Establishing the Muslim Home Establishing the Muslim Home Part ThreePart Three

Islamic Knowledge in the Islamic Knowledge in the HomeHome

Teaching the family is an obligation upon the head of Teaching the family is an obligation upon the head of the household:the household:

““O you who believe! Ward off O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones…” fuel is men and stones…”

[al-Tahreem 66:6]. [al-Tahreem 66:6].

This aayah is the basic This aayah is the basic principle regarding the principle regarding the teaching and upbringing of teaching and upbringing of one's family, and enjoining one's family, and enjoining them to do what is good and them to do what is good and forbidding them to do what is forbidding them to do what is evil.evil.

Some of the early scholars said The Head of Some of the early scholars said The Head of household should:household should:

“He should command them to obey Allaah, and forbid them to disobey Him, and direct them in accordance with the commands of Allaah, and help them to do that.”

“It is the Muslim’s duty to teach his family, including relatives and female slaves, what Allah has enjoined upon them and what He has forbidden.”

Others said:Others said:

‘‘Ali said: Ali said:

““Teach them and discipline Teach them and discipline them.”them.”

Al-Tabari said: Al-Tabari said:

““We must teach our children and We must teach our children and wives the religion and wives the religion and goodness, and whatever they goodness, and whatever they need of good manners. If the need of good manners. If the Messenger of Allaah used to Messenger of Allaah used to urge the teaching of female urge the teaching of female servants, who were slaves, servants, who were slaves, what do you think about your what do you think about your children and wives, who are children and wives, who are free?”free?”

Al Bukhari said:Al Bukhari said:

He quoted the hadeeth of He quoted the hadeeth of the Prophet: the Prophet:

““There are three who will There are three who will have two rewards: … a have two rewards: … a man who has a female man who has a female slave whom he teaches slave whom he teaches good manners and good manners and teaches her well, and teaches her well, and teaches her knowledge, teaches her knowledge, and teaches her well, and teaches her well, then he frees her and then he frees her and marries her: he will have marries her: he will have two rewards.”two rewards.”

Also Bukhari said:Also Bukhari said:

““The women said to the The women said to the Prophet :Prophet :

‘ ‘The men always crowd The men always crowd us out and we cannot us out and we cannot reach you, so set reach you, so set aside a day for us aside a day for us when we can come to when we can come to you.’ So he set aside a you.’ So he set aside a day when he would day when he would meet them and teach meet them and teach them.”them.”

We Learn from this hadith:We Learn from this hadith:

Women should be taught in Women should be taught in their housestheir houses

How keen the women of the How keen the women of the Sahaabah were to learnSahaabah were to learn

Directing teaching efforts to Directing teaching efforts to men alone, and not to men alone, and not to women, is a serious women, is a serious shortcoming on the part of shortcoming on the part of dai’yahs and heads of dai’yahs and heads of householdshouseholds

What are some things to teach or study with your family?What are some things to teach or study with your family?

In Katheer Tafsir of the n Katheer Tafsir of the QuranQuran

Riyaadh al-Saaliheen Riyaadh al-Saaliheen with commentary by with commentary by Imam NawawiImam Nawawi

Stories of the ProphetsStories of the Prophets

Stories of the Stories of the CompanionsCompanions

Stories of the Wives of Stories of the Wives of the Prophetthe Prophet

Fiqh books for women - Fiqh books for women - MensesMenses

One should build an Islamic library:One should build an Islamic library:

Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith Sahih Al Bukhari Hadith booksbooks

Sahih Muslim Hadith BooksSahih Muslim Hadith Books

Fiqh as SunnahFiqh as Sunnah

Maliks MuwattaMaliks Muwatta

Quran with transliteration of Quran with transliteration of the meaningthe meaning

Also the Library should include:Also the Library should include:

Audio lectures from Audio lectures from Prominent speakers who are Prominent speakers who are known for their adherence to known for their adherence to the Sunnahthe Sunnah

Video lectures such as the Video lectures such as the ones we make at ones we make at SunnahfollowersSunnahfollowers

Book of specific Ad - Duaa Book of specific Ad - Duaa for specific occasionsfor specific occasions

Also it is good to Invite Knowledgeable people to your home:Also it is good to Invite Knowledgeable people to your home:

My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women…”

[Nooh 71:28 – interpretation of the meaning].

If people of faith enter your If people of faith enter your home, it will increase in home, it will increase in light (noor), and will bring light (noor), and will bring many benefits because of many benefits because of your conversations and your conversations and discussion with them.discussion with them.

You should also teach your family the rulings of the You should also teach your family the rulings of the Prayer:Prayer:

With regard to men, the Prophet With regard to men, the Prophet said: said:

““The best of prayer is a man’s The best of prayer is a man’s prayer in his house – apart prayer in his house – apart from the prescribed prayers.” from the prescribed prayers.”

(Reported by al-Bukhaari)(Reported by al-Bukhaari)

With regard to women, the With regard to women, the deeper inside her home her deeper inside her home her place of prayer is, the better, place of prayer is, the better, because the Prophet said: because the Prophet said:

““The best prayer for women is The best prayer for women is [that offered] in the furthest [that offered] in the furthest part of their houses.” part of their houses.”

(Reported by al-Tabaraani)(Reported by al-Tabaraani)

In regards to praying together in the home:In regards to praying together in the home:

A man should not be led in prayer in his own A man should not be led in prayer in his own homehome

No one should sit in the place where the master No one should sit in the place where the master of the house usually sits, except with his of the house usually sits, except with his permission. permission.

The Messenger of Allaah said: The Messenger of Allaah said:

““A man should not be led in prayer in his place of A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place in authority, and no one should sit in his place in his house, except with his permission.” his house, except with his permission.”

(Reported by al-Tirmidhi,). (Reported by al-Tirmidhi,).

I.e., no one should go forward to lead him in I.e., no one should go forward to lead him in prayer, even if they recite Qur’aan better than prayer, even if they recite Qur’aan better than he does, in a place that he owns or where he he does, in a place that he owns or where he has authority, such as a householder in his has authority, such as a householder in his home, or an imaam in a mosque. home, or an imaam in a mosque.

Similarly, it is not permitted to sit in the private Similarly, it is not permitted to sit in the private spot of the head of the master of the house, spot of the head of the master of the house, such as a bed or mattress, etc., except with such as a bed or mattress, etc., except with his permission.his permission.

Also teach your family the rules of entering:Also teach your family the rules of entering:

““O you who believe! Enter not O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, houses other than your own, until you have asked until you have asked permission and greeted permission and greeted those in them, that is better those in them, that is better for you, in order that you for you, in order that you may remember. And if you may remember. And if you find no one therein, still, find no one therein, still, enter not until permission enter not until permission has been given. And if you has been given. And if you are asked to go back, go are asked to go back, go back, for it is purer for you. back, for it is purer for you. And Allaah is All-Knower of And Allaah is All-Knower of what you do.” what you do.”

[al-Noor 24:27-28 ].[al-Noor 24:27-28 ].

It is permissible to enter houses that are empty if one It is permissible to enter houses that are empty if one has some legitimate business there, such as a house has some legitimate business there, such as a house

prepared for guestsprepared for guests

““There is no sin on you that There is no sin on you that you enter (without taking you enter (without taking permission) houses permission) houses uninhabited (i.e., not uninhabited (i.e., not possessed by anybody), possessed by anybody), (when) you have any (when) you have any interest in them. And Allaah interest in them. And Allaah has knowledge of what you has knowledge of what you reveal and what you reveal and what you conceal.”conceal.”

[al-Noor 24:29].[al-Noor 24:29].

One should not feel shy to eat at the home of a One should not feel shy to eat at the home of a relative or close friend:relative or close friend:

““There is no restriction on the blind, There is no restriction on the blind, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the sick, nor any restriction on the sick, nor on yourselves, if you eat from nor on yourselves, if you eat from your houses, or the houses of your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your your sisters, or the houses of your father’s brothers, or the houses of father’s brothers, or the houses of your father’s sisters, or the your father’s sisters, or the houses of your mother’s brothers, houses of your mother’s brothers, or the houses of your mother’s or the houses of your mother’s sisters, or (from that) whereof sisters, or (from that) whereof you hold keys, or (from the you hold keys, or (from the house) of a friend. No sin on you house) of a friend. No sin on you whether you eat together or whether you eat together or apart…”apart…”

[al-Noor 24:61].[al-Noor 24:61].

Also teach your family to not peek in the house of others:Also teach your family to not peek in the house of others:

““Whoever looks into Whoever looks into someone’s house someone’s house without their without their permission, put his permission, put his eyes out, and there eyes out, and there is no diyah or qisaas is no diyah or qisaas [blood money or [blood money or retaliation] in this retaliation] in this case.”case.”

Also women must know the rulings of Divorce:Also women must know the rulings of Divorce:

. . Allaah says :Allaah says :

““O Prophet! When you divorce O Prophet! When you divorce women, divorce them at their ‘iddah women, divorce them at their ‘iddah (prescribed periods), and count (prescribed periods), and count (accurately) their ‘iddah (periods). (accurately) their ‘iddah (periods). And fear Allaah your Lord (O And fear Allaah your Lord (O Muslims), and turn them not out of Muslims), and turn them not out of their (husband’s) homes, nor shall their (husband’s) homes, nor shall they (themselves) leave, except in they (themselves) leave, except in case they are guilty of some open case they are guilty of some open illegal sexual intercourse. And those illegal sexual intercourse. And those are the set limits of Allaah. And are the set limits of Allaah. And whoever transgresses the set limits of whoever transgresses the set limits of Allaah, then indeed he has wronged Allaah, then indeed he has wronged himself. You (the one who divorces himself. You (the one who divorces his wife) know not, it may be that his wife) know not, it may be that Allaah will afterward bring some new Allaah will afterward bring some new thing to pass (i.e., to return her back thing to pass (i.e., to return her back to you, if this as the first or second to you, if this as the first or second divorce).”divorce).”

[al-Talaaq 65:1][al-Talaaq 65:1]

Also both husband and wife understand the rulings Also both husband and wife understand the rulings of Marriage Relations:of Marriage Relations:

It is permissible for a man to forsake It is permissible for a man to forsake his rebellious wife inside or outside his rebellious wife inside or outside the home, according to the the home, according to the interests prescribed by sharee’ah in interests prescribed by sharee’ah in any given case. The evidence for any given case. The evidence for forsaking her inside the home is the forsaking her inside the home is the aayah (interpretation of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): meaning):

“… “… refuse to share their beds…” refuse to share their beds…”

[al-Nisa’ 4:34][al-Nisa’ 4:34]. .

With regard to forsaking women With regard to forsaking women outside the home, this is what outside the home, this is what happened when the Messenger of happened when the Messenger of Allaah forsook his wives, leaving Allaah forsook his wives, leaving them in their apartments and them in their apartments and staying in a room outside the staying in a room outside the houses of his wiveshouses of his wives

(Reported by al-Bukhaari)(Reported by al-Bukhaari)

Also:Also:

One should not stay alone One should not stay alone overnight in the house. Ibn overnight in the house. Ibn ‘Umar reported that the ‘Umar reported that the Prophet forbade being alone Prophet forbade being alone and said that a man should not and said that a man should not stay overnight alone or travel stay overnight alone or travel alone. alone.

(Reported by Ahmad )(Reported by Ahmad )

This is because of the feelings of This is because of the feelings of loneliness etc., that come from loneliness etc., that come from being alone, and also because being alone, and also because of the possibility of attacks by of the possibility of attacks by enemies or robbers, or the enemies or robbers, or the possibility of sickness. possibility of sickness.

If one has a companion, he can If one has a companion, he can help fight off attacks, and can help fight off attacks, and can help if one gets sickhelp if one gets sick

Also of the rulings of the home should be taught the Also of the rulings of the home should be taught the following:following:

Not sleeping on the roof of a Not sleeping on the roof of a house that has no protecting house that has no protecting wall, lest one fall. The wall, lest one fall. The Messenger of Allaah said: Messenger of Allaah said:

““Whoever sleeps on the roof of a Whoever sleeps on the roof of a house that has no protecting house that has no protecting wall, nobody is responsible for wall, nobody is responsible for what happens to him.” what happens to him.”

(Reported by Abu Dawood)(Reported by Abu Dawood)

This is because one who is This is because one who is asleep may roll over in his asleep may roll over in his sleep, and if there is no wall sleep, and if there is no wall he may fall off the roof and be he may fall off the roof and be killed.killed.

Finally there are rulings concerning the pets too:Finally there are rulings concerning the pets too:

Pet cats do not make vessels naajis Pet cats do not make vessels naajis (impure) if they drink from them, or (impure) if they drink from them, or make food naajis if they eat from it. make food naajis if they eat from it. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Qutaadah reported ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Qutaadah reported from his father that water was put out from his father that water was put out for him to make wudoo’, and a cat came for him to make wudoo’, and a cat came and lapped at the water. He took the and lapped at the water. He took the water and did wudoo’ with it, and they water and did wudoo’ with it, and they said, “O Abu Qutaadah! The cat drank said, “O Abu Qutaadah! The cat drank from it.” He said, I heard the Messenger from it.” He said, I heard the Messenger of Allaah say: of Allaah say:

‘‘Cats are part of the household, and they Cats are part of the household, and they are among those who go around in your are among those who go around in your houses.’” (Reported by Ahmad) houses.’” (Reported by Ahmad)

According to another report he said: According to another report he said:

““They [cats] are not naajis; they are among They [cats] are not naajis; they are among those who go around [al-tawwaafeen those who go around [al-tawwaafeen wa’l-tawwaafaat – refers to children, wa’l-tawwaafaat – refers to children, servants, etc.] in your houses.” servants, etc.] in your houses.”

(Reported by Ahmad)(Reported by Ahmad)