Welcome to this week's episode of the series "Iranian Family". Family is like a living creature, which can appropriately rebuild itself if it is not exposed to outside nuances and threats, and if foreign factors would not aim to defeat and undo its efficiency.

Furthermore, family maintains a number of inner means and tools for constructively encountering developments and for dealing with difficulties, and is fully capable of supporting, controlling, and guiding the familial members. In this situation, family turns into an inspirational source, filled with effective energy, which in the personal level can bring up cheerful, diligent, understanding, and idealist individuals, while also cementing and reinforcing the public solidarity, promoting the security and safety of the community, and managing the demands of the new generation. Family can also strengthen the political system of the country; and upon reforming the culture of production and establishment of the spirit of diligence, guarantee the economic strength of the nation.

Now, let's pay attention to the lifestyle of Iranian families.

Mina and Naser have married each other, a while ago. They are still reflecting on their memorable wedding ceremony. Naser is 27 years old, while Mina is 22. Iranian people believe that within marriage, husbands should be elder than their spouse, and consider an age gap of at least three to five years as necessary, noting that this age gap secures the survival of families. Naser has purchased a tiny house, however, due to his loan installments, he is yet to establish an independent life. They live in his father's house. Naser and Mina are hopeful toward the future, and try to avoid any possible friction with other family members, thereby shaping a happy and promising life for themselves. As of ancient times, the relationship among spouses in Iranian families has been heart-warming, and strong, granting the survival of these families and establishing and maintaining love and kindness among spouses, for good.

In the Iranian culture, several factors contribute to compatibility of married couples. Couples' lifestyles, in behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual aspects, and management of communication with the family are some of the meaningful and positive parameters in the realm of married life. The behavioral aspect covers appropriate interactions, good manners, responsible behavior, peaceful coexistence, gratitude, honesty, and patience. In the meantime, management of the house, and good manners are the overriding priorities for an individual, who wants to shape his own family, and to contribute to formation of a lively and healthy community. Obviously, mastering ethical skills, and maintaining constructive relationships lead to formation of a dynamic and healthy society.

An emotional relationship is shaped among married couples; motivating the couples to make every effort for safeguarding their family. Naser makes utmost efforts to promote appropriate behavioral patterns in his family through good manners and interactions. Appropriate manners and interactions which has been named as a duty for the husband and a right for his wife, according to Holy Quran, are the factors which cement familial bonds. Naser maintains the family's livelihood, and endeavors to fulfill the physical and spiritual needs of his wife, Mina. Modern life, despite of its important achievements, has made families partly vulnerable; and the cultural, social, and technological changes of the previous decades have left huge impacts on families, undermining their performance and ability to manage new situations. In the meantime, Iranian dynamic and hardworking families have at times kept their resilience in the face of these incidents.

In the view of Holy Quran, home maintains an elevated status and its privacy should be maintained by everyone.

The 27^th ayah of Surat Al-Nur in Holy Quran notes: "O you who have faith! Do not enter houses other than your own until you have announced your arrival and greeted their occupants…"

MR/ME