Challenges to the Muslim Family System and Measures for Its Preservation
By: Sarwat Jamal Asma'i
In most Muslim societies, the family structure remains largely intact. Men and women jointly manage household responsibilities, and parents actively participate in raising their children. In return, children grow up with a sense of duty toward their parents, considering serving them an obligation.
In contrast, the Western family structure has severely deteriorated, where many women are left bearing the dual burden of parenting and employment without familial support.
According to the UK Office for National Statistics, the number of children living with only one parent tripled from 1972 to 2007. By 2006, nearly one-fourth of all children were being raised in single-parent households, 90% of which were led by mothers.
In the United States, this trend is even more alarming. A 2009 report by the U.S. Census Bureau stated that by 2007:
◈ 13.7 million women and men were raising 21.8 million children alone,
◈ 84% of these caregivers were women, and only 16% were men.
The key reason for this family breakdown is the prevalence of casual relationships over marriage. In the UK, by 2007, 44% of children were born out of wedlock, compared to just 12% in the 1970s. The increasing rate of divorce and separation has placed even greater burdens on women.
While the family system in the Muslim world is still relatively stable, Western cultural influence is increasingly evident. This includes shifts in:
In the West, women's active involvement in the workforce has weakened the family unit. In Muslim societies too, economic demands and changing lifestyles are leading more women into employment.
Islam does not prohibit women from working, but emphasizes that their work must remain within the boundaries set by Islamic principles.
◈ Unrestricted interaction between genders,
◈ Constant online communication through social media, and
◈ Immoral media content—all these factors are also undermining family values in Muslim communities.
Simultaneously, harmful local customs like watta satta (bride exchange), karo kari, dowry pressure, and denying women their inheritance further weaken the structure.
To safeguard the family system, a holistic and structured approach is necessary:
◈ Integrate Islamic family values into school curricula.
◈ Girls’ education should also prepare them for domestic and societal responsibilities.
◈ Make marriages simpler and eliminate harmful traditions.
◈ Promote modest lifestyles to reduce the materialistic pressure on families.
◈ Discourage media that glorifies consumerism and shallow lifestyles.
◈ Support content that highlights family values and Islamic ethics.
◈ Establish women-only educational institutions and hospitals.
◈ Expand initiatives like women’s banks and Mina bazaars.
◈ Encourage home-based industries to allow women to work from home.
◈ Ensure separate workplace arrangements for women.
◈ Allocate specific professional sectors exclusively for women to help them perform in a secure and dignified environment.
To address the challenges facing the Muslim family system, comprehensive strategic planning is essential. Unlike the West, where family breakdown is widespread, Muslim societies must seek solutions in light of Islamic values, while accommodating modern-day necessities.
Only by doing so can we preserve family stability and enable Muslim women to contribute effectively within a moral and structured social framework.
By: Sarwat Jamal Asma'i
❖ The Family System in Muslim Societies
In most Muslim societies, the family structure remains largely intact. Men and women jointly manage household responsibilities, and parents actively participate in raising their children. In return, children grow up with a sense of duty toward their parents, considering serving them an obligation.
In contrast, the Western family structure has severely deteriorated, where many women are left bearing the dual burden of parenting and employment without familial support.
❖ The Decline of the Family System in the West
According to the UK Office for National Statistics, the number of children living with only one parent tripled from 1972 to 2007. By 2006, nearly one-fourth of all children were being raised in single-parent households, 90% of which were led by mothers.
In the United States, this trend is even more alarming. A 2009 report by the U.S. Census Bureau stated that by 2007:
◈ 13.7 million women and men were raising 21.8 million children alone,
◈ 84% of these caregivers were women, and only 16% were men.
The key reason for this family breakdown is the prevalence of casual relationships over marriage. In the UK, by 2007, 44% of children were born out of wedlock, compared to just 12% in the 1970s. The increasing rate of divorce and separation has placed even greater burdens on women.
❖ Challenges to the Muslim Family System
While the family system in the Muslim world is still relatively stable, Western cultural influence is increasingly evident. This includes shifts in:
❖ Women's Role in Economic Activity
In the West, women's active involvement in the workforce has weakened the family unit. In Muslim societies too, economic demands and changing lifestyles are leading more women into employment.
Islam does not prohibit women from working, but emphasizes that their work must remain within the boundaries set by Islamic principles.
❖ Mixed Environments and Media Influence
◈ Unrestricted interaction between genders,
◈ Constant online communication through social media, and
◈ Immoral media content—all these factors are also undermining family values in Muslim communities.
Simultaneously, harmful local customs like watta satta (bride exchange), karo kari, dowry pressure, and denying women their inheritance further weaken the structure.
❖ Steps Toward Preserving the Family System
To safeguard the family system, a holistic and structured approach is necessary:
✔ Education and Tarbiyah
◈ Integrate Islamic family values into school curricula.
◈ Girls’ education should also prepare them for domestic and societal responsibilities.
✔ Promote Simplicity & End Extravagance
◈ Make marriages simpler and eliminate harmful traditions.
◈ Promote modest lifestyles to reduce the materialistic pressure on families.
✔ Media & Advertising Reforms
◈ Discourage media that glorifies consumerism and shallow lifestyles.
◈ Support content that highlights family values and Islamic ethics.
✔ Respectable Employment Opportunities for Women
◈ Establish women-only educational institutions and hospitals.
◈ Expand initiatives like women’s banks and Mina bazaars.
◈ Encourage home-based industries to allow women to work from home.
✔ Safe and Separate Work Environments
◈ Ensure separate workplace arrangements for women.
◈ Allocate specific professional sectors exclusively for women to help them perform in a secure and dignified environment.
❖ Conclusion
To address the challenges facing the Muslim family system, comprehensive strategic planning is essential. Unlike the West, where family breakdown is widespread, Muslim societies must seek solutions in light of Islamic values, while accommodating modern-day necessities.
Only by doing so can we preserve family stability and enable Muslim women to contribute effectively within a moral and structured social framework.
