Variables of Upbringing in Islam: Methods and Characteristics

Abstract

 It is no longer hidden that religion plays a significant role in human social life and influences relationships within the same household, neighborhood, and region.

Religious upbringing has become a fundamental topic in the principles of sociology and religious sciences. Numerous studies confirm the importance of upbringing in shaping an individual’s lifestyle and choices. Many philosophers have defined it in various ways, and despite the evolving and diverse approaches, the impact of religion and religiosity on human life remains a point of agreement among researchers throughout the development of educational and social thought. According to Max Weber, "Religion has a social function capable of driving change and social conflict, and it plays a comprehensive role in determining the forms and directions of social action in human activities."

This article, which is a research effort conducted by the author during her dissertation preparation and approved by the supervising professor, presents the concept of upbringing in the Holy Quran and its impact on the behavior of Muslim individuals in general, with a specific focus on southern Lebanese society.

The researcher seeks to uncover the influence of religious upbringing on parenting styles, the extent of adherence to them, and their control over the life of a Muslim individual. This academic article, supported by references from the Quran, Hadith, and scholarly works on upbringing, enumerates the educational methods practiced in Islam. These methods form a comprehensive school of thought that shapes an individual's personality, social interactions, and psychological well-being.

The researcher references the habits of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at times and the methods of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) at others. The aim is to understand these methods within Muslim families and propose solutions to facilitate social relationships between individuals. These solutions may already exist in the Quran and the Sunnah, but individuals may have unintentionally overlooked them due to various reasons, the most significant being the lack of practice and distancing from the essence of Islam and its authentic upbringing methods.

Religious upbringing is a continuous process throughout life, aiming at a gradual and relative religious and social integration. It is also considered a means of acquiring an ideal personality through the practice of actions and behaviors aligned with Islamic standards, principles, ethical values, and inherited Islamic qualities.

Religion is one of the subjects that sociology has studied and analyzed, examining its roots, causes, motivations, as well as the reasons for its decline, resurgence, and advancement, along with its role in various other issues