Sunday, December 23, 2007

Family Rules

The parents have the duty to educate their children but not vice versa; the children have the duty to obey their parents-the parents do not obey the children


"According to the teachings of Baha'u'llah the family, being a human unit, must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues must be taught the family. The integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered, and the rights of the individual members must not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother-none of them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the son has certain obligations to his father, the father, likewise, has certain obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the household have their certain prerogatives. All these rights and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all."
'Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 168


Fathers

"Unto every father hath been enjoined the instruction of his son and daughter in the art of reading and writing and in all that hath been laid down in the Holy Tablet."
Baha'u'llah: Kitab Alaqdas-Translation from Arabic

"God hath prescribed unto every father to educate his children, both boys and girls, in the sciences and in morals, and in crafts and professions..."
Baha'u'llah: The Arts, p 1-2


Mothers

"For mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and truly it is the mother who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the courteous ways and learning and judgment, the understanding and the faith of their little ones."
Abd'l-Baha: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p 126


"Work ye for the guidance of the women in that land, teach the young girls and the children, so that the mothers may educate their little ones from their earliest days, thoroughly train them, rear them to have a goodly character and good morals, guide them to all virtues of humankind, prevent the development of any behavior that would be worthy of blame, and faster them in the embrace of Baha'i education."
'Abdu'l-Baha: Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha, p 124-125


Parents

"He that bringeth up his son or the son of another, it is as though he hath brought up a son of Mine; upon him rest My Glory, My loving-kindness, My Mercy, that have compassed the world."
Baha'u'llah: Kitab Alaqdas p. 37 - Translations from Arabic


"That is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts. Should they neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern Lord."
'Abdu'l-Baha: Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 127


"The parents must exert every effort to rear their offspring to be religious, for should the children not attain this greatest of adornments, they will not obey their parents, which in a certain sense means that they will not obey God. Indeed, such children will show no consideration to anyone, and will do exactly as they please."
Baha'u'llah: Baha'i Education p. 248

"A very important element in the attainment of such equality is Baha'u'llah's provision that boys and girls must follow essentially the same curriculum in schools."
UHJ


Children

"Show honor to your parents and pay homage to them. This will cause blessings to descend upon you from the clouds of the bounty of your lord, the Exalted, the Great."
Baha'u'llah, in Family life

"Every child without exception must from his earliest years make a thorough study of the art of reading and writing, and according to his own tastes and inclinations and the degree of his capacity and powers, devote extreme diligence to the acquisition of learning, beneficial arts and skills, various languages, speech and contemporary technology."

Shoghi Effendi, in Baha'i administration: p. 58