پژوهش نامه اسلامی زنان و خانواده
سال پنجم شماره 12 (بهار 1391)

Spiritual perfection is man’s ultimate and the loftiest goal in this world which is the only place where this goal may be materialized. Unless one struggles to achieve spiritual perfection in this world, there is no other place where man can realize and attain this objective. Life is what we have from the world. The world and our life in it are more important than they are often assumed. Without doubt, satisfaction in life leads to prosperity and success. Success depends on “life skills” or on acquiring the skills necessary for satisfaction in life. It is therefore necessary to acquire the skills required for satisfaction and contentment in life because one who is deprived of such skills will not achieve success. In order to be satisfied in life, we must have realistic expectations. That is, we must know that the world is transient and mortal and it is not worth having feelings of attachment to it. One of the most important challenges facing man’s life is the problem of earning one’s livelihood which, as per the ahadith [traditions], God has guaranteed. We must therefore be hopeful that God will sustain us as He has guaranteed.

Islam considers family to be the most important social establishment and the core cell of society. It is known as the first institution in which the training, education and blossoming of the young generation take place and which eventually leads to progression and development of nations. This unit has been under the cultural assault of the aliens. In order to take control of the national and material resources of Islamic countries, the imperial and colonial powers, therefore, endeavor using media and technology to attack on Muslims’ religious and cultural values and to downplay the role of the family in child development and education so as to disrupt the progress of Islamic countries by spreading corruption and promiscuity. This is a matter of concern as well as a warning to families and those in charge of cultural affairs of the country. In this study efforts have been made to examine, initially, the functions of the family and then evaluate elements or symbols of cultural assaults which deter or affect the functions of the family. Finally, in order to protect the family and help maintain its functions, the article presents religious and cultural strategies consistent with Islamic and social mission.

Lady Zainab, peace be upon her, is among the rare women who benefited most from the light of Imamate and managed to reach the pinnacle of perfection and human excellences and become worthy of guidance in the most sensitive period of time. A study of the degrees of perfection and merits earned and attained by Zainab and looking up to her as a role model are some of the most important factors of proper education and self-reconstruction teaching today’s women the concept of a dynamic and real life. This study introduces the numerous excellences and merits of this great lady such as knowledge, piety, devotion, resistance, steadfastness, modesty, patience, forbearance and bravery.

Mankind’s life has always been twixt with culture and a society which does not possess its own specific culture is dead. In order for a dynamic culture to evolve, it must have the capacity to exchange and interact with other cultures and absorb their positive elements. Therefore, all cultures must be in interaction with one another but it so happens sometimes that a political or economical group attacks the cultural foundations of a nation in order to reach its ends and enslave a whole nation. Thus, it imports and imposes new beliefs on the culture and national beliefs of the nation to replace them. In this case, making the generation resistant, solidifying it against conspiracies and fending off any assaults on the family are made possible by properly educating children. The present article aims not only to illustrate the role of the family which is the most important unit of society and an effective agent in transferring culture but it also examines the cultural assault tool and ways of confronting it. Additionally, it introduces some of the important indicators and features in this confrontation. The study results show that since human beings develop their identity and character within the family and that they can attain spiritual and moral perfection in a healthy family only, therefore, the family is not only conducive to perfection, peace and character-building but it also plays a very crucial role in basic developments. Religion, education and government are also affected by family function. When it comes to confronting cultural assault, the family can also demonstrate its very vital role in society especially Islamic society.

Personifying of inanimate things and of unintelligent parts and elements of nature is an art prerogative of prominent poets and writers. They see human characteristics and features in inanimate things within nature, thus focusing on the life-giving and nurturing aspects of nature by embodying it in the form of a human being. This array of literary themes like other poetic themes is influenced by national and religious beliefs of the poets.Parvin Etesami is one of Iran’s celebrated and most committed poetesses trained in the “school of Islam”, one who by resorting to Islam and the teachings of the Holy Quran created fantastic poetic images thus leaving us a rich legacy of poems. Inspired by the Quranic verses, she presents various personifications in her poems which include abstractive and intellectual concepts in the area of knowledge, reason, spirit, soul, etc. and also natural personifications such as plants and animals and issues in between nature and abstractions.

Self-esteem is one of the fundamental pillars of human personality and the cause of attainment to honor and dignity. All individuals regardless of age, race, sex, religion, cultural background and the kind of work they do in their lives, stand in need of self-esteem. Self-esteem impacts all levels of life and it is the key to freedom and dignity. Those who enjoy high self-esteem never consents to humiliation and bondage of others nor do they compromise their own dignity, honor and freedom at any cost. Self-esteem is one of the most important moral virtues and it is an indicator of psychological and mental wellbeing. As well, self-esteem is considered to be one of the main stimuli in conducting plans and catering one’s needs. In other words, self-respect and self-esteem are not only valuable traits from a psychological and religious perspective but they can also serve as sanctions for good behaviors in the family and society. In this study, endeavor has been made to study the concept of ‘self-esteem’ from psychological and religious perspectives.

The Iranian family has always been going through developments over the history. The developments, however, have sometimes been towards growth and perfection and at other times, it has been moving on towards declination and decadence. Although most often the Iranian family has been having a growing trend, in recent decades we are witnessing anti-values in some of today’s families which are the effects or influence of imported Western culture making those families face with multiple problems. For this reason, the present article aims to look at some values (such as marriage and some other customs and traditions) among the old families which are rooted in the Islamic-Iranian identity of Iranians and by so doing, it hopes to study, though briefly, the trend of the development in the structure of the family and also some good customs and etiquettes so that a more profound step may be taken for reviving them in the Iranian family.