‘Perfecting the Muslim Family’ Lecture Series by Aboo Tasneem Daawood Adeeb
December 2004, Toronto, Canada
Making our Homes a Qiblah and Taking our Homes as a Place of Worship
For men, the place of worship is the masjid (for the salaah) and for the women this is their homes. Men should use the home as a qiblah (place to perform the optional prayers), etc.
Many Muslims make their optional prayers in the masjid thinking that they will get more reward through this, but rather the people of the past did these optional prayers at any time and in any place. The men need to try to increase their prayers in the house. If the man is able to make the optional prayers (especially those Sunnah prayers that come before the obligatory prayers) then he should do so in his house.
Making our Homes a Place for the Thikr of Allaah (Azzawajall)
We need to learn the different athkaar in the homes, both for us in our homes and also for others in their homes to make both their homes and our homes a place of thikr. The thikr of Allaah (subhanuhu wa ta’ala) is of two types:
1) Thikr done with the tongue.
2) The thikr of when a person is about to disobey Allaah (Azzawajall) and then they remember Him and refrain from that disobedient act, and this type is more excellent.
So we should make our homes places where the thikr of Allaah is increased. The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“The likeness of a house in which Allaah is remembered and the likeness of a house in which Allaah is not remembered therein is the likeness between the living and the dead.”
Daawood Adeeb mentioned one time when he was praying with Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) and after the tasleem he was going to turn to Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen to ask him a question but the Shaykh raised his hand up (not saying anything) and stopped him until he was done making his thikr.
So these athkaar are very important. Some will protect us from Shaytaan and some will protect us from the fitnah, etc. If we want to make a Perfect Muslim family we have to make the home a place where the remembrance of Allaah (Azzawajall) is in abundance.
We should also increase tasfiyah wat-tarbiyah (spiritual training) in our homes. ‘Aa’ishah (radiAllaahu anhaa) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would pray Qiyaam al-Layl and when he prayed witr he would say: “Get up and pray witr O ‘Aa’ishah.”
Sometimes the husbands feel sorry for their wives because they are harder workers than the husbands are. The man’s work is from 9 to 5 but the women’s work is from morning till night and it is never done. So we should have mercy on the women for their work is from morning till night.
The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) informed us that we should not make our homes as graveyards meaning we should try to make as many prayers in the home that are not obligatory prayers. So we should make our homes a place where the prayer is performed in abundance.
The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“May Allaah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays and then wakes up his wife to pray and if she refuses he sprinkles a little water on her face.”
By doing this we increase our worship and the bond of brotherhood that exists between the husband and wife and the bond of love and mercy as well. The children should also be woken like this when they get to a certain age because this will train them in the spiritual training.
Another example is that the Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) encouraged the Muslims to fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of each month (Hijri months). These days are called ‘Ayaamul-beedh’, the three white days.
Also we should train our wife and children to fast Mondays and Thursdays and on ‘Aashoorah (the 9th and 10th of Muharram).
In addition we should continuously recite Soorah al-Baqarah in the house because if we want to have a perfect Muslim family then we must get rid and protect from the Shaytaan. One of the ways to do this is to recite Soorah al-Baqarah.
The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“Read Soorah al-Baqarah in your houses for surely Shaytaan can not enter a house in which Soorah al-Baqarah is recited.”
This Soorah will not keep Shaytaan out of the house if it is recited in any other language other than that of the Qur’aan. This encourages us to learn the Arabic language.
The Prophet (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) informed us that:
“Allaah wrote a book 50,000 years before the creation and it is kept near the Throne, and He revealed two aayaat of it with which He concluded Soorah al-Baqarah. If they are recited for three consecutive nights, Shaytaan will not approach that house.”
(Reported by Ahmad)
Teaching Ourselves and our Families
Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) says:
“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones.”
In this aayaah, Allaah (Azzawajall) is commanding us to teach our families. Qataadah (radiAllaahu anhu) said regarding this aayaah:
“He should command them to obey Allaah and forbid them from disobeying Him and to direct them in accordance to the commands of Allah and help them to do that.”
Dahhaaq and Maqaatil (rahimahumullaah) said:
“It is the Muslim’s duty to teach his family including the relatives and female slaves in what Allaah has enjoined upon them and in what he has forbidden.”
And ‘Alee (radiAllaahu anhu) said:
“This aayaah ‘O you who believe…” means teach them and train them.”
For example, the sunnah is for a family to sit and eat from a large dish together as the Prophet (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“The most beloved food to Allaah is the food that has the most hands in it.”
So the barakah is in eating together but you can still eat in separate places. So if you are eating together you can train your children to do three things in regards to eating:
1) Say Bismillaah before eating.
2) Eat with the right hand.
3) Eat from that which is closest to you.
The Prophet (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught this to a little boy that had not even reached puberty and his hands were taking from all over the plate. The Prophet (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) gently told him:
“Say the name of Allaah, eat with your right hand and eat with that which is closest to you.”
An exception to eating from that which is closest to you is when there is a variety of food. If the food is the same then you eat from that which is closest to you.
So we must train our families in matters of this, another example being that when they eat they don’t lean as the Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“When I eat I am one who does not lean.”
Making the Best Possible Islaamic Library in our Homes
Some of the ‘ulema have stated:
“A house that does not have Riyaadh as-Saaliheen in it is a house that its inhabitants are hungry.”
It is unimaginable that a person would not have Riyaadh as-Saaliheen as this is one of the best books one can have.
So we have to build up the Islaamic library. After the Qur’aan we should have Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim and then Aboo Daawood, Ibn Maajah and an-Nasaa’ee and at-Tirmithee.
Making our Homes a Place Where the Righteous and Good People are Invited
So we invite the righteous and good people and also those who are seekers of knowledge and also the ‘ulema (if we are able). We will gain much benefit from this.
Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
“If you bring the people of faith to your homes it will increase your home in light (bring benefits).”
You should invite them to your homes and they should eat from your food and if they are knowledgeable then they will also make the du’aa for you from eating at your homes (at the very least). And we can never know when Allaah (Azzawajall) will accept the du’aa of one of his slaves.
Learning the Islaamic Rulings with Regards to the Home
The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“The best of prayer is a man’s prayer in his house.”
(Reported by al-Bukhaaree)
So the best prayer for a man is in his home (except for the obligatory prayers).
The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“The man’s voluntary prayers in his house will bring more reward than his voluntary prayers at other people’s places, just as his obligatory prayers with the people are better than his obligatory prayers alone.”
(Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah and others)
So if you make Salaatul Duha or Istikhaarah in your house then there will be a great reward and it will be better.
As for the women, the Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“The best prayers of the woman is that which is offered in the farthest places of her house.”
So even if she is by herself in her house, she will get a great reward if she prays in her living room but she will get more reward if she prays in her bedroom, etc, even is she is by herself.
Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) was explaining this hadeeth and said:
“The prayer of a woman is better in her house even if she lives across the street from this Ka’bah (and he pointed).”
As part of the etiquettes of learning the rulings to perfect the Muslim home, Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) says:
“O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own until you have asked permission and greeted those in them. That is better for you in order that you may remember. And if you don’t find anyone therein still enter not until permission has been given. And if you are asked to go back then go back and return for it is purer for you and Allaah is all-Knower of what you do.”
So you just don’t walk into someone’s home even if they are close to you.
There is an important point in this aayaah so that if we are told to go away we must go away and come back later. This doesn’t mean we are being arrogant but we also have rights and there are times we don’t want to be bothered, so if we don’t want the person to come in we should tell them to come back at another time because this is the time we want to be alone or to spend with our family, etc. We should not let ourselves feel false shame for telling them to go away.
Creating an Opportunity for Discussing Family Matters
So this should be a specific time set aside to discuss the issues that the family is being confronted with and remedy solutions to these issues.
Allaah (Azzawajall) says:
“And who are those who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation.”
So the family should discuss things that are going on in the house and outside the house (ie: what is happening at school, assigning chores, etc). All of this helps to perfect the Muslim family.
It is important to talk to the family about current affairs that are important for them to know (ie: Palestine). So the family should know (on their level) what is going on in the world and the oppression of the Muslims. This will have them in tune with their brothers and sisters in Islaam.
Not Showing Any Family Conflicts Between the Husband & Wife in Front of the Children
There is no house in which there are no arguments. The reconciliation process should be done away from the children (if you are able).
We should not say to our children things like “Don’t speak to your father, I’m not speaking to him today”, etc as this will instil boycotting in the children. Also we should stay away from arguing in front of our families as it will cause psychological and emotional scars and create turmoil in the hearts and minds of the children.
Not Allowing Anyone Into Your Home who is Not Having a Full Commitment to Islaam
So those who are not fully committed to Islaam or whose commitment to Islaam is not pleasing to you should not be allowed into your home. Also, we should keep those who cause fitnah away from our home.
So this means that the husband should know who his wife is talking to and who they sit with and who the other family members are associating with.
The Messenger of Allaah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
“The likeness of a bad companion is the likeness of one who works the bellows. The one who works the bellows will burn your house or your clothes or you will smell a bad odour from them.”
(Note: the bellows are the iron and sooty places where the black smoke comes out)
You don’t want to allow people who are fitnah makers into your home. You don’t want your wife to sit with people who backbite and slander, etc or those who smoke or drink or come with innovative and heretical ideologies.
Making our Family Aware of the Importance of Charity
One technique to do this is to make a sadaqah box and write on it something like “Charity for the Muslims” so that the children and husband and wife will place charity in this box from change they have and they will know that at then end of the week the money in this box will go to other Muslims. This will instill love in the children for other Muslims and form a bond of brotherhood.
transcribed notes courtesy of Umm Sumayyah
fredag den 11. januar 2008
Establishing an islamic home part 2
From the lecture series in Sri Lanka, June 2002
Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahid
The second thing we need to establish an Islaamic household is to do as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam has done so we can achieve what he has achieved. And in this regard you have to bear in mind that RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam is obeyed because Allah subhana wa ta’ala has ordered us to obey him. Disobedience to him is disobedience to Allah. Rejecting him or denying him is major kufr that makes a person leave the fold of Islaam, even if he claims that Allah is the only one to be worshipped. Why? Because he is not worshipping Allah in accordance to the final messenger that Allah has sent. And in the Quran, Allah has mentioned many matters of obedience to RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was sallam and told the results of disobeying him. For example Allah says in the Quran “ And whosoever opposes the Messenger after the clear guidance has come to him ,and they choose a path other than the believers(meaning the companions ) then Allah will leave him in that path that he has chosen and burn him in the hellfire and what an evil destruction. “
When Allah mentions his path , he doesn’t mean walking down the road. He is talking about a methodology. A Manhaj. And the Manhaj is the path Of the Salaf, meaning the path of the sahaba. So therefore to establish the Islamic home correctly you must be salafy. You must be upon the way of the sahaba. Other than their way you will not be establishing an Islaamic home. Even though you may have some aspects of Islam, you will not be truly Islaamic until you are Salafy. Take your understanding from their understanding and look at the religion like they looked at the religion. And you take the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam , like they took him. So it is upon you to be Salafy and not to feel shy about this. Because to say that I am being shy to be Salafy, Is like saying I am shy to be Muslim. Or to say I am afraid or I am not sure of this is to say that I am shy of being a muslim. And you cannot be shy about being a believer , or of being Muwahidun( People of Tawhid) . So why are we shy of saying to people that yes we are muslims, this is all that Allah has given us, but we attribute ourselves to the Sahabah. And they are known as our Salaf.
As the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ The best of Mankind is my generation , then those that come after them , then those that come after them”. So this is the path of the Believers. The way of the first three generations. The Salaf and an Islamic home cannot be established up until we take their path. And we say to the People that we love Malik ibn Anas, and Imaam Ash Shafe’ee, and Ahmed ibn Hanbal, and Sfyan Atharee , Sufyan Ibn Uyaina, Imaam Bukhari, Imaam Muslim and those who came before them and those who came after them But we never take one over them to be blindly followed. Because the only one who has the right to be followed without any conditions is RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam . The rest we take as an example to be followed. Due to their adherence of the Sunnah. Due to their understanding of the Religion. Because the further back you go , the Purer the religion becomes.
We are Salafy. And we are not shy of saying this. Because without having this call to the way of the salaf in your home you will never truly have an Islaamic home. For example many people say “ I will take from the Religion that which is easy for me, as for that which is hard ..I will not take . “ This is something that opposes the way of the Salaf, and this one cannot be Salafy. Allah says in the Quran “ And let those who oppose the Messenger of Allahs sallallahu alayhe was salaam command, let them beware. Just in case some Fitnah befalls them , or a painful torment is afflicted upon them . “
Why would they have some fitnah or a painful torment ? Because they oppose the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhe was salaam . Allah said in the Quran “ And Know that they will not truly believe until they make you O’ Muhammad the judge in all their affairs, and after you have judged that they do not find in their hearts any difficulty and they submit with complete submission.” If you can imagine an Islaamic home based upon this . The wife is upon this. The husband is upon this. The children are raised and nurtured upon this….what better recipe is their for an Islaamic home? You are Muwahidun. You are Salafy. You are ones who judge to the Book and Sunnah. You stick o the way of the Sahaba. What harm can approach you? When a difficulty comes upon you , even if its poverty then you know that Allah subhana wa ta’ala is with you. And he will look after you and provide for you . He is the one who gave you life and death . You trust in him, rely on him, you love him, fear him and you worship him. So what more can we ask for in our lives?
So these are the two matters that will establish the Islaamic home and we end on this hadeeth. The messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam gave a sermon, such a sermon that tears came from our eyes and our hearts began to trmble. So we said “ O ‘ Messenger of Allah, it is as if this is a farewell sermon. So what do you advise us with ? “ So RasoolAllah sallallahua layhe was salaam said “ Indeed I have left you upon clear guidance, its night is like its day and no one strays from it except that he is destroyed. And whomsoever lives for long then he will see a great amount of differences. So what is obligatory is that you stick to my Sunnah and to the way of those after me and hold on to that with your molar teeth. And upon you is obedience even if the ruler is an absynnian slave. For verily the believer is like the submissive camel…wherever he is led he goes.”
So if you establish this in your homes , then know that you will see immediately and feel immediately tranquility, and ease and security in your homes and in your hearts. And this is the way to establish the Islaamic home. This is the way. Not the way of following desires and People of Bidah , those who oppose the way of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam and invent into the religion that which is not of the religion. Theirs is not the way and nor is the way of shirk. Nor is it the way of the people of misguidance, the modern groups, whether it be the soofiyah , or tableegheea, or ikhwaniyyah…it is not their way. Rather the truth comes by the way of the Sahabah. The only way is to follow the way of the Salaf. Obligatory upon you is dawahtus salafiyyah. Nothing else is obligatory upon you . Take their way and example in every single affair of the religion … without exception…in the modern society as well as in the past society. In the future as well as the present. Why? Because the religion that was revealed to them , and that which they were upon is something that does not change from time and it does not change with location. It is something that is pure then and pure today .
And anyone who opposes their path ( The messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam and the Sahabah ) then we oppose them . And this is from Eemaan. It is not from being harsh. It is not from being hard hearted. It is from Eemaan that we oppose those who go against them. As Allah has mentioned in the Quraan “ You will not find a group of people who believe in Allah and they believe in the last day loving those who oppose Allah and oppose his Messenger even if they are your fathers , sons, brothers or from the same tribe as you . Upon their hearts Allah has written eemaan and Allah has strengthened them with a spirit from himself . And Allah will enter them into the gardens of paradise under which the rivers flow…to remain in it forever . Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with him. And they are the party of Allah. It is the party of Allah who are the successful ones.”
And now if we have found this hard upon ourselves we need to question ourselves and not the salafies. Because the salafy, the one who sticks to the way of the Sahabah…he doesn’t question this ayat. He is upon it, he sticks to it in every affair of his life. He does not oppose it. Because the path of truth is one . There is one lord. .Allah. One worthy of worship…Allah . There was a Messenger…Muhammad sallallahua alayhe was salaam …the finality of them. And he left you upon a single path, and that is the path to be followed.
Ibrahim alahie salaam was one person. And he said to his father “ I am free from you and that what you worship and I am free from the people of shirk”. He didn’t say if I leave them I will be alone. He knew that his love for Allah was greater than his love for his father. He tried to teach the people and they wouldn’t accept….he never compromised. But we are not just one…there are many of us upon dawahtus salafiyyah. No need for you to feel alone, or disheartened. So if we call them to our ability , and if we aren’t able then we concentrate on ourselves and our families. And this is the way we establish the Islaamic Home.
this audio can be found at http://www.twtpubs.com/audio/series/srilanka_jun2002.php
transcribed notes courtesy of Umm Aisha
Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahid
The second thing we need to establish an Islaamic household is to do as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam has done so we can achieve what he has achieved. And in this regard you have to bear in mind that RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam is obeyed because Allah subhana wa ta’ala has ordered us to obey him. Disobedience to him is disobedience to Allah. Rejecting him or denying him is major kufr that makes a person leave the fold of Islaam, even if he claims that Allah is the only one to be worshipped. Why? Because he is not worshipping Allah in accordance to the final messenger that Allah has sent. And in the Quran, Allah has mentioned many matters of obedience to RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was sallam and told the results of disobeying him. For example Allah says in the Quran “ And whosoever opposes the Messenger after the clear guidance has come to him ,and they choose a path other than the believers(meaning the companions ) then Allah will leave him in that path that he has chosen and burn him in the hellfire and what an evil destruction. “
When Allah mentions his path , he doesn’t mean walking down the road. He is talking about a methodology. A Manhaj. And the Manhaj is the path Of the Salaf, meaning the path of the sahaba. So therefore to establish the Islamic home correctly you must be salafy. You must be upon the way of the sahaba. Other than their way you will not be establishing an Islaamic home. Even though you may have some aspects of Islam, you will not be truly Islaamic until you are Salafy. Take your understanding from their understanding and look at the religion like they looked at the religion. And you take the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam , like they took him. So it is upon you to be Salafy and not to feel shy about this. Because to say that I am being shy to be Salafy, Is like saying I am shy to be Muslim. Or to say I am afraid or I am not sure of this is to say that I am shy of being a muslim. And you cannot be shy about being a believer , or of being Muwahidun( People of Tawhid) . So why are we shy of saying to people that yes we are muslims, this is all that Allah has given us, but we attribute ourselves to the Sahabah. And they are known as our Salaf.
As the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ The best of Mankind is my generation , then those that come after them , then those that come after them”. So this is the path of the Believers. The way of the first three generations. The Salaf and an Islamic home cannot be established up until we take their path. And we say to the People that we love Malik ibn Anas, and Imaam Ash Shafe’ee, and Ahmed ibn Hanbal, and Sfyan Atharee , Sufyan Ibn Uyaina, Imaam Bukhari, Imaam Muslim and those who came before them and those who came after them But we never take one over them to be blindly followed. Because the only one who has the right to be followed without any conditions is RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam . The rest we take as an example to be followed. Due to their adherence of the Sunnah. Due to their understanding of the Religion. Because the further back you go , the Purer the religion becomes.
We are Salafy. And we are not shy of saying this. Because without having this call to the way of the salaf in your home you will never truly have an Islaamic home. For example many people say “ I will take from the Religion that which is easy for me, as for that which is hard ..I will not take . “ This is something that opposes the way of the Salaf, and this one cannot be Salafy. Allah says in the Quran “ And let those who oppose the Messenger of Allahs sallallahu alayhe was salaam command, let them beware. Just in case some Fitnah befalls them , or a painful torment is afflicted upon them . “
Why would they have some fitnah or a painful torment ? Because they oppose the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhe was salaam . Allah said in the Quran “ And Know that they will not truly believe until they make you O’ Muhammad the judge in all their affairs, and after you have judged that they do not find in their hearts any difficulty and they submit with complete submission.” If you can imagine an Islaamic home based upon this . The wife is upon this. The husband is upon this. The children are raised and nurtured upon this….what better recipe is their for an Islaamic home? You are Muwahidun. You are Salafy. You are ones who judge to the Book and Sunnah. You stick o the way of the Sahaba. What harm can approach you? When a difficulty comes upon you , even if its poverty then you know that Allah subhana wa ta’ala is with you. And he will look after you and provide for you . He is the one who gave you life and death . You trust in him, rely on him, you love him, fear him and you worship him. So what more can we ask for in our lives?
So these are the two matters that will establish the Islaamic home and we end on this hadeeth. The messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam gave a sermon, such a sermon that tears came from our eyes and our hearts began to trmble. So we said “ O ‘ Messenger of Allah, it is as if this is a farewell sermon. So what do you advise us with ? “ So RasoolAllah sallallahua layhe was salaam said “ Indeed I have left you upon clear guidance, its night is like its day and no one strays from it except that he is destroyed. And whomsoever lives for long then he will see a great amount of differences. So what is obligatory is that you stick to my Sunnah and to the way of those after me and hold on to that with your molar teeth. And upon you is obedience even if the ruler is an absynnian slave. For verily the believer is like the submissive camel…wherever he is led he goes.”
So if you establish this in your homes , then know that you will see immediately and feel immediately tranquility, and ease and security in your homes and in your hearts. And this is the way to establish the Islaamic home. This is the way. Not the way of following desires and People of Bidah , those who oppose the way of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam and invent into the religion that which is not of the religion. Theirs is not the way and nor is the way of shirk. Nor is it the way of the people of misguidance, the modern groups, whether it be the soofiyah , or tableegheea, or ikhwaniyyah…it is not their way. Rather the truth comes by the way of the Sahabah. The only way is to follow the way of the Salaf. Obligatory upon you is dawahtus salafiyyah. Nothing else is obligatory upon you . Take their way and example in every single affair of the religion … without exception…in the modern society as well as in the past society. In the future as well as the present. Why? Because the religion that was revealed to them , and that which they were upon is something that does not change from time and it does not change with location. It is something that is pure then and pure today .
And anyone who opposes their path ( The messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhe was salaam and the Sahabah ) then we oppose them . And this is from Eemaan. It is not from being harsh. It is not from being hard hearted. It is from Eemaan that we oppose those who go against them. As Allah has mentioned in the Quraan “ You will not find a group of people who believe in Allah and they believe in the last day loving those who oppose Allah and oppose his Messenger even if they are your fathers , sons, brothers or from the same tribe as you . Upon their hearts Allah has written eemaan and Allah has strengthened them with a spirit from himself . And Allah will enter them into the gardens of paradise under which the rivers flow…to remain in it forever . Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with him. And they are the party of Allah. It is the party of Allah who are the successful ones.”
And now if we have found this hard upon ourselves we need to question ourselves and not the salafies. Because the salafy, the one who sticks to the way of the Sahabah…he doesn’t question this ayat. He is upon it, he sticks to it in every affair of his life. He does not oppose it. Because the path of truth is one . There is one lord. .Allah. One worthy of worship…Allah . There was a Messenger…Muhammad sallallahua alayhe was salaam …the finality of them. And he left you upon a single path, and that is the path to be followed.
Ibrahim alahie salaam was one person. And he said to his father “ I am free from you and that what you worship and I am free from the people of shirk”. He didn’t say if I leave them I will be alone. He knew that his love for Allah was greater than his love for his father. He tried to teach the people and they wouldn’t accept….he never compromised. But we are not just one…there are many of us upon dawahtus salafiyyah. No need for you to feel alone, or disheartened. So if we call them to our ability , and if we aren’t able then we concentrate on ourselves and our families. And this is the way we establish the Islaamic Home.
this audio can be found at http://www.twtpubs.com/audio/series/srilanka_jun2002.php
transcribed notes courtesy of Umm Aisha
Establishing an Islaamic Home
From the lecture series in Sri Lanka, June 2002
Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahid
Without any doubt , within the establishment of an Islaamic home or of a family, of that which is correct…. First and foremost is the Tawhid of Allah. Without this tawhid, you have no Islaamic home. You have no serenity, no tranquility.
Tawhid is the first and foremost important matter of this religion of al – Islaam. It is the purpose of your creation. It is the source and reason of your creation. Allah is the only one worth of your servitude, of your enslavement, of your worship, and of your actions by way of pleasure that you please Allah subhana watala . As Allah mentions in the Quran “ And I have not created Jinn or mankind except that they should worship me “. And Allah requires no sustenance from us. Allah does not need us to feed him or look after him. He is the one who provides and he is the most mighty and powerful. RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam mentions in ahadeeth that “ Every infant child is born upon a natural disposition , and then it is his parents who make him a jew or a Christian or a fire worshipper .” So The tawhid that Allah has created us with first and foremost he created us to worship him. Not only that but Allah created us, at a time when we left our mothers wombs, upon the Fitrah. So this is the purpose of our creation. So therefore we turn all of our actions, all of our deeds and behavior by way of ibadah and servitude towards Allah. Abu Khadeeja continued to say that if this Tawhid is missing in our lives and in our homes then we will never have a happy Islaamic home, and never be able to truly establish one.
And he says that the greatest of things that we must be careful of and to watch out for is that we do not disobey our lord with regards to his Tawhid. That we do not worship other than him. And we do not call upon other than him. But rather he is the one we single out. He is the one that we make du’aa to. He is the one that we supplicate to, prostrate to , the one we raise our hands to…he is the one we worship five times a day. He is the one we sacrifice for , make hajj for, and fast for. And he is the one we fear, with afear that only he deserves. And he is the one we love, with only a love that he deserves.
The one who has commited the grossest of injustices or the most worst of oppression is the one who has associated partners with Allah . Allah mentioned in the Quran “ indeed shirk is the greatest of crimes .” And the one who loves something more than Allah, or who trusts other than in Allah, or who fears other than Allah then this is the one who has fallen into shirk. And this type of shirk is never forgiven by Allah, and for him Jannah is forbidden and the hellfire will be his home.
So we have to ask ourselves, The sisters have to ask themselves, and the husbands have to ask themselves, “ Are we establishing the Islaamic home upon this foundation ?”Or is that we really don’t care about these matters? In our homes… our children may be fifteen or sixteen years old, and they are not praying. And we do not get upset that they are not worshipping Allah? But if they were to spill some milk on the floor then we would beat them for spilling the milk and this is an affair of the dunyah. But when it comes to the akhirah, then we have no concern.
And he continues saying, and the one who commits this major shirk with Allah then no matter what your deeds are, how good your charity is, or how many sajdah you do, Allah will never accept that from you . Allah mentions in the Quraan” And were they to commit shirk , then their good deeds they have accomplished, all of them are nullified .” Allah will not count any of this.
So How many of the sisters , how many of you are cultivating your children upon this? How many teach their children to hate shirk and love Tawhid and love the people of Tawhid? Because it is from our Aqeedah that we love Tawhid because it is a love of Allah, and that we hate shirk because this is to give a right only belonging to Allah to other than Allah subhana watala. RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ I have been ordered by Allah to fight the people until the testify There is no God worthy of worship except Allah , And if they do so then their bllod and their property with be safe from me.” Bukhari
So the one who does not testify to La ilaha ilalah, and he does not single out Allah alone for worship then there is no guarantee for his life and no guarantee for his property. And the muslims have been ordered to fight them ( if we have been ordered by the islaamic ruler). So this is the importance of La ilaha ilalah. Allah said in the Quran” … and fight the disbelievers wherever you find them “ .So Allah has made it permissible to fight them. Has Allah made ir permissible to fight the muslims? No. RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ Do not commit kufr after me .” Meaning do not commit major sins after me by striking each other at the neck. And he sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ To abuse a muslim is sinful and to fight him is kufr . “
RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salam said “ Shall I not inform you about the gravest of all the sins ?” They said Of course O messenger of Allah. He sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ Ascribing partners to Allah and then disobeying your parents .” So this is the first matter to building an Islaamic house hold that we establish the Tawhid.
There are four matters we should know of the greater shirk and the lesser shirk. 1) After knowing what is major shirk and knowingly falling into it, then this person is a disbeliever in Allah and The one who falls into lesser shirk then he has opened a door to major shirk ( i.e. the one who shows off in salaah because he wants the people to see that he prays well ) 2) The one who commits major shirk is in the hellfire forever and the one who commits lesser shirk will not be in the hellfire forever, Allah will eventually take him out. 3) The one who commits major shirk, all of his deeds are nullified and the one who commited lesser shirk..not all of his deeds are nullified just that one he did in that action is. 4) The one who commits major shirk, his blood and property become halal ( when ordered by the muslim ruler in jihad)and the one who commits lesser shirk then his blood and property are not permissible .
So establish in your homes that Allah is the creator and single him out in all our worship, and that we avoid the shirk in our homes and do not allow it to take place in our homes and teach them tawhid. Install in our childrens hearts the hatred of shirk. And do not allow them to make friends with the jews, or Christians, or the hindus or the Buddhists or others from the mushrikun. And we do not allow them to befriend the Sufis who grave worship because once it enters the home it is just like the snake who bites you and the poison spreads through the body and if you open youself and your children to them , then the person begins to love them and like them and befriend them . And Allah will throw those who commit shirk into the hellfire. Allah does not love them . So if he does not love them , then do we love the one that Allah hates?
The audio to this can be found at www.twtpubs.com At Tasfiyah wa Tarbiyyah Publications
transcrined notes courtesy of Umm Aisha
Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahid
Without any doubt , within the establishment of an Islaamic home or of a family, of that which is correct…. First and foremost is the Tawhid of Allah. Without this tawhid, you have no Islaamic home. You have no serenity, no tranquility.
Tawhid is the first and foremost important matter of this religion of al – Islaam. It is the purpose of your creation. It is the source and reason of your creation. Allah is the only one worth of your servitude, of your enslavement, of your worship, and of your actions by way of pleasure that you please Allah subhana watala . As Allah mentions in the Quran “ And I have not created Jinn or mankind except that they should worship me “. And Allah requires no sustenance from us. Allah does not need us to feed him or look after him. He is the one who provides and he is the most mighty and powerful. RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam mentions in ahadeeth that “ Every infant child is born upon a natural disposition , and then it is his parents who make him a jew or a Christian or a fire worshipper .” So The tawhid that Allah has created us with first and foremost he created us to worship him. Not only that but Allah created us, at a time when we left our mothers wombs, upon the Fitrah. So this is the purpose of our creation. So therefore we turn all of our actions, all of our deeds and behavior by way of ibadah and servitude towards Allah. Abu Khadeeja continued to say that if this Tawhid is missing in our lives and in our homes then we will never have a happy Islaamic home, and never be able to truly establish one.
And he says that the greatest of things that we must be careful of and to watch out for is that we do not disobey our lord with regards to his Tawhid. That we do not worship other than him. And we do not call upon other than him. But rather he is the one we single out. He is the one that we make du’aa to. He is the one that we supplicate to, prostrate to , the one we raise our hands to…he is the one we worship five times a day. He is the one we sacrifice for , make hajj for, and fast for. And he is the one we fear, with afear that only he deserves. And he is the one we love, with only a love that he deserves.
The one who has commited the grossest of injustices or the most worst of oppression is the one who has associated partners with Allah . Allah mentioned in the Quran “ indeed shirk is the greatest of crimes .” And the one who loves something more than Allah, or who trusts other than in Allah, or who fears other than Allah then this is the one who has fallen into shirk. And this type of shirk is never forgiven by Allah, and for him Jannah is forbidden and the hellfire will be his home.
So we have to ask ourselves, The sisters have to ask themselves, and the husbands have to ask themselves, “ Are we establishing the Islaamic home upon this foundation ?”Or is that we really don’t care about these matters? In our homes… our children may be fifteen or sixteen years old, and they are not praying. And we do not get upset that they are not worshipping Allah? But if they were to spill some milk on the floor then we would beat them for spilling the milk and this is an affair of the dunyah. But when it comes to the akhirah, then we have no concern.
And he continues saying, and the one who commits this major shirk with Allah then no matter what your deeds are, how good your charity is, or how many sajdah you do, Allah will never accept that from you . Allah mentions in the Quraan” And were they to commit shirk , then their good deeds they have accomplished, all of them are nullified .” Allah will not count any of this.
So How many of the sisters , how many of you are cultivating your children upon this? How many teach their children to hate shirk and love Tawhid and love the people of Tawhid? Because it is from our Aqeedah that we love Tawhid because it is a love of Allah, and that we hate shirk because this is to give a right only belonging to Allah to other than Allah subhana watala. RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ I have been ordered by Allah to fight the people until the testify There is no God worthy of worship except Allah , And if they do so then their bllod and their property with be safe from me.” Bukhari
So the one who does not testify to La ilaha ilalah, and he does not single out Allah alone for worship then there is no guarantee for his life and no guarantee for his property. And the muslims have been ordered to fight them ( if we have been ordered by the islaamic ruler). So this is the importance of La ilaha ilalah. Allah said in the Quran” … and fight the disbelievers wherever you find them “ .So Allah has made it permissible to fight them. Has Allah made ir permissible to fight the muslims? No. RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ Do not commit kufr after me .” Meaning do not commit major sins after me by striking each other at the neck. And he sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ To abuse a muslim is sinful and to fight him is kufr . “
RasoolAllah sallallahu alayhe was salam said “ Shall I not inform you about the gravest of all the sins ?” They said Of course O messenger of Allah. He sallallahu alayhe was salaam said “ Ascribing partners to Allah and then disobeying your parents .” So this is the first matter to building an Islaamic house hold that we establish the Tawhid.
There are four matters we should know of the greater shirk and the lesser shirk. 1) After knowing what is major shirk and knowingly falling into it, then this person is a disbeliever in Allah and The one who falls into lesser shirk then he has opened a door to major shirk ( i.e. the one who shows off in salaah because he wants the people to see that he prays well ) 2) The one who commits major shirk is in the hellfire forever and the one who commits lesser shirk will not be in the hellfire forever, Allah will eventually take him out. 3) The one who commits major shirk, all of his deeds are nullified and the one who commited lesser shirk..not all of his deeds are nullified just that one he did in that action is. 4) The one who commits major shirk, his blood and property become halal ( when ordered by the muslim ruler in jihad)and the one who commits lesser shirk then his blood and property are not permissible .
So establish in your homes that Allah is the creator and single him out in all our worship, and that we avoid the shirk in our homes and do not allow it to take place in our homes and teach them tawhid. Install in our childrens hearts the hatred of shirk. And do not allow them to make friends with the jews, or Christians, or the hindus or the Buddhists or others from the mushrikun. And we do not allow them to befriend the Sufis who grave worship because once it enters the home it is just like the snake who bites you and the poison spreads through the body and if you open youself and your children to them , then the person begins to love them and like them and befriend them . And Allah will throw those who commit shirk into the hellfire. Allah does not love them . So if he does not love them , then do we love the one that Allah hates?
The audio to this can be found at www.twtpubs.com At Tasfiyah wa Tarbiyyah Publications
transcrined notes courtesy of Umm Aisha
Establishing a Home & The Process of Selecting a Spouse
‘Perfecting the Muslim Family’ Lecture Series by Aboo Tasneem Daawood Adeeb
December 2004, Toronto, Canada
Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen (hafidhahullaah) who is considered the Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee of our time (as said by Shaykh Muhammad al-Banna) mentioned in "A Concise Manual of Marriage" that the word marriage (nikaah) has two meanings, the second of which is that it is a contract between a man and a woman so that they may enjoy themselves sensually (have pleasure in one another), and the purpose of marriage is to have a righteous family and a sound, safe society.
Regarding the Muslim family, the Scholars of Islaam always begin with the place that the Muslim family lives (the home), since if the home is correct and it is perfected by Islaam and the Sunnah, then the end result is that the society will be perfected. (Note: this perfection is only to the extent that man is able to be ‘perfect’, different from the perfection of Allaah which is absolute perfection.)
Islaam outshines every other religion in every single aspect, whether it is how they pray, fast, sleep, drink, etc. Islaam is the perfect way of life, so the ‘ulema begin with the home because if the Muslim home has been perfected then we will have a perfect Muslim society, one that is sound and relatively safe.
Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) says:
"And Allaah has made for you in your homes an abode."
(an-Nahl 16:80)
This abode means a place that you find tranquility and peace. So if the Muslim wants to perfect the family he has to begin with the home.
There is a difference between a house and a home. A home is more specific and detailed. So we want to have a perfect Muslim family and a perfect home. We want to make our houses a home since Allaah (Azzawajall) has designated the home as a place of refuge and tranquility and peace.
Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said:
"In this aayaah Allaah (Azzawajall) is mentioning His complete blessing to His slaves and has given them homes which are a peaceful abode to them, to which they retreat and they seek refuge. They retreat to their homes as a haven and place of solace which covers them and gives them all kinds of benefits."
When a person goes home they should find Islaam. So whether or not he is married, his home should be a home of Islaam.
Some Imaams of the Salaf have said:
"Don’t be the friend of Allaah publicly and his enemy in private."
So some people have dichotomy in their lives and when they’re outside they are the friends of Allaah but if you were to see them in their home you would see that they have not perfected their Islaam.
The home is a retreat and haven and it covers them and gives them all kinds of benefits. So one question that can be asked is: Is your home the place that offers cover and gives you retreat and peace and protects you and also, is the home the place that covers and protects the women?
Allaah (subhanuhu wa ta’ala) says:
"Stay in your homes and do not dress up with the adornment of the first times of al-Jahiliyyah."
(al-Ahzaab 33:33)
So Allaah (Azzawajall) is telling us firstly the purpose of the homes and then is explaining to us with the commandment to the women to stay in their homes because the essence of the perfect Muslim family is the woman.
Some of us may have the bare essentials needed such as furniture, appliances, etc but our homes may really make us have a homeless situation if they don’t have Islaam. If they don’t perfect their Islaam they won’t be a perfect Muslim family.
There are many Muslims all around the globe that don’t even have a home, so if Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) has given us this bounty of having a home it is a duty upon us and is obligatory on us to take that house and make it a home and make our family a Muslim family. Even if you are by yourself, you are your own family so even then you have to perfect the family.
If we look in the Qur’aan we see where Allaah (Azzawajall) talks about how He punished the Jews of Banu Nadeer. He took away the blessing of the home and where they dwelt, expelling them from their homes.
Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) says:
"It is Allaah, He who drove out the disbelievers from the people of the Scriptures (Banu Nadeer) at the first gathering."
(al-Hashr 59:2)
So He made them leave their homes and according to some of the tafaseer, it says that some of those Jews started taking the planks and wood that their homes were made from and started carrying those things with them because they wanted something that represented these homes to them. However, they were even told to leaves those things and that they couldn’t take them. This test was a punishment to make them leave.
If you look at the motive of the believer in putting his house together there are some basic steps and fundamentals to be kept in mind.
Protecting yourself and your family from the Hellfire. Allaah (Azzawajall) says:
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire that the fuel of it is men and stones, over which are appointed angels, stern and severe, who disobey not from executing the commands they receive from Allaah but do that which they are commanded."
(at-Tahreem 66:6)
This is talking specifically to the men or to the women if they are by themselves or alone with children, etc (the head of the family).
The great responsibility that is born by the head of the household on the Day of Reckoning. The man of the house is the Imaam and the Ameer, and his responsibility must be understood in light of the Day of Judgement.
The home is a place to protect oneself and to keep away evil from oneself and family and it is a refuge to ascribe to Islaam in times of fitnah, and we are living in times of fitnah. The ‘ulema of the past, when there was a fitnah, they would take to their homes. Even some of the Sahaabah and taabi’oon when there was a fitnah they would stay in their homes.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"The safety and security of a man in times of tribulations and fitnah is that he sticks to his home."
People usually spend most of their time at home. This time indoors should be spent in worship, thikr of Allaah, learning and memorizing the Qur’aan, learning the Sunnah, teaching one’s wife and children, and so on.
The person must pay attention to the home as the utmost means of building a perfect Muslim society. This is because the husband and wife have come together to enjoy eachother sensually and to make a righteous family and a sound and safe society.
The society is formed of households and from families that form the building blocks of the society. If the building blocks are sound, the society will be formed based on the sharee’ah of Allaah (Azzawajall) and will be firm in the face of the enemies of Allaah and will be filled with a goodness that evil cannot penetrate.
If you have perfected the Muslim family and the home is a perfect Muslim home then it will become a fortress. No one will be able to cause you fitnah or bring you grief or divert you because you will have protection from this.
Even though we live in the land of disbelief, our effort in trying to perfect the Muslim family will eventually have an effect on society. The Muslim homes need to produce the pillars and foundations of the society so we can reform and guide the society and make examples by way of our families.
The first thing is to form the household. The number one thing in forming a Muslim family and perfecting the Muslim home is making a good choice when choosing a wife.
Allaah (Azzawajall) says:
"Marry those among you who are single and also marry the Saalihoon and marry those among your slaves and maid servants. If they be poor, Allaah will enrich them of His Bounty, and Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, the All-Knowing."
(an-Noor 24:32)
Likewise the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"A woman may be married for 4 things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty or her religion. Choose the one who is religious, may your hands be rubbed in dust (an Arabic expression meaning ‘may you be prosperous’). This world is all temporary conveniences and the greatest temporary convenience in the dunyaa is a righteous wife."
(Reported by al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, and Aboo Daawood)
Some ‘ulema say this narration is a discouragement pertaining to what women you should marry and others say it is an encouragement.
The man that looks at the woman in whom he will plant his seed needs to look to the future. The young woman he will select to be his wife should be one that he would want to be with in the future and would want to have many children with, and also one he can trust and he thinks is stable.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"Let everyone of you have these three things: a thankful heart, a remembering tongue (makes thikr of Allaah), and a believing wife, a woman who is righteous and will assist him in the aakhirah."
(Saheeh, Reported by Ahmad)
So it’s nice to have a wife who can cook you great meals or knows a lot about computers, etc but its better to have one who can assist you in the affairs of the next life as the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) mentioned.
So the man should want the woman who will protect him in the affairs of the deen. When considering marriage, don’t just look at the beauty or the lineage because if she’s not righteous she may corrupt the home.
The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"A righteous wife to help you with your worldly and religious affairs is the best treasure anyone could have."
(Reported by Ahmad, at-Tirmithee, and Ibn Maajah)
The old saying goes: "Your best friend is the one whom when you remember Allaah they help you and when you forget they remind you, and your worst friend is the one whom when you remember Allaah they don’t help you and when you forget they don’t remind you."
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"Marry the one who is loving and prolific in having children (fertile) as I shall outnumber the other Prophet’s (nation) through you."
(Reported by Ahmad)
In all books of fiqh, the ‘ulema discourage and disparage the man who married a woman who can’t have children (although it is still permissible). The encouragement is to marry a woman who can have children.
In another narration the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) asked them: "Shall I not inform you of the men from among the people of Jannah?" Then he told them who they were. Then he said: "Shall I not inform you of the women from the people of Jannah?" They said: "Of course." He said: "The woman who is loving, fertile and who returns to you even if you have wronged her. The one who even if you oppressed her, she says: ‘This hand of mine is in your hand and I will not sleep until you’re pleased.’ "
Likewise, sisters must look at the man who will help her with her affairs of the next life. She shouldn’t be stuck on wealth or appearance but look at whether he is the type of man she wants to live with for the rest of her life and she wants to be the father of her children.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"I advise you to marry the virgins for their wombs are the most productive, their mouths are sweet, and they are the most content with the least."
(Reported by at-Tabaraani)
We need to be very selective of our spouse because we are trying to perfect the Muslim family. You don’t want to marry one of those women who, as the Arabs say, the woman who is always complaining for her ex-husband and the children that he took, or is always reminding you of the things she did for you.
The ‘ulema have advised us to marry the righteous wife, one who is pious, chaste, modest, shy, stays out of the view of the men, and one who loves to be close to Allaah.
The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"One of the elements of happiness (from the elements of happiness) is the woman who is righteous, that when you see her she pleases you and when you are away from her she protects your property. And of the things of wretchedness is that you have the woman who when you look at her there is a feeling of misery and she flings her tongue against you and when you are away from her you don’t feel that you can trust her with respect to herself or her property."
(Reported by Ibn Maajah and others)
This selection process is very important. Likewise for the brothers there are two basic things that any woman wants from her husband:
She can trust him.
She can feel secure with him.
If these things are put in her heart there will be very few problems with her if she is a pious woman.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"If there comes to you one whose religion and character you are pleased with then marry that young lady to that man. If you don’t do this there will be fitnah and corruption in the land."
(Reported by Ibn Maajah)
So the man who is proposing to the woman should be of good deen and good character.
Also one should be striving to guide his wife. If she is not that righteous it is the duty of the head of the household to guide her. The guidance is not in our hands but it comes from Allaah, so he should be patient with the woman and instruct her.
The husband is there as an Imaam and an Ameer to guide his wife. Sometimes it is difficult to guide the wife but this can be done either implictly or explicitly.
Points of Benefit in Guiding the Wife:
Paying attention to correcting her ‘ibaadah in all its aspects.
Striving to strengthen her eemaan (encouraging her to pray Qiyaam al-Layl, read the Qur’aan, memorize the thikr and remember to say them, give charity, read useful Islaamic books, listen to lectures, etc). If one is having a sit-down with a woman before he marries her, he should ask her to give him the name of one book that she read from cover to cover in the last five years and the author so that he can get an idea of what she’s read.
Protecting her from the evil.
Keeping her away from bad places and bad friends.
In general, men don’t like a woman telling him what to do but he must rise above this as the hadeeth states: "A woman who will help him and assist him with the affairs of the next life."
So he must humble himself and not be arrogant or proud in this.
transcription courtesy of Umm Sumayyah
December 2004, Toronto, Canada
Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen (hafidhahullaah) who is considered the Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee of our time (as said by Shaykh Muhammad al-Banna) mentioned in "A Concise Manual of Marriage" that the word marriage (nikaah) has two meanings, the second of which is that it is a contract between a man and a woman so that they may enjoy themselves sensually (have pleasure in one another), and the purpose of marriage is to have a righteous family and a sound, safe society.
Regarding the Muslim family, the Scholars of Islaam always begin with the place that the Muslim family lives (the home), since if the home is correct and it is perfected by Islaam and the Sunnah, then the end result is that the society will be perfected. (Note: this perfection is only to the extent that man is able to be ‘perfect’, different from the perfection of Allaah which is absolute perfection.)
Islaam outshines every other religion in every single aspect, whether it is how they pray, fast, sleep, drink, etc. Islaam is the perfect way of life, so the ‘ulema begin with the home because if the Muslim home has been perfected then we will have a perfect Muslim society, one that is sound and relatively safe.
Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) says:
"And Allaah has made for you in your homes an abode."
(an-Nahl 16:80)
This abode means a place that you find tranquility and peace. So if the Muslim wants to perfect the family he has to begin with the home.
There is a difference between a house and a home. A home is more specific and detailed. So we want to have a perfect Muslim family and a perfect home. We want to make our houses a home since Allaah (Azzawajall) has designated the home as a place of refuge and tranquility and peace.
Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said:
"In this aayaah Allaah (Azzawajall) is mentioning His complete blessing to His slaves and has given them homes which are a peaceful abode to them, to which they retreat and they seek refuge. They retreat to their homes as a haven and place of solace which covers them and gives them all kinds of benefits."
When a person goes home they should find Islaam. So whether or not he is married, his home should be a home of Islaam.
Some Imaams of the Salaf have said:
"Don’t be the friend of Allaah publicly and his enemy in private."
So some people have dichotomy in their lives and when they’re outside they are the friends of Allaah but if you were to see them in their home you would see that they have not perfected their Islaam.
The home is a retreat and haven and it covers them and gives them all kinds of benefits. So one question that can be asked is: Is your home the place that offers cover and gives you retreat and peace and protects you and also, is the home the place that covers and protects the women?
Allaah (subhanuhu wa ta’ala) says:
"Stay in your homes and do not dress up with the adornment of the first times of al-Jahiliyyah."
(al-Ahzaab 33:33)
So Allaah (Azzawajall) is telling us firstly the purpose of the homes and then is explaining to us with the commandment to the women to stay in their homes because the essence of the perfect Muslim family is the woman.
Some of us may have the bare essentials needed such as furniture, appliances, etc but our homes may really make us have a homeless situation if they don’t have Islaam. If they don’t perfect their Islaam they won’t be a perfect Muslim family.
There are many Muslims all around the globe that don’t even have a home, so if Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) has given us this bounty of having a home it is a duty upon us and is obligatory on us to take that house and make it a home and make our family a Muslim family. Even if you are by yourself, you are your own family so even then you have to perfect the family.
If we look in the Qur’aan we see where Allaah (Azzawajall) talks about how He punished the Jews of Banu Nadeer. He took away the blessing of the home and where they dwelt, expelling them from their homes.
Allaah (tabaaraka wa ta’ala) says:
"It is Allaah, He who drove out the disbelievers from the people of the Scriptures (Banu Nadeer) at the first gathering."
(al-Hashr 59:2)
So He made them leave their homes and according to some of the tafaseer, it says that some of those Jews started taking the planks and wood that their homes were made from and started carrying those things with them because they wanted something that represented these homes to them. However, they were even told to leaves those things and that they couldn’t take them. This test was a punishment to make them leave.
If you look at the motive of the believer in putting his house together there are some basic steps and fundamentals to be kept in mind.
Protecting yourself and your family from the Hellfire. Allaah (Azzawajall) says:
"O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire that the fuel of it is men and stones, over which are appointed angels, stern and severe, who disobey not from executing the commands they receive from Allaah but do that which they are commanded."
(at-Tahreem 66:6)
This is talking specifically to the men or to the women if they are by themselves or alone with children, etc (the head of the family).
The great responsibility that is born by the head of the household on the Day of Reckoning. The man of the house is the Imaam and the Ameer, and his responsibility must be understood in light of the Day of Judgement.
The home is a place to protect oneself and to keep away evil from oneself and family and it is a refuge to ascribe to Islaam in times of fitnah, and we are living in times of fitnah. The ‘ulema of the past, when there was a fitnah, they would take to their homes. Even some of the Sahaabah and taabi’oon when there was a fitnah they would stay in their homes.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"The safety and security of a man in times of tribulations and fitnah is that he sticks to his home."
People usually spend most of their time at home. This time indoors should be spent in worship, thikr of Allaah, learning and memorizing the Qur’aan, learning the Sunnah, teaching one’s wife and children, and so on.
The person must pay attention to the home as the utmost means of building a perfect Muslim society. This is because the husband and wife have come together to enjoy eachother sensually and to make a righteous family and a sound and safe society.
The society is formed of households and from families that form the building blocks of the society. If the building blocks are sound, the society will be formed based on the sharee’ah of Allaah (Azzawajall) and will be firm in the face of the enemies of Allaah and will be filled with a goodness that evil cannot penetrate.
If you have perfected the Muslim family and the home is a perfect Muslim home then it will become a fortress. No one will be able to cause you fitnah or bring you grief or divert you because you will have protection from this.
Even though we live in the land of disbelief, our effort in trying to perfect the Muslim family will eventually have an effect on society. The Muslim homes need to produce the pillars and foundations of the society so we can reform and guide the society and make examples by way of our families.
The first thing is to form the household. The number one thing in forming a Muslim family and perfecting the Muslim home is making a good choice when choosing a wife.
Allaah (Azzawajall) says:
"Marry those among you who are single and also marry the Saalihoon and marry those among your slaves and maid servants. If they be poor, Allaah will enrich them of His Bounty, and Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, the All-Knowing."
(an-Noor 24:32)
Likewise the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"A woman may be married for 4 things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty or her religion. Choose the one who is religious, may your hands be rubbed in dust (an Arabic expression meaning ‘may you be prosperous’). This world is all temporary conveniences and the greatest temporary convenience in the dunyaa is a righteous wife."
(Reported by al-Bukhaaree, Muslim, and Aboo Daawood)
Some ‘ulema say this narration is a discouragement pertaining to what women you should marry and others say it is an encouragement.
The man that looks at the woman in whom he will plant his seed needs to look to the future. The young woman he will select to be his wife should be one that he would want to be with in the future and would want to have many children with, and also one he can trust and he thinks is stable.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"Let everyone of you have these three things: a thankful heart, a remembering tongue (makes thikr of Allaah), and a believing wife, a woman who is righteous and will assist him in the aakhirah."
(Saheeh, Reported by Ahmad)
So it’s nice to have a wife who can cook you great meals or knows a lot about computers, etc but its better to have one who can assist you in the affairs of the next life as the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) mentioned.
So the man should want the woman who will protect him in the affairs of the deen. When considering marriage, don’t just look at the beauty or the lineage because if she’s not righteous she may corrupt the home.
The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"A righteous wife to help you with your worldly and religious affairs is the best treasure anyone could have."
(Reported by Ahmad, at-Tirmithee, and Ibn Maajah)
The old saying goes: "Your best friend is the one whom when you remember Allaah they help you and when you forget they remind you, and your worst friend is the one whom when you remember Allaah they don’t help you and when you forget they don’t remind you."
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"Marry the one who is loving and prolific in having children (fertile) as I shall outnumber the other Prophet’s (nation) through you."
(Reported by Ahmad)
In all books of fiqh, the ‘ulema discourage and disparage the man who married a woman who can’t have children (although it is still permissible). The encouragement is to marry a woman who can have children.
In another narration the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) asked them: "Shall I not inform you of the men from among the people of Jannah?" Then he told them who they were. Then he said: "Shall I not inform you of the women from the people of Jannah?" They said: "Of course." He said: "The woman who is loving, fertile and who returns to you even if you have wronged her. The one who even if you oppressed her, she says: ‘This hand of mine is in your hand and I will not sleep until you’re pleased.’ "
Likewise, sisters must look at the man who will help her with her affairs of the next life. She shouldn’t be stuck on wealth or appearance but look at whether he is the type of man she wants to live with for the rest of her life and she wants to be the father of her children.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"I advise you to marry the virgins for their wombs are the most productive, their mouths are sweet, and they are the most content with the least."
(Reported by at-Tabaraani)
We need to be very selective of our spouse because we are trying to perfect the Muslim family. You don’t want to marry one of those women who, as the Arabs say, the woman who is always complaining for her ex-husband and the children that he took, or is always reminding you of the things she did for you.
The ‘ulema have advised us to marry the righteous wife, one who is pious, chaste, modest, shy, stays out of the view of the men, and one who loves to be close to Allaah.
The Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"One of the elements of happiness (from the elements of happiness) is the woman who is righteous, that when you see her she pleases you and when you are away from her she protects your property. And of the things of wretchedness is that you have the woman who when you look at her there is a feeling of misery and she flings her tongue against you and when you are away from her you don’t feel that you can trust her with respect to herself or her property."
(Reported by Ibn Maajah and others)
This selection process is very important. Likewise for the brothers there are two basic things that any woman wants from her husband:
She can trust him.
She can feel secure with him.
If these things are put in her heart there will be very few problems with her if she is a pious woman.
The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"If there comes to you one whose religion and character you are pleased with then marry that young lady to that man. If you don’t do this there will be fitnah and corruption in the land."
(Reported by Ibn Maajah)
So the man who is proposing to the woman should be of good deen and good character.
Also one should be striving to guide his wife. If she is not that righteous it is the duty of the head of the household to guide her. The guidance is not in our hands but it comes from Allaah, so he should be patient with the woman and instruct her.
The husband is there as an Imaam and an Ameer to guide his wife. Sometimes it is difficult to guide the wife but this can be done either implictly or explicitly.
Points of Benefit in Guiding the Wife:
Paying attention to correcting her ‘ibaadah in all its aspects.
Striving to strengthen her eemaan (encouraging her to pray Qiyaam al-Layl, read the Qur’aan, memorize the thikr and remember to say them, give charity, read useful Islaamic books, listen to lectures, etc). If one is having a sit-down with a woman before he marries her, he should ask her to give him the name of one book that she read from cover to cover in the last five years and the author so that he can get an idea of what she’s read.
Protecting her from the evil.
Keeping her away from bad places and bad friends.
In general, men don’t like a woman telling him what to do but he must rise above this as the hadeeth states: "A woman who will help him and assist him with the affairs of the next life."
So he must humble himself and not be arrogant or proud in this.
transcription courtesy of Umm Sumayyah
What is the ruling concerning the hanging of Images in homes and other places?
Question :
Answer : The ruling is that it is prohibited if these images ( suwar ) are of that which possess a soul - human beings or otherwise. This is based upon the saying of the Prophet salallahu alayhe was salaam to Ali " Dont leave any image except that you have affaced/obliterated it, nor any raised grave except that you have leveled it ( to the ground ) " narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.
Also because it has been authentically reported from Aaisha radiallahu anha that she hung a curtain having images over the door of a chamber of hers. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam saw it, he tore it apart, and his face changed[showing displeasure], and he said : O Aaisha : Verily , the makers of these images will be punished on the day of judgement and it will be said to them : give life to what you have created ." Narrated by Muslim and others.
However if the image is in a carpet, such that it is degraded and held in contempt , or a pillow which is leaned upon , in that case there is no harm .
This is because of what is authentically reported from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam that he had an appointment to meet Jibreel. When Jibreel came he was prevented from entering the home. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam asked him why? And he said ;" Verily there is a statue ( timthaal ) in the house, and a curtain with images , and a dog." So, he ordered that the head of the statue be cut off, and he ordered the curtain to be cut up and made into two cushions spread out in which the people walk; and he ordered that the dog be put out. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam then did so and Jibreel then entered. Narrated by an -Nasaa'ee and others with a jayyid chain of narrators.
It is also mentioned in the hadeeth that the dog was a puppy belonging to al -Hasan and al - Husain, and that it was under a couch in the house.
It has also been authentically reported from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam that he said : " The angels do not eneter a house in which there is an image ( surah ) and a dog ." Agreed upon by al - Bukharee and Muslim .
Finally the story of Jibreel indicates that the image ( surah ) in a carpet , and things like carpets, do not prevent the entering of angels. And the likeness of that is what has been authenticated in the Saheeh ( Al Bukharee) on the authorit of Aaisha radiallahu anha that she made the aformentioned curtain into a pillow for the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam to lean upon.
Sheikh 'Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baaz
Silsilah Kitaab ad-Dawah 1/19,20
Al Haafidh ibn Hajar says "......when the curtain was cut up, the cutting could have been , for example, in the middle of the image, thereby changing its form
from the book Book " The Islaamic Ruling concerning Tasweer"
Answer : The ruling is that it is prohibited if these images ( suwar ) are of that which possess a soul - human beings or otherwise. This is based upon the saying of the Prophet salallahu alayhe was salaam to Ali " Dont leave any image except that you have affaced/obliterated it, nor any raised grave except that you have leveled it ( to the ground ) " narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.
Also because it has been authentically reported from Aaisha radiallahu anha that she hung a curtain having images over the door of a chamber of hers. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam saw it, he tore it apart, and his face changed[showing displeasure], and he said : O Aaisha : Verily , the makers of these images will be punished on the day of judgement and it will be said to them : give life to what you have created ." Narrated by Muslim and others.
However if the image is in a carpet, such that it is degraded and held in contempt , or a pillow which is leaned upon , in that case there is no harm .
This is because of what is authentically reported from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam that he had an appointment to meet Jibreel. When Jibreel came he was prevented from entering the home. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam asked him why? And he said ;" Verily there is a statue ( timthaal ) in the house, and a curtain with images , and a dog." So, he ordered that the head of the statue be cut off, and he ordered the curtain to be cut up and made into two cushions spread out in which the people walk; and he ordered that the dog be put out. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam then did so and Jibreel then entered. Narrated by an -Nasaa'ee and others with a jayyid chain of narrators.
It is also mentioned in the hadeeth that the dog was a puppy belonging to al -Hasan and al - Husain, and that it was under a couch in the house.
It has also been authentically reported from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam that he said : " The angels do not eneter a house in which there is an image ( surah ) and a dog ." Agreed upon by al - Bukharee and Muslim .
Finally the story of Jibreel indicates that the image ( surah ) in a carpet , and things like carpets, do not prevent the entering of angels. And the likeness of that is what has been authenticated in the Saheeh ( Al Bukharee) on the authorit of Aaisha radiallahu anha that she made the aformentioned curtain into a pillow for the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam to lean upon.
Sheikh 'Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baaz
Silsilah Kitaab ad-Dawah 1/19,20
Al Haafidh ibn Hajar says "......when the curtain was cut up, the cutting could have been , for example, in the middle of the image, thereby changing its form
from the book Book " The Islaamic Ruling concerning Tasweer"
Obligation of a Woman Obeying her Husband
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January 11, 2008
AUTHOR:
Shaikh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan
SOURCE:
His book “Tanbeehaat ‘alaa Ahkaam takhtassu bil-Mu’minaat” (pg. 97-99)
PRODUCED BY:
Al-Ibaanah.comIt is obligatory on you O Muslim woman to obey your husband in matters of good. Abu Hurairah reported that Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “If a woman prays her five (daily) prayers and keeps her private parts chaste and obeys her husband, she will enter Paradise from any of the doors of Paradise she wishes.” [Reported by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh] From Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu), Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “It is not lawful for a woman to fast while her husband is present unless she has his permission. And she must not allow anyone in his home except with his permission.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] Also from Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu), Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “When a man calls his wife to bed and she does not come to him, and he spends the night angry with her, the angels curse her until the morning arrives.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] And in the report of Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “By the One in whose Hand my soul is, there is no man that calls his wife to bed and she refuses him, except that the One who is above the heavens is displeased with her until he (the husband) becomes content with her.” From the rights the husband possesses over his wife is that she fulfills the duty of tending to his household and not coming out from it except with his permission. The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “The woman is the caretaker of her husband’s household and she will be questioned as to her responsibility.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] Another right he possesses over her is that she fulfills the duties of the household and that she does not make him hire a female servant, which will cause harm and due to which there will be a risk of danger for himself and his children. Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (rahimahullaah) said commenting on Allaah’s saying: “Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in the husband’s absence what Allaah orders them to guard (i.e. their chastity).” [Surah An-Nisaa: 34]: “This mandates the unrestricted obligation of a woman obeying her husband, in all affairs, such as serving him, traveling with him, assisting him and other matters, as is indicated in the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger.” [1] The great scholar, Ibn Al-Qayyim, said: “Those who say that it is obligatory for the woman to serve the husband use (this ayah) as proof in that those who Allaah directed His Speech to (on this occasion) considered this to be from al-ma’roof (good). But as for the woman relaxing and having the husband serve her, sweep, grind the flour, knead the bread, wash the clothes, fix the bed, and serve the household, then that is from al-munkar (evil). And Allaah says: ‘And they (women) have rights (over their husbands) similar to those (of their husbands) over them.’ [Surah Al-Baqarah: 228] And Allaah says: ‘Men are the protectors and maintainers over women.’ [Surah An-Nisaa: 34] So if a woman doesn’t serve her husband, but instead he acts like a servant to her, then this means that she is the protector and maintainer over him.” He further said: “For indeed Allaah obligated him to spend on her, to clothe her and to provide her with a place of dwelling in exchange for his enjoying her and her serving him, as well as what the habits of the spouses call for. Likewise, the binding marriage agreements require that the spouses live in kindness. And kindness means a woman’s serving (her husband) and taking care of the inner affairs of the household.” And he said: “And there is no difference as to whether the woman is prestigious or lowly, or if she is poor or rich. Just look at this woman who was the most prestigious of women in the world…” [2] He is referring to Faatimah (radyAllaahu ‘anhaa) for she would serve her husband and come to the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) complaining to him, but he would not complain about her.
Footnotes:[1] Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (32/260-261) [2] al-Hadee (5/188-189)
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Questions being answered
Question: Is it permissible to hang verses of the Quraan and
Prophetic supplications on the walls of the house?
Response: Hanging verses (of the Quraan) which are written or
Ahadeeth and supplications, all of this was not from the actions of
the Salaf. They did not write the verses, Ahadeeth and supplications
and then attach them to the walls.
Rather they used to memorise them and act upon them and honour them
with the utmost respect and write them in the books.
As for hanging the verses, ahadeeth and supplications then this is
not allowed especially the verses of the Quraan for surely hanging
them (on the walls) is exposing them to improper treatment as that
which is attached might fall from the wall and get trodden on and be
degradedà.
(From the answer to a similar question (question 66))
And some people hang them for decoration and beautification of the
scenery and they might even hang them next to an impermissible
picture.
And maybe it will be engraved or written in various art forms, so it
might be written on a picture of a lamp or a drinking glass or even
something which is worse than that like an animal or a bird or
butterfly and other than this.
All of this is playing idly with the book of Allah..........
Al Mutaqaa min Fatawaa Shaykh Fawzaan (2/77-79)
Translated by akh Hasan as Somali
(Please also refer to the fatawa of Sheikh ibn Uthaymeen who also
explains that it is not permissable to hang verses, ayats of the
Quraan on the walls)
JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE: March 21, 2001
March 21, 2001
Question:
When visiting muslims, I noticed that many of them put
verses of the Qur'an on the walls or pictures with the
names Allah and Mohammed. I know a lot of muslims think that it is
good to do so because it will protect them and their house.
Personally, I consider it a form of shirk or superstition. Is there
any ruling on that
subject?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Hanging plaques and cloths containing aayaat of the
Qur'aan in homes, schools, social clubs and places of
business, involves a number of reservations and
prohibitions according to Islam, such as the following:
(1) In most cases, hanging such things on the wall is
done for purposes of decoration and adornment, as the
aayaat etc. are written in calligraphy and colourful
brocade. This is an inappropriate use of the Qur'aan,
as it was revealed to guide people and to be read
regularly. The Qur'aan was not revealed to decorate
walls, but to guide mankind.
(2) Some people hang up such things for blessing - which is a form of
bid'ah. The blessing as described in Islam comes from reading or
reciting the Qur'aan, not from hanging it up or placing it on shelves
or turning it into artwork and three-dimensional images.
(3) This is contrary to the practice of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the
Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs
(al-Khulafaa' al Raashidoon),may Allaah be pleased with them, who
never did such a thing. The best way is to follow them, not to
introduce bid'ah. History tells us that in places such as Andalusia,
Turkey, etc., the adornment of houses and mosques with ornate
carvings of aayaat only happened at times when the Muslims were weak
and humiliated.
(4) Hanging up such pictures or plaques could lead
to shirk, because some people think that these things
are amulets that will protect the house and its people
from evil and disease. This is shirk and is haraam,
because the One Who really offers protection is Allaah,may He be
glorified, and one of the means of gaining His protection is sincere
recitation of the Qur'an and du'aa's taught in the Qur'aan and Sunnah.
(5) There is the risk that the Qur'aan may be used, in
such cases, as a means of promoting one's business or
increasing one's earnings. The Qur'aan should be protected from being
used for such purposes. It is well-known that the production and sale
of these pictures and plaques involves a great deal of extravagance
and wasting money.
(6) Many of these plaques are painted with real gold,
which makes using them and hanging them up even more haraam.
(7) Many of these plaques involve a kind of carelessness, because the
letters are twisted into complex designs that are of no benefit to
anyone because they are barely legible.
Sometimes words are fashioned into the shape of a bird or a man
prostrating, and similarly forbidden pictures of animate beings.
(8) Ayaat and soorahs of the Qur'aan are exposed to misuse and abuse
by this practice. For example, when moving house, they are piled up
with the rest of the furniture and belongings, and other objects may
be placed on top of them.
This also happens when they are taken down so that the wall may be
painted or cleaned.
(9) Some Muslims whose observance of Islam is lacking put these
plaques and pictures up so that they can feel that they are doing
something religious, in order to reduce their feelings of guilt in
spite of the fact that this practice does not help them in any way.
All in all, we must close the doors of evil and follow the leaders of
guidance of the early centuries of Islam, whose people the Prophet
(peace be upon him) testified were the best of the Muslims in faith
and practice. If someone were to say, We are not going to abuse it or
make it a decoration or exaggerate about it, we only want to remind
people (about their religion) in our gatherings, our response would
be:if we look at real life, will we find that this is what actually
happens? Do people really remember Allah? Do they even read these
aayaat when they raise their heads?
What really happens is the opposite: people go against the words
hanging over their heads, they still tell lies, engage in gossip,
make fun of others and do and say evil things.
Even if we assume that there are some who do benefit from these
plaques etc., the fact is that they are very few, and this does not
change the hukm (Islamic ruling) on the matter.
The Muslims must turn to the Book of Allaah, read it and recite it,
and act in accordance with it. We ask Allaah to make the Qur'aan a
light of guidance for us, and a means of removing our grief and
anxiety. May Allaah bless our
Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhe was salaam).
Prophetic supplications on the walls of the house?
Response: Hanging verses (of the Quraan) which are written or
Ahadeeth and supplications, all of this was not from the actions of
the Salaf. They did not write the verses, Ahadeeth and supplications
and then attach them to the walls.
Rather they used to memorise them and act upon them and honour them
with the utmost respect and write them in the books.
As for hanging the verses, ahadeeth and supplications then this is
not allowed especially the verses of the Quraan for surely hanging
them (on the walls) is exposing them to improper treatment as that
which is attached might fall from the wall and get trodden on and be
degradedà.
(From the answer to a similar question (question 66))
And some people hang them for decoration and beautification of the
scenery and they might even hang them next to an impermissible
picture.
And maybe it will be engraved or written in various art forms, so it
might be written on a picture of a lamp or a drinking glass or even
something which is worse than that like an animal or a bird or
butterfly and other than this.
All of this is playing idly with the book of Allah..........
Al Mutaqaa min Fatawaa Shaykh Fawzaan (2/77-79)
Translated by akh Hasan as Somali
(Please also refer to the fatawa of Sheikh ibn Uthaymeen who also
explains that it is not permissable to hang verses, ayats of the
Quraan on the walls)
JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE: March 21, 2001
March 21, 2001
Question:
When visiting muslims, I noticed that many of them put
verses of the Qur'an on the walls or pictures with the
names Allah and Mohammed. I know a lot of muslims think that it is
good to do so because it will protect them and their house.
Personally, I consider it a form of shirk or superstition. Is there
any ruling on that
subject?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Hanging plaques and cloths containing aayaat of the
Qur'aan in homes, schools, social clubs and places of
business, involves a number of reservations and
prohibitions according to Islam, such as the following:
(1) In most cases, hanging such things on the wall is
done for purposes of decoration and adornment, as the
aayaat etc. are written in calligraphy and colourful
brocade. This is an inappropriate use of the Qur'aan,
as it was revealed to guide people and to be read
regularly. The Qur'aan was not revealed to decorate
walls, but to guide mankind.
(2) Some people hang up such things for blessing - which is a form of
bid'ah. The blessing as described in Islam comes from reading or
reciting the Qur'aan, not from hanging it up or placing it on shelves
or turning it into artwork and three-dimensional images.
(3) This is contrary to the practice of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the
Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs
(al-Khulafaa' al Raashidoon),may Allaah be pleased with them, who
never did such a thing. The best way is to follow them, not to
introduce bid'ah. History tells us that in places such as Andalusia,
Turkey, etc., the adornment of houses and mosques with ornate
carvings of aayaat only happened at times when the Muslims were weak
and humiliated.
(4) Hanging up such pictures or plaques could lead
to shirk, because some people think that these things
are amulets that will protect the house and its people
from evil and disease. This is shirk and is haraam,
because the One Who really offers protection is Allaah,may He be
glorified, and one of the means of gaining His protection is sincere
recitation of the Qur'an and du'aa's taught in the Qur'aan and Sunnah.
(5) There is the risk that the Qur'aan may be used, in
such cases, as a means of promoting one's business or
increasing one's earnings. The Qur'aan should be protected from being
used for such purposes. It is well-known that the production and sale
of these pictures and plaques involves a great deal of extravagance
and wasting money.
(6) Many of these plaques are painted with real gold,
which makes using them and hanging them up even more haraam.
(7) Many of these plaques involve a kind of carelessness, because the
letters are twisted into complex designs that are of no benefit to
anyone because they are barely legible.
Sometimes words are fashioned into the shape of a bird or a man
prostrating, and similarly forbidden pictures of animate beings.
(8) Ayaat and soorahs of the Qur'aan are exposed to misuse and abuse
by this practice. For example, when moving house, they are piled up
with the rest of the furniture and belongings, and other objects may
be placed on top of them.
This also happens when they are taken down so that the wall may be
painted or cleaned.
(9) Some Muslims whose observance of Islam is lacking put these
plaques and pictures up so that they can feel that they are doing
something religious, in order to reduce their feelings of guilt in
spite of the fact that this practice does not help them in any way.
All in all, we must close the doors of evil and follow the leaders of
guidance of the early centuries of Islam, whose people the Prophet
(peace be upon him) testified were the best of the Muslims in faith
and practice. If someone were to say, We are not going to abuse it or
make it a decoration or exaggerate about it, we only want to remind
people (about their religion) in our gatherings, our response would
be:if we look at real life, will we find that this is what actually
happens? Do people really remember Allah? Do they even read these
aayaat when they raise their heads?
What really happens is the opposite: people go against the words
hanging over their heads, they still tell lies, engage in gossip,
make fun of others and do and say evil things.
Even if we assume that there are some who do benefit from these
plaques etc., the fact is that they are very few, and this does not
change the hukm (Islamic ruling) on the matter.
The Muslims must turn to the Book of Allaah, read it and recite it,
and act in accordance with it. We ask Allaah to make the Qur'aan a
light of guidance for us, and a means of removing our grief and
anxiety. May Allaah bless our
Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhe was salaam).
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