Love Begets Love; Family Bonding

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Love Begets Love; Family Bonding

We humans come into this world alone, but are born from the womb of a mother and we must have a father as well. In this way, a child who comes into the world alone is part of a family; a tribe; a nation and a country. The infancy and childhood period of a child plays an important role in his personality for future worldly and spiritual success. The child spends most of his time with his family; thus, the customs and traditions of the family are molded into his personality. We can say that the mental, practical and psychological structure of a person represents the culture and ideologies followed in his family.

My grandfather had three sons and my father was the middle son; and he was orphaned in middle school, but his father's imprint on his temperament and psychology was very visible; which used show during his expressions at times in his own words. Grandma was a kind mother who wanted to see her son succeed; so she allowed him to migrate; and even persuaded to carry more than ten years younger brother with my father; so that they both could move forward together. My uncle [Younger Abbi] has given my life rainbow colors and has played a major role in my and other siblings' book friendship; so he demonstrated the best practical example of his brother's companionship. Uncle is now residing in the UK (May Allah Almighty grant him a blessed merciful old age. Amen).

Baba Jan migrated at the age of eighteen and spent more than fifty years of married life raising a family. My maternal relations have also been limited due to migration. My mother is the eldest of the ten siblings and am too the eldest of the ten siblings. Alhamdulillah. And by the grace and mercy of Allah Almighty, everyone settled down in married life sooner or later; so today we are a family with a suitable strength. Ma Sha Allah. Individual Migrants normally can't carry the traditions and customs of their ancestors, and their descendants give birth to new traditions. But their foundations are based on the same principles that are established on the ideology of their ancestors. We have been Muslims since the beginning of Islam, thanks ALLAH; and my father and my maternal grandfather [who survived till my youth age] had very clear principles about their Islamic identity. They both loved the yoke of slavery of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

For the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), the family is not just a part or element, but a solid foundation of whole. A strong family forms a tribe and from it nations emerge. Iqbal has said that "Faith be firm, continues action, love is the conqueror of the world"; and this is the expression of the basic principle for building and maintaining any family. For a Muslim family, the firm belief shall be in the unity and truthfulness of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala; and the prophethood and intercession of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); and the source of guidance is the Quran. And the cause for action is the supreme sovereignty of Allah alone; and the whole life be spent in the way of serving Allah and seeking and striving for lawful sustenance. Any family and nation should firmly know that love conquers the world and the heart finds a way through the love i.e. love begets love. No relationship can flourish without sustenance from love. The state that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) established in Madinah al-Rasul was composed of the companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) whose hearts, minds, outward and inward expressions were the manifestation of "firm faith, clear action, and love that conquers the world." The beginning of the deterioration in that state was the dissolution of mutual respect and love.

"Love begets love" is a saying that emphasizes the reciprocal nature of love and affection. It suggests that when you express love to others, they are more likely to reciprocate those feelings, creating a positive cycle of love. It is said that affection, devotion, and love inspire similar actions in others, leading to mutually beneficial relationships. In a successful and prosperous family, mutual love flows like an ocean. Mutual affection, self-sacrifice, and a sense of sacrifice are found in their ranks to the fullest.

Families are bound together by a bond that consists of their shared experiences, free and unselfish lines of communication, and a sense of mutual cooperation, through which meaningful connections and relationships are created between family members. In a successful and prosperous family, mutual love flows like an ocean. Mutual affection, self-sacrifice, and a sense of sacrifice are found in their ranks to the fullest.

Families are bound together by a bond that consists of their shared experiences, free and unselfish lines of communication, and a sense of mutual cooperation, through which meaningful connections and relationships are created between family members. It builds trust in individuals and families; strengthens their emotional bonds; and fosters a sense of interconnectedness within the family unit. Strong family bonds are important for a child’s development, emotional well-being, and overall success. It creates a safe and supportive environment, fostering a sense of belonging, security, and trust. Strong family bonds enable children to have better mental health, higher self-esteem, and better academic performance.

Strong and happy families; provide emotional warmth, security, and a sense of belonging; which are important for the development and well-being of individuals and children. This shapes family values, beliefs, and behaviors. Family ideals and principles provide guidance and encouragement as we face life’s challenges. Unity is essential for us to reach our goals, whether the families are big or small. By coming together and pooling our resources, we can tackle big tasks and overcome any obstacle. When we come together as a unit, we can achieve more than any of us could on our own. Strong and happy families prioritize each other, appreciate each other and focus on individual and collective well-being. Ultimately, we form a supportive and resilient unit that can thrive emotionally and financially. Remember that the family is a unit that needs young blood to thrive and survive; who, through their own efforts and efforts, advance themselves and the family; the nation and the country toward new horizons.

Family gatherings serve as a foundation for the emotional and social well-being of family members; they create a foundation of support, love, and shared experiences that contribute to a strong and resilient family unit. When family members engage in activities and share experiences together, it strengthens their collective identity and also enhances individuality. This helps to shape family and individual values, beliefs, and cultural heritage, which fosters a deep sense of purpose and belonging. A healthy family relationship has a positive impact on the health and well-being of individuals. A dignified family relationship can be a source of comfort, guidance, and strength in times of stress. Remember, this only leads to the development of mutual love and tolerance; because love conquers all.

In our homes, Eid is a day of joy, happiness and contentment. We Muslims get this day twice a year; the first is Eid al-Fitr, which comes after the blessed month of Ramadan; regarding which it is mentioned in the Hadith Sharif that when the day of Eid al-Fitr comes; the angels stand on the roads and call out, O congregations of Muslims, come to your Lord, He will grant you a good deed, then He will give you a great reward for it. And the second day is the festival of Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. During these days, Hajj is performed in Mecca and Muslims in the rest of the world celebrate "Bakr-Eid" following the Sunnah of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And by distributing the meat of the sacrifice, it promotes mutual love and tolerance, which is a clear benefit in addition to following the religious command.

Like all Muslims, Eid is a special day in our family and we celebrate it with great devotion and care. We all gather at the home of our dear mother [may Allah ease her old age with His mercy; Amen]. There is a lot of gossip by elders and the children continue their fun; and there is a dinner arranged in which the daughters-in-laws of the house set the table in a magnificent manner. The Almighty has blessed me [Taya Jan.. elder uncle] with five nieces so far; these princesses of mine often enhance my pride and bring me joy and happiness on such occasions. This post features specially made cards by the children themselves.

Let's build our family and establish strong and prosperous households. And give top priority to the education and training of our children. Only then will the country progress. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala keep our children and all of us in His protection and safety and grant us all prosperity and success, including our families and the country. Amen.