بسم
الله الرحمن
الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Is Your Home an
Islaamic Home?
by Irshad Mahmood - Director, Siraat-al-Mustaqeem Dawah Centre
And Allah has made for you in your
homes a place
of rest...
[Al_Quraan_016.080]
This may seem like an unusual question and your
automatic
response may be "Why, of course my home is an Islaamic Home!! My family
is
Muslim and that makes our home a Muslim one!!"
Go through this short checklist to determine if
your
response should really be in the affirmative.
Always
Chose a Good Spouse:
There are several Hadeeths that highlight the
importance of
choosing a righteous and pious spouse. The wisdom of this is obvious: a
pious
spouse is more likely to bring happiness and contentment to the other
spouse
and the couple together will be more able to build a righteous family
and home
life. This is the foundation of the home.
Always
Guide your Spouse:
This begins with each spouse fulfilling the duties and responsibilities
of their roles and
treating each other with kindness and compassion. It then goes beyond
this to
include guidance in other spiritual matters such as striving to
strengthen Eemaan;
paying attention to Worship
and correcting
it when needed; encouraging the reading
of Quraan, praying at night, giving charity, and reading books on
Islaam;
helping to choose pious friends; enjoining goodness and forbidding evil.
Emaan
is something that may increase
or decrease so it is necessary
to continually focus
on increasing our own and that of our spouse.
Make
your Home a Place for Remembrance of
Allah:
Remembrance can be in many forms: with the
heart, with the
tongue, through prayer, recitation of Quraan, memorizing adhkaar and
using
them, discussing Islaamic issues, or reading Islaamic material. These
are
things that should occur on a consistent basis so that the angels will
come to
the home and bring Allah's blessings. The Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him), said:
"The
example of a home in which Allah is remembered and the example of a
home in
which Allah is not remembered, is like comparing the living and the
dead."
(Muslim).
Make
your Home a Place of Worship:
This means that Salaah is established within
the home at its
required time and that members of the family pray in congregation when
several
are present. The family may also designate a specific area for prayer
and
maintain its uniqueness
and
cleanliness. For women, it is better to pray each prayer within the
home. For
men, it is recommended to pray voluntary prayers at home after having
prayed
obligatory prayers in the Masjid. The Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him), said: "The
voluntary prayer in the home is better than the voluntary prayer with
the
people. It is like the obligatory prayer of the man in congregation
being
better than praying
the obligatory by
himself." (Sahih al-Jaami). This is to ensure that homes are made
places
of worship just as the Masjid.
Regularly
recite Quraan to Keep Shaitaan Away:
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe
wasallam, said:
"Recite Surat Al-Baqarah in your houses, for the Satan does not enter a
house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is recited." (Sahih al-Jaami). He also
said: "When you go to your bed, recite Ayatul Kursi: 'Allah! There is
no
god but Him, the Ever-Living, the One Who Sustains and Protects all
that
exists', to the end, for then there will remain over you a guardian
from Allah,
and Shaitaan will not come near you until morning." (Bukhari).
Make
Teaching and Learning are Ongoing
Activities in your Home:
This is primarily
responsibility of the head of the
household who must ensure that he is guiding
his family to the correct path, enjoining them
to do good, and
forbidding them from evil. Attaining knowledge is incumbent upon all
members of
the family and is the basis upon which Emaan will flourish, a study
circle
should be established in the home that covers the various areas in
Islaam and
from which all family members will benefit Children should especially
be
encouraged to participate since this will establish a pattern for them
that
will be carried throughout their lifetimes.
Have
an Islaamic Library at your Home:
This may include such things as books,
cassette tapes, and CDs. It is important
to choose accurate
and reliable material
that will benefit the members of the family. There should be a variety
of
materials to cover all age levels and language needs of those in the
home.
Arabic material is definitely a must since everyone in the family
should either
know or be learning to read the language of the Quraan. Books should
cover a
variety of topics, be properly organized, and be easily accessible.
Audiotapes
and CDs may include Quraan recitation, lectures, khutbahs, and tapes
for
children containing supplications, reminders of Islaamic manners, and
nasheeds
(religious songs with no musical instruments). Family members should
encourage
one another to use these materials on a regular basis, and should be
shared
with other Muslim families who may be in need of them.
Try
to Have Morals and Manners Like Rasool
Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him):
The Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him), said; "When Allah wills
some
good towards the people of a household. He introduces kindness among
them." (Ahmad, Sahih al-Jaami). He also said: "Allah loves kindness
and rewards it in such a way the He does not reward for harshness or
for
anything else." (Muslim). There are many examples of the Rasool Allah
(Peace-Be-Upon-Him)'s kindness and good treatment toward his family that we should
try to
emulate. He was affectionate and playful with his wives and children
and would
help with household chores to case the burden for his wives. Following
his
example will bring tranquility to the home and help to truly make it an
abode
of rest.
Must
Know the Islaamic Rulings That Pertain to
Houses:
Such as guarding the secrets of the home,
seeking permission
to enter, not looking into other people's homes, not allowing children
to enter
the parent's bedroom during certain times of the day, and not staying
alone
overnight. This last one is interesting to consider since some husbands
travel
for their business or work. The Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him), actually
discouraged this.
Ibn Umar reported that the Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him) forbade being alone and
said that
a man should not stay overnight alone or travel alone (Ahmad). Not only
will he
be alone, but also his wife and children are likely to be left alone in
the
home without any protection or companionship.
Invite
Righteous and Knowledgeable People to
your Home:
"My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him
who
enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women."
[71:28]. Righteous people who enter your home will bring many benefits
due to
their presence and conversations with them. They are more likely to
discuss
useful topics and may be excellent sources of information and
knowledge. We
should always make du'aa that Allah will bless us with righteous
friends since
they can have such positive effects on us. The Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him),
said:
"Keep company with a believer only, and let your food be eaten only by
the
righteous." (Abu Dawud, Tirmithi).
No
Evils Within your Home:
Television (except possibly for educational
programs) and unlawful
music are not allowed in the house; pictures on the wall do not contain
animate
beings; there are no statues or anything that resembles statues; dogs
are not
present in the house; smoking is not allowed; decorations are kept
simple to
avoid excessiveness; the telephone is used for beneficial purposes and
not
harmful ones (such as gossiping or backbiting); when people come to
visit, the
men and women sit separately. The effects of these evils on the
sanctity of the
home should be obvious. For example, the Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him), said:
"Angels
do not enter a house which has either a dog or a picture in it."
(Bukhari).
The
Physical Aspects of the Home are Conducive
to Fulfilling Religious
Obligations:
It is best for the home to be close to a Masjid
so that it
will be easier for men to attend the prayers in congregation and for
all family
members to visit the Masjid for lectures, study groups, and social
gatherings.
It is also advisable to find an area where other Muslims live to obtain
the
benefits of community. One should definitely be careful about close
neighbors
and avoid those who are obviously immoral. When choosing a house,
consideration
should be made regarding the availability of separate sitting areas for
men and
women. The house should be spacious and fulfill safety and health
requirements.
Read Al-Quraan, the Miracle of Miracles and free from contradictions and errors
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