The Sanctification of Parental Decisions and the Psychological Distress of Children: An Academic Analysis of a Social Fallacy

والدین کے فیصلوں کی تقدیس اور اولاد کا نفسیاتی اضطراب: ایک سماجی مغالطے کا علمی تجزیہ

Abstract

This study critically examines the socio-religious construct of the "sanctity of parental decisions" and its correlation with psychological anxiety among offspring in contemporary Pakistan. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing thematic analysis of classical fatwa literature and Qur’ānic exegesis (tafsīr) alongside contemporary psychological literature. The study analyzes how traditional interpretations often conflate the Qur’ānic mandate of Iḥsān (benevolence) with absolute parental infallibility. By drawing on primary sources from Uṣūl al-Fiqh and classical juristic discourse and secondary data from behavioral psychology, the research identifies a significant "epistemological gap" in current family discourse. The findings demonstrate that the lack of bilateral communication and the suppression of individual agency are not merely social issues but are rooted in a "social fallacy" that misrepresents divine ethics. The conclusion asserts that resolving the Youth Identity Crisis requires a transition from "blind sanctity" to a Normative Ethical Framework of mutual respect (Muwadda). It specifically recommends that Islamic family counseling models must integrate the concept of "Individual Agency" (Ahl-ul-Ikhtiyār) to mitigate Intergenerational Conflict. This recalibration is essential for fostering a psychologically resilient generation and a balanced family structure in accordance with the higher objectives (Maqāṣid) of Sharīʻah.