Chapter 40

Motherhood (Caring for Children)

Oneoftheimportantdutiesofwomeniscaringfortheirchildren.Thisis
notaneasytaskbutonewhichisverysensitiveandvital.Itisthemost
sacredandmostvaluableresponsibilitywhichhasbeenbestowedupon
womenbytheorderofcreation.Thereareafewpointswhicharebriefly
mentioned here with regard to this matter:

(1) Fruit of Marriage
Althougha man anda woman get married fora few reasons suchas
sexualmotive.love,etc,havingachildisnotoneofthemainreasonsfor
marriage.
Butitisnotlongbeforethetrue-motiveof naturalcreationbecomes
apparentitselfandtheloveforhavingachildgrowsintheirhearts.The
existenceofachildisthefruitofthemaritaltreeandanaturaldesireof
men andwomen.A marriagewithout achild islikea fruitlesstree. A
childwouldstrengthenthebondsoflovebetweenacouple.Itservesasa
driveto the man'sworking lifeandencouragesthe parents to care for
their family.

Marriageissometimesinitiallyfoundedonthebasisoflust,lovemak-
ingandinstantaneoussexualinterests.Suchafoundationisfalseandnot
lastingand is always prone to destruction. The factorwith which this
foundation becomes strong, is having a child.

Lustandsexualdrivesoonsubside.Theonlymemoryfromdaysand
nightsofsexualdesirewouldbethechildren,whoseexistencewouldbe
heart warming to the parents.

"ImamSajjad(AS)stated:'One'shappinessisinhavingpiouschildren
from whom one can seek help'."