A Content Analysis of Family Challenges with an Emphasis on Spousal Relations in the Noble Qur’an

Movazebi, Zahra; Ebrahimi, Ebrahim

doi:10.22034/arq.2025.234461

A Content Analysis of Family Challenges with an Emphasis on Spousal Relations in the Noble Qur’an

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

zahra movazebi ¹

Ebrahim Ebrahimi ²

¹ PhD Candidate in Qur’anic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)

² Professor, Department of Qur’anic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/arq.2025.234461

Abstract

The family, as the most fundamental social institution, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the psychological, social, economic, and cultural well-being of society. Any disruption in the structure or function of the family can entail negative and lasting consequences at both individual and social levels. The present study, aiming to analyze the vulnerabilities affecting spousal relations within the family on the basis of the teachings of the Noble Qur’an, was conducted using the content-analysis method. To this end, all verses related to family vulnerabilities were identified and categorized. In the course of the content-analysis process, meaningful units were extracted and organized into principal themes and categories, and an analytical-expository approach was employed to interpret and elucidate the vulnerabilities. The findings indicate that the Qur’an, through a multilayered perspective, does not confine family vulnerabilities merely to the behavioral level, but also addresses deeper dimensions such as beliefs, attitudes, power relations, and gender roles. According to the analysis of the verses, the most significant threats undermining family cohesion include individualism, identity crisis, shifts in attitudes toward gender roles, violation of mutual rights, male domination, sexual promiscuity, weakening of religious beliefs, and psychological and legal spousal abuse. Based on the statistical results derived from a total of 64 relevant verses, the highest proportion of family vulnerabilities pertains to misconduct shared by both spouses (41%), followed by misconduct by men (39%), and misconduct by women (20%). In the face of these vulnerabilities, the Qur’an, by emphasizing foundational principles such as God-centeredness, chastity, righteous conduct, and the precedence of collective welfare over individual benefit, offers preventive and corrective strategies for strengthening and restoring spousal relations. The results of this study indicate that Qur’anic principles—grounded in human nature and characterized by conceptual flexibility—possess the capacity to accommodate contemporary social transformations and challenges. Accordingly, employing the Qur’anic framework can provide an effective model for enhancing family well-being, redefining intra-family mechanisms, and repairing strained relationships in contemporary societies.

Keywords

Family vulnerabilities

Noble Qur&‌‌‌‌‌rsquo

Content analysis

Family health indicators

Spousal relations

Ideal condition

Subjects

Quran and Hadith Sciences

The Holy Qur’an

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