Here is the English abstract of Seyyed Mohammad Sheikh Ahmadi (Assistant Professor at Sanandaj branch of Islamic Azad University)'s presentation at the 13^nd pre-con meeting of the conference “Imam Reza (PBUH) and Interreligious Dialogue" which was held in the Kurdistan branch of the International University of Islamic Denominations (Sanandaj, Iran) on  December 19, 2023.

The Position of the Family in Divine Religions

Human society is formed by smaller units, with the oldest and most natural being the family, which has existed since the beginning of human life. This unit serves as the foundation of the social structure, and the stronger it is, the more robust the overall society will be. Many philosophies and religions consider the family as the fundamental pillar of human societies, capable of being the source of both stagnation and progress within a community. In this context, Islam regards the family as the most important social unit, formed through the bond of marriage, and places significant emphasis on it. Examining the perspectives of other divine religions on the concept of family and marriage reveals that Judaism, similar to Islam, places great emphasis on marriage as a religious duty and considers the performer of it to be blessed by God. Likewise, Christianity, apart from the clergy, encourages its followers to marry and establish families, considering it one of the important commandments of Jesus Christ. Zoroastrians believe that marriage and the establishment of a family are essential for the continuation of the lineage of the followers of light against the forces of darkness, deserving the attention of adherents of this faith. Based on these considerations, this article aims to discuss and examine the concept of marriage and the establishment of a family from a comparative perspective, relying on authentic sources of divine religions.

Translator: Mahdi Qasemi