Chapter 66

Assistance in Bringing up Children

Achildisthefruitof amarriage.Bothmanandwomanhaveplayeda
partin hiscreationandmust shareinallthe difficultiesandhappiness
involved.Bringingtipachildisadutyforbothparentsandnotonlythe
mother.Althoughmothersmostoftentakecareoftheirchildrenandat-
tendtotheirfeeclin,cleanliness,etc.the fathersshouldnottaketheiref-
fortsforgranted.Itisnotproperforamantoassumethatlookingafter
childrenisadutyforwomenonlyandthatmenhavenoresponsibilities
inthismatter.Itisnotfairthatafathershouldleavehiswifewiththeir
crying baby and go to rest in a separate room.

Dearbrother,yourchildisyourresponsibilitytoo.Do youthinkitis
fairto leaveyour wife withacryingbaby whileyourestina separate
room?Isthistheproperwayofdoingthingsii'yourhouse?Justasyou
workhard outsidethe house, your wife works hard inside it and she
needs hersleep just asmuch as youdo yours.She toodoes not enjoy
from a screaming baby, but she perseveres.

My brother?,humanity as wellas Islam demands youto help your
wifeinbringingtipyourchild.Youshouldeitherhelpeachothersimul-
taneously ortake itillturns. Ifyour wife experiencesa sleepless night
andfallsasleepafterthemorningprayer.thenyoushouldnotexpecther
toprepareyourbreakfastlikeonotherdays.Infactyoushouldprepare
your own and even leave hers ready and waiting for her when she
wakes Lip.

Yourwifeisnotduty-boundtolookafter yourchildallthetimethat
youareoutofthehouseoronatrip.Inbrief,youshouldassistyourwife
andshare inlookingafterthechild.Inthisway yourfamilylifewould
be strengthened. Finally womenshould also rememberthat their hus-
bandsworkhardtoearntheirlivingandshouldnotexpectthemtooffer