Family Strengthening and Globalization Process from the Islamic Perspective; Challenges and Solutions

Globalization is an economic, political, and cultural process which affects various aspects of life. The present research based on the meta-analytical method aims to examine the effect of globalization on the family in the structural, cultural and educational dimensions in an attempt to identify the most significant globalization challenges in family strengthening. Therefore, in the first phase, the fifteen literary works in the form of research papers and theses done from 2009 to 2019 on the topic shall be selected and analyzed based on meta-analytical methodology. In the second phase, the solutions to these challenges from the Islamic teachings were explained based on the descriptive-analytical method.
The outcome of the findings showed that globalization poses challenges not only to family functions but also to its essence and totality which include the declining trend in the quality of the relationship, individualism, consumerism, weakening of indigenous culture, weakening the family cohesion and unity, relativism in human and family values, development of virtual attitude and values, sexual freedom, promiscuity, decreasing women status, disruption of socialization and process of children upbringing. The strategies to reduce the negative effects of globalization on strengthening the family include: improving religious belief in the family, raising family awareness, emphasizing the continuity and maintenance of the natural family, strengthening relatives' relationships, observing the behavioral and emotional boundaries within and outside the family, managing the use of media in the family, improving the indigenous and religious values, improving the parenting skills in the family, strengthening chastity and self-control in society and raising the individual and national self-esteem.