Joint family structure in Islam… Impermissible or Unappreciated?

Yes we have heard this phrase but it is misquoted sometimes under the umbrella of joint family system. What is joint family system? let’s understand this term first. A system that is based on multiple hierarchical tiers of immediate relatives along with their spouses and children who lives under one roof of home are considered as joint family system. It has been observed that this kind of system is mainly preferred by elders of home since it lessen their insecurities about their loneliness in old age and they also had gut feeling that their children will leave them as soon as they will grow up. This feeling and attachment is usually found only in Indo-Pak culture whereas, in western world the phenomena is totally opposite. But the point is what Islam says about this indulged system that we have adapted because of our culture without considering and respecting what Deen Islam says about this whole SYSTEM.

Some aspects we’ll discuss here the pros and cons regarding joint family system and how we are misled by the culture in the name of our deen. Since Islam is the religion, which is a complete code of life and has its own teachings and based on that teaching, a Muslim can get a balanced perspective of body and rooh (spirit) by concerning this world and hereafter.

Strong impact of culture

Our culture cares about joint family system and expects son of family to live with their parents in their homes and support them financially and morally. Here addition is required that family expects SON and his wife as BAHU (daughter-in-law) should care the elderly parents of her husband that is completely wrong! Since Islam claims that it is an equal duty of a son and a daughter (not daughter-in-law) to support their parents physically, financially, and morally as at this age, they need them in every way. It’s an another discussion that still, considering moral of our deen, daughter-in-law should respect parents of her husband and also help them according to her ease as there is no forcefully duty on her.

Perfect living scenario

If we observe life of Muhammad SAW and his companions RA then we can understand that how they used to treat their family members. They provided separate living area to their wives. Living under one roof is a terrible concept since it alleviates interference in each matter and also exploits the hijab of women of family. Majority of people are Non-Mahram to each other but living together actually abuses the hijab factor of a woman and man of home. Since hijab has been observed by Muslim woman from Non-Mahram (who is not her husband, father, brother, paternal and maternal uncle, grandfather, sons, sons of her brothers and sisters). But yes the joint family includes her husband’s brother who is claimed to be dangerous for her according to hadith.