CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

Section One

THE DAUGHTER

He who has a son has a place; he who has a daughter has esteem. He who has a daughter has her tender charm. A daughter is the key to Paradise. A daughter is the blessing of the family. A daughter is the spring of affection. When people have a daughter, they find the love of a child. A daughter is the emblem of loyalty, the symbol of purity, the herald of goodness and blessing. He who has a daughter has a whole heart. He who has no daughter has a heart with something missing. The daughter is the very heart of the family. Every daughter is a symbol of life and death for the family. Daughters are the secret and the honor of the family. As the daughter is, so is the family. A daughter's chastity and purity are the chastity and purity of the family. A daughter being wise, quick-witted and discerning comes from the health and soundness of the family. A daughter being hardworking, well-mannered and nimble comes from the perfection of the family and the nobility of the lineage. A daughter being happy and content, with sparkling eyes and a radiant face, comes from her parents' wisdom, generosity of heart and resolve. A daughter's fortitude, willpower and loyalty are the truth and the quality of her lineage, of the nature of her dynasty. If the daughter is chaste, the family's face is bright. If the daughter is hardworking, the family's provision is blessed. If the daughter is gentle and graceful, tranquility and happiness reign in the family. If the daughter is protected, the whole family is considered protected. If the daughter is safe from the threats, attacks and lust of strangers' eyes, the family's nature, lineage and honor are safe. If a daughter keeps her secrets, that is her eternal armor; if a daughter has a sweet tongue, that is her eternal shield. If a daughter is content and obedient, that is the guarantee of her happiness. Such virtuous and accomplished daughters are never unhappy. A daughter who aspires to the place of honor in the family is boundlessly happy. If a daughter is shameless; greedy; frivolous; foolish; sloppy, unchaste; impatient; frivolous; two-faced; lazy; insolent; brazen; impudent; disobedient; lacking fortitude; thoughtless; lacking discernment; stupid — then a crack has appeared in that family's foundation; the dynasty is under threat, the lineage is in danger. Such a daughter is her parents' calamity, her brothers' misfortune, and the unhappiness of the husband she will marry. The most ill-starred daughter of all is the one who runs out into the street, flees from home, does not heed advice and is left uncared for. May complete and perfect joy, happiness and pure love be with all daughters!

Akrom MALIK