others, etc. Nevertheless, when his children grew up, they were no different from the average worldly and clever person whenever his interests were at stake. Their early training had little effect because it had been little better than lip service. It had all been so many empty words—empty because the role model presented by the father was that of a man of the world. When it came to mere words, he could be described as religious. But when it came to actions, all the aura of religiosity fell away from him. Creating a genuinely religious atmosphere within his home was impossible for such a man. For example, there was a neighbour for whom he felt nothing but the deadliest antagonism. Having once imagined himself insulted by this man; his ego fanned the flames of