Principles of Marriage and Family Ethics

(Chris Devlin) #1

once'.You arenot preparedtoeven makeher happybyshowing your
appreciation for all her efforts.


Atwenty-nineyearoldhousewifewrotefromTehran:'Iammarriedto
an ungrateful andan unappreciativeman who ignoresmy housework
altogether.Iwash,clean,cook,decoratethehouse, knitjumpersforthe
family, polishhis shoes,iron hisclothes,etc andhehasnut even once
thankedme.WheneverItalktohimabouttheworkinthehouse,hein-
terruptsmeandsaysthatIshouldnotpraiseitbeforehim.Hebelittles
my efforts, whereas his success is mostly due to my hard work'."


Somemenregarditasamanlyacttoignoretheirwives'housework.
Theythinkifthey makecomplimentstotheirwivesfortheirwork,the
womenwouldbespoiled.Theymightevenbelievethatamanandwife
do not need to thank each other.


Thisbelief isnot right, becauseany good-doerfrom apsychological
point of view, needs appreciationand gratitude.Appreciation encour-
agesone todo good,andthisisespeciallytrue forahousewifewhois
doinga tediousjobeverydayoverand overagain.Thus Islamregards
being thankful as a good quality in one's behaviour.


"Imam Sadiq (AS) stated: 'Whoever praises a Muslim, Allah would
writemany praisesforhimuntiltheDayofJudgement'.''"TheProphet
(SA)ofIslamstated:'WhoeverrespectsaMuslim,andspeaksaffablyto
him,andremoves hissorrow, would always be under theblessings of
Allah'. '

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