Fatherhood between Scripture and Society: Examining Religious and External Influences

Fathers today face increasing pressures from work, society, and changing family expectations. In such circumstances, the need for guidance, emotional support, and a redefined sense of responsibility is felt more than ever. This study conducts a comparative textual analysis of fatherhood in the Qur’an, Hadith, and the Bible, integrating Pleck’s Involved Fatherhood framework with Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Systems Theory. Through comparative content analysis of sacred texts, it examines themes such as spouse selection, the wife’s role in supporting fatherhood, and external influences on paternal responsibilities. The Qur’an articulates the primary religious and moral duties of fathers, while the Hadith expands these through prescriptive and illustrative guidance. Biblical perspectives are analysed in relation to Qur’anic and Hadith teachings to reveal areas of overlap in paternal ideals as well as distinct theological and practical emphases. Findings show that while all three emphasise provision, moral instruction, and emotional engagement, the Qur’an–Hadith relationship uniquely integrates universal theological principles with context‑specific behavioural models.