Domestic Violence… From Protection to Prevention

The family holds a lofty status in Islamic legislation, with well-known evidence affirming its importance. Today, however, we are reaping the consequences of straying from the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah in our dealings with one another, to the point that cracks have begun to appear in the fortress of the family.

In this brief reflection, I turn to prevention. Many countries, including Kuwait, have enacted laws to protect against domestic violence. Yet what we need are proactive solutions to address this growing problem before it takes root.

At the Individual Level: Awareness Within the Family

Prevention begins at home. Every family must take responsibility—father, mother, or both—through sound upbringing and instilling noble values in the rising generation.

Parents can be aided by nurturing children upon sound creed, particularly through the Divine Names and Attributes. Focusing on just three—The All-Hearing, The All-Seeing, The All-Knowing—is enough to shape behavior. When children grow up knowing their Creator hears them, they will choose words that do not wound. Knowing He sees them, they will restrain their hands from harm. Knowing He knows what lies hidden in their hearts, they will banish thoughts that lead toward evil.

At the Societal Level: The Value of Respect

On the societal level, much can be done to address domestic violence. But let us raise one unifying slogan that embodies the value capable of defeating it: “Half of love is care, and half of marriage is respect.” These are the two wings of a happy marriage, where dialogue becomes the essential medium of interaction.

How beautiful is the family that thrives on respect, cares for one another, and discusses decisions, choices, and challenges through dialogue.

We need a plan that makes respect a central value in daily life—respecting the old and the young, the stranger and the neighbor, the citizen and the resident, the minister and the worker, the rich and the poor. Any society that entrenches respect becomes fertile soil for the seeds of goodness, which blossom into noble morals and bear the fruits of virtuous conduct.

At the Governmental Level: Collective Efforts

Finally, prevention requires governmental effort. Responsibility lies with ministries that serve and shape the rising generations: the Ministry of Education with its curricula, the Ministry of Youth with its programs, and the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs with its mosques.

When dedicated cadres in these ministries focus on appreciating the blessing of family, teaching skills to preserve it, and methods to manage it, tangible progress will be achieved.

For example, the Ministry of Education could direct teachers of Islamic Studies and Social Studies to add short weekly stories or clips that reinforce family values. The Ministry of Youth could organize workshops and training courses on managing family finances, behavior, and emotions, especially targeting students in colleges and institutes preparing to establish families. The Ministry of Awqaf could, through pulpits, study circles, imams, and preachers, highlight these values and show how the Sunnah explained—by word and deed—the best path to a happy family in this life and the next.

We call upon the Supreme Council for Family Affairs to devise a comprehensive plan, distribute roles, and oversee implementation, so that we may eliminate domestic violence and set an example for societies around us. May God grant success and guide us to the straight path.