Thefactisthattheparent'sheartisthefountainheadoftheloveforthe
child;thisaffectionbecomesthelife-bloodoftheparents.TheQur'anhas
alluded tothis instinctiveparental love in severalplaces.On the other
hand, children especially whenthey are no longerin need of parental
care,donotfeelsomuchlovefortheparents.Wearenotspeakingabout
respect.Herethe talkisabout instinctivelove;andexperienceisareli-
able witness to confirm this observation. Allah,subhanahu wa ta`ala,
says:“Yourparentsandyourchildren,youknownotwhichofthemare
nearest to you in benefit.”(4:11)
It is a known fact that signposts are not needed on a road going
straight;butatacrossroadswhereseveralroutesbranchout,onecannot
expecttogetontotherightpathwithoutaguideorasign-post.Itisfor
thisreasonthat Islam doesnot emphasizein somany wordsthose as-
pectsoflifewhichare takencareofbyhumannatureitself.Itiswhere
the hold of natural instinct is loosened that Islam extends its helping
handandleadsmanontotherightpathbytellinghimwhatheisexpec-
tedtodo.ItisforthisreasonthatIslamdidnotemphasizetherightsof
children soforcefully; butfull emphasiswasgivento the rightsof the
parents.