What is the ruling on boys who are nearing puberty wearing shorts? What should I do if my daughter refuses to wear the hijab and abaya? What should I do with my extremist husband who wants to shield our children from the forbidden while he himself commits it? How can I learn Islam amidst these problems, and is it permissible for me not to trust my husband's knowledge and not to follow his sayings?

The Muslim family in this era faces great challenges from tribulations, which necessitates the presence of a wise leader for it. The father is the captain of this ship, and the mother should be a helper to him, even if she disagrees with him on some matters, so that this does not negatively affect the upbringing of the children. For what the father wants does not go beyond being a legitimate matter or for the benefit of the children.

Allah Almighty has commanded the parents to protect themselves and their families from the Fire, and they are responsible for raising their children in a moderate way that combines education and guidance towards noble morals and forbidding every reprehensible characteristic, without excessive severity or negligence.

Parents must teach their children prayer at the age of seven, and separate them in their beds at the age of ten, in order to raise them on modesty, chastity, and good manners. They are not allowed to enable them to wear short or tight clothes, because that removes modesty and leads to imitating men for girls, and parents are responsible for guiding and raising their children.

If a girl is raised with modesty and concealment, she will desire the hijab (definition) before reaching puberty. If the parents fall short in her upbringing, they must continue to advise her, and slight severity may be used if advice does not work, so that she does not dare to do other things. The girl must wear the hijab upon reaching puberty, and her guardian must oblige her to do so.

The wife must be a good helper to her husband in obedience to Allah and in raising their children, and she should not make the husband's shortcomings an excuse for the children's shortcomings.