1- “Making the House into a place of Remembrance” “I did not create Jinn and mankind except for My worship”[Soorah adh-Dhariyaat: 56] After establishing the most important factor towards building a righteous Islamic HOME: the body - comprising the spouses, their collaboration with each other and compliance to the laws of Allah, the Exalted, comes the next important step - giving life to it, through the remembrance of Allah and His worship, since the body without life is futile and inefficient of yielding any benefit, according to the explanation of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), in describing the two categories of houses:“The example of the home in which Allah is remembered and the home in which Allah is not remembered, is like comparing the living and the dead”[Saheeh Muslim (1/539)] This task can take several forms remembrance by the means of the heart, the tongue like reciting His Book, praising Him, prayers, reciting specific Duaa mentioned by His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) etc: Following, are some ways that assist in establishing the Islamic environment in our HOMES: Performing voluntary prayers in the house Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:“The best prayer of the man is in his home except the obligatory prayer.”[Abu Dawood] He also said:“The voluntary (prayer) in the home is better then the voluntary (prayer) with the people. It is like the (obligatory) prayer of the man in congregation being better than praying (the obligatory) by himself.”[Ibn Abee Shaybah and Saheeh al-Jamee (2953)] Prayer for Stopping or Lodging Somewhere “Audhu bikalimatillahi tammati min sharri ma khalaq” “I take refuge with Allahs Perfect Words from the evils that He has created” [Saheeh Muslim (3/1599)] Prayer for entering the HOME “When a man enters his home and he remembers the Name of Allah, the Most High, while entering and also when he eats, Shaytaan says: There is no place for you to spend the night here and there is no food to eat here If he enters his home and does not remember the name of Allah while entering; Shaytaan says: There is a place for you to spend the night. If he does not remember the name of Allah while eating he says: There is a place for you to eat and spend the night”[Saheeh Muslim 3/1599] The Siwaak Aaisha (radhi allahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to start with the siwaak when he entered the Home. [Saheeh Muslim] Prayer for Leaving the HOME “If a man leaves his HOME and says: In the Name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah and there is nor power except with Allah. “Bismillah tawakkaltu ala Allah wa la Hawla wa la Kuwwata illa bi-Allah” It will be said to him: You are guided, defended and protected Shaytaan will go away from him and another Shaytaan will say to him: Think! How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected”[Abu Dawood, Tirmidhee and Saheeh al-Jaami 499] Before entering Toilet “Allahumma inni audhubika minal Khubthi wal-Khabaaith” “O Allah, I take refuge with You from all evil and evil-doers”[Bukharee and Muslim] After Leaving the Toilet “gufranak”“I ask you Allah for forgiveness” [Abu Dawood] Regular recitation of Soorah al-Baqarah The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Do not turn your homes into graves as the Shaytaan flees from the homes where Soorah al-Baqarah is recited”[Saheeh Muslim (1/539)] And:“Recite Soorah al-Baqarah in your homes as Shaytaan does not enter a home where soorah al-Baqarah is recited”[Haakim in al-Mustadrak 1/561 Saheeh al-Jaame (1170)] He also mentioned the merits of reciting the last two verses of Soorah al-Baqarah, when he said:“Indeed, Allah, the Most High, wrote a book before He created the Heavens and the earth by two thousand years and it is by the Throne. He sent down from it two verses to finish Soorah al-Baqarah with them. If they are recited in an abode for three nights the Shaytaan will not come near it”[Ahmad in as-sunnah (4/274) and Saheeh al-Jaami] Teaching the Family “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stone”[Soorah at-Tahreem: 6] Teaching and educating the family is a duty of the head of the household. The above-mentioned verse teaches the main principle of education: it being ordering the good and forbidding the evil. Ali (radhi allahu anhu) said about this verse: “Teach them (family) and show them good manners.” Al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) brings in his Saheeh under the title: Men teaching their female servants, and wives “Three will have two rewards… and a man who had a female servant and taught the best of the good manners and gave her the best education, then freed her and married her, he will have two rewards” Ibn Hajr explains this Hadeeth by saying: “The chapter heading corresponds to the hadeeth in regards to the female servants being mentioned. As for the wives it is through analogy (similarity, correspondence), because it is more important to teach the wives duties prescribed by Allah and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) than the female servant.”[Fath al-Baaree (1/190)] Men should spare a day for his family from his busy schedule and establish regular sittings with his family; if possible these sittings must also include relatives. Encouraging them and being strict to their attendance one should make them stick to it. Al-Bukharee (rahimahullah) writes in his saheeh relating from Aboo Saeed al-Khudree (radhi allahu anhu): “The women said to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam): The men have taken all your time, so give us a day from yourself. So he promised them a day for a meeting to admonish and order them” Thus, female education is also very important. These sittings must teach them basic Islamic laws: like the Fundamentals of Tawheed in Islam, Negating Shirk, shunning Innovations etc. Also Laws of Purification, prayer, zakaat, fasting etc.. Along with these they must be instructed with all Islaamic etiquettes: etiquettes of eating and drinking, clothing and adornment, the actions of fitrah, who is a mahram, rules regarding photography, singing…etc. Their schedule must also include Islamic gatherings. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “May Allah have mercy upon a man who stood at night and prayed, then he wakes up his wife and she prayed. If she refused he sprinkles water upon her face.”[Ahmad and Abu Dawood ] It is also related from Aishah (radhi allahu anhu) that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to pray at night and when he prayed the witr he would say:“Stand and pray the witr. O Aishah”[Saheeh Muslim (6/23)] Educating the Children Educating the Children should be done from the early age, starting with the Quraanic memorization, supplications, etiquettes and manners; like what to say upon sneezing, eating, sleeping, going to the toilets etc. They should be related stories of the Prophets of the past nations and specifically our Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). They must be sent to Islamic schools, which include Quraan classes, they must be taught the language of the Quraan. One may also reward them financially for the completion of each step in their program. One should be very careful about whom they mix with and who they be friend. As children pick up bad manners and bad language from their surrounding. The Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “The example of a good companion in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmiths bellow; from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell, while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell from it.”[Saheeh Bukharee] Also their toys must be selective, so as to avoid the unlawful. Establishing a Library in Your Home An Islaamic library should be set-up in the HOME, in order to aid the family, to widen their scope in understanding the religion and help them to adhere to the shariah rules. It is not necessary to make it like a public library, but enough resources to benefit the children, the elders, both men and women, relatives and guests. It is also important to locate it in a place where it is easily accessible. It is best to have books and cassettes of reliable scholars, on the issues of Islamic Creed, Quraan and its Sciences, Hadeeth and its Sciences. Books regarding etiquettes in Islam, Character, Biography of our Noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), his Companions (radhi allahu anhu) and previous Prophets (alaihi as-salaam). Some recommended books Islaamic Creed - Explanation of the creed by Imaam al-Barbaharee | Kitaab at-Tawheed by Shaykh ibn abu al-Wahhab |The Salafs Guide to the Understanding of Fate in Islam by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh | Tawassul Its Types and Ruling by Shaykh Naasir ad-Deen Al-Albanee. Quraan- An Introduction to the Quraan Suhaib Hasan | An introduction to the Principles of Tafseer by Shaykh al-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah | The Tafseer Soorah an-Naba, Soorah Naziaat | Soorah Fatihah, Ayyat al-Kursi and others by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh. Hadeeth- Summarized edition of Saheeh Bukhari | Introduction to the sciences of Hadeeth | An introduction to the Sunnah by Sohaib Hasan | The Hadeeth is a Proof in Itself by Shaykh Naasir ad-Deen Al-Albanee | Forty Hadeeth by Imaam An-Nawawi Others- The Prophets Prayer by Shaykh Naasir ad-Deen Al-albanee | Fasting in Ramadaan as observed by the Prophet by Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee and Shaykh Alee Hasan Abdul Hameed. Visit AHYAs Library for Authentic Books and Cassettes - Millat Nagar - Bombay Inviting the Righteous and the Students of Knowledge to Visit your HOME “My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whosoever enter my house, a believer, believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrong-doers in destruction.”[Soorah an-Nuh (28)] It is essential to be very careful about those, who enter your HOMES, since it has a great effect on your family members, their behavior and character. Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said regarding the right company: “Souls are like troops collected together and those who familiarized with each other (before the beginning of the world) would have affinity with one another (in the world) and those amongst them who opposed each other (before the beginning of the world) would also be divergent (in the world).”[Saheeh Muslim (6376)] Bad company may ruin ones life in this world and the Hereafter. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said while passing through one of the grave-yards: “These two persons are being tortured not for a major sin (to avoid).” The he added: “Yes (they are being tortured for a major sin). Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine while the other used to go about with calumnies (to make enmity between friends).”[Saheeh al-Bukharee (1/215)] One should invite righteous people and the students of knowledge as the carrier of musk will either lay down a good example, or you will be influenced by them and the children and the family can also benefit by listening to them. A sign of the righteous is recitation of the Quraan, the prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said:“A believer who recites is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is sweet. A believer who does not recite the Quraan is like a date, which has no fragrance but has sweet taste. A profligate (inattentive) who recites the Quraan is like basil whose fragrance is sweet but whose taste is bitter and the profligate who does not recite the Quraan is like the colocynth, which has a bitter taste and has no fragrance. A good companion is like musk; even if nothing of it goes to you, its fragrance will reach you. A bad companion is like a man who has bellows; if its (black) soot does not reach you, its smoke will reach you.”[Abu Dawood (4811)] For those who Accept the Invitation It is recommended for him who accepts the invitation to make Duaa for the host, after he has finished eating, using one of the following prayers: “Allahumma Baarik lahum fima razaktahum wagfir lahum war-Hamhum” “O Allah, forgive them, have mercy on them and bless them in that which You have granted them.” [Saheeh Muslim] “Allahumma at’im man atamani waski man sakani” “O Allah, feed the one who feeds me and give drink to the one who gives me.” [Saheeh Muslim and Ahmad] “Aftara ‘indakum as-saaimoon wa-akala ta’aamakum abraar, wa-sallat ‘alaykum al-malaaikah” “May the righteous eat your food, may the Angles send their prayers upon you, and may fasting ones break fast in your house.” [(Authentic) Ahmad, Bayhaqee and others] 2- The “miracles of nature” that are widely spoken of nowadays Recently on websites and in chat rooms it has become common to see topics and posts that contain pictures and audio or video clips that show miracles, such as a fountain coming out of the sand in the desert, or the name of Allah on the skin of a goat, or clouds forming the name of Allah, or a girl who was transformed into an animal. Most of these things are not true and are fabricated but these things are very widespread. What is the ruling on such things?. Praise be to Allaah. The signs of Allah in this universe are many; every atom in it testifies to His greatness and majesty, and affirms His Oneness. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “HaMeem. (These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings). The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. Verily, in the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers. And in your creation, and what He scattered (through the earth) of moving (living) creatures are signs for people who have Faith with certainty. And in the alternation of night and day, and the provision (rain) that Allah sends down from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the turning about of the winds (i.e. sometimes towards the east or north, and sometimes towards the south or west etc., sometimes bringing glad tidings of rain etc., and sometimes bringing the torment), are signs for a people who understand. These are the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) of Allah, which We recite to you (O Muhammad SAW) with truth. Then in which speech after Allah and His Ayat will they believe?” [al-Jaathiyah 45:1-6]. This is a call to ponder and think about dozens of verses in the Holy Qur’an that encourage us to look at the visible signs and to think about them so as to increase in faith and certainty about the Creator and believe in His Oneness, may He be glorified. What these signs have in common is that they are visible to all people. The earth, the sky, the sun, the moon, the animals, rain, one’s own self and so on are all signs that may be seen and known by all humans. Each and every individual can understand their greatness and realise that they point to the Lord and Creator. Even though the scientist may know things that ordinary people do not know about these things, they are visible to all and each person may learn from them according to his own level of understanding. But with regard to what has become widespread nowadays of talking about “miracles of nature”, including those mentioned by the questioner, as far as Allah’s power is concerned, Allah, may He be exalted, has power over all things, such as causing His name to appear on the skin of a goat or on an egg, or transforming some people into animals. In fact we believe that such transformations will happen, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told us. At-Tirmidhi (2212) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Among this ummah, people will be swallowed up in the earth, transformed into monkeys and pigs, and pelted with stones.” A man among the Muslims said, “O Messenger of Allaah, when will that be?” He said: “When singing-girls and musical instruments become widespread and wine is drunk.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh at-Tirmidhi. This is as far as the might and power of Allah, may He be exalted, are concerned. But as for whether these “miracles” happened or not, most of what is in circulation nowadays of such things cannot be verified or proven. Most of what people are passing around to one another of these things is no more than chit-chat in their gatherings and images on discussion boards and in chat rooms, the source or author of which is not known. Does the Muslim need such stories to prove the soundness of his religion and belief?! Is there a shortage of evidence based on common sense and certainty, so that one has to resort to these rumours?! The correct attitude towards these reports is to refrain from judgement. So we do not believe them, because of the possibility that they may be false, and we do not disbelieve them, because of the possibility that they may be true, so long as we have no clear evidence to prove whether they are true or false. If such evidence comes along then we may be certain in that case. The wise Muslim – who is aware of the guidelines on verifying news and drawing conclusions from it – should not hasten to believe in them, let alone spread them and call people to glorify Allah in amazement. But what has happened is the opposite of that; many people believed in these “stories” and they started spreading them and talking about them in their gatherings, and passing them around on their mobile phones and in e-mails, then suddenly a few days later they are surprised when it turns out that it was a fabrication spread by some of those who are zealous for Islam – in ignorance and naivety – or by some hateful heretics – in mockery and scorn. This has caused confusion for many people. And Allah is the One Whose help we seek. What we object to is hastening to believe these things and regarding them as miracles and challenges, telling everybody about them, and making such stories a phenomenon without end. Every day there is a new story; the matter has reached such a level of foolishness that no one of sound mind could believe in these things. We see that in the story of the lion’s roar in which some people – by a huge stretch of the imagination – hear the name of Allah. Much worse than that is what is happening in one country where people have started to touch a tree on the trunk of which the name of Allah appeared, seeking barakah (blessing) and healing from it. Then upon investigation it turns out that it had been carved by someone who wanted to mislead the people. The Muslims should refrain from propagating such rumours that may cause people to go astray. We ask Allah to help us understand our religion. And Allah knows best.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:01:17 +0000
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