Islamic Knowledge in the home
Teaching the family
This is an obligation which the head of the household must undertake, in obedience to the command of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones [al-Tahreem 66:6]. This aayah is the basic principle regarding the teaching and upbringing of one's family, and enjoining them to do what is good and forbidding them to do what is evil. There follow some of the comments of the mufassireen on this aayah, in so far as it pertains to the duties of the head of the household.
Qutaadah said: 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.
Dahhaak and Muqaatil said: It is the Muslim's duty to teach his family, including relatives and female slaves, what Allaah has enjoined upon them and what He has forbidden.
'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Teach them and discipline them.
Al-Tabari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: We must teach our children and wives the religion and goodness, and whatever they need of good manners. If the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to urge the teaching of female servants, who were slaves, what do you think about your children and wives, who are free?
Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Saheeh: Chapter: a man's teaching his female slaves and wife. Then he quoted the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): There are three who will have two rewards: a man who has a female slave whom he teaches good manners and teaches her well, and teaches her knowledge, and teaches her well, then he frees her and marries her: he will have two rewards.
Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on this hadeeth: The chapter heading refers specifically to female slaves, and to wives by analogy, i.e., teaching one's free wife about her duties towards Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger is more clearly essential than teaching one's female slaves.
In the midst of all a man's activities, work and other commitments, he may forget to allow himself time for teaching his wife. One solution to this is to allocate some time for the family, and even for others such as relatives, to hold a study-circle at home. He can let everyone know the time and encourage them to come regularly, so that it will be an ongoing commitment for him and for them. Something similar happened at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Chapter: can the women be given a day exclusively for them to seek knowledge? and quoted the hadeeth of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him): The women said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): The men always crowd us out and we cannot reach you, so set aside a day for us when we can come to you. So he set aside a day when he would meet them and teach them.
Ibn Hajar said: A similar report was narrated by Sahl ibn Abi Saalih from Abu Hurayrah, according to which [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] said: Your appointment is in the house of so and so, and he came to them and spoke to them.
What we learn from this is that women should be taught in their houses, and we see how keen the women of the Sahaabah were to learn. Directing teaching efforts to men alone, and not to women, is a serious shortcoming on the part of dai'yahs and heads of households.
Some readers may ask, suppose we set aside a day, and tell our families about it - what should we study in these gatherings? Where do we begin?
I suggest that you begin with a simple program to teach your family in general, and the women in particular, using the following books:
The tafseer of al-'Allaamah Ibn Sa'di, entitled Tayseer al-Kareem al-Rahmaan fi Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan, which is published in seven volumes and is written in an easy style; you can read it or teach somes soorahs and passages from it.
Riyaadh al-Saaliheen - you coul discuss the ahaadeeth quoted, along with the footnotes and the lessons learned from them. You could also refer to the book Nuzhat al-Muttaqeen.
Hasan al-Uswah bimaa thubita 'an Allaahi wa Rasoolihi fi'l-Nuswah, by al-'Allaamah Siddeeq Hasan Khaan.
It is also important to teach women some of the ahkaam of fiqh, such as the rulings on tahaarah (purity) and menstrual and post-partum bleeding, salaah, zakaah, siyaam (fasting) and hajj, if she is able to go; some of the rulings on food and drink, clothing and adornment, the sunan al-fitrah, rulings on mahaarim (who is a mahram relative and who is not), rulings on singing and photography, and so on. Among the important sources of such information are the fatwas (rulings or edicts) of the scholars, such as the collections of fatwas by Shaykh -Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz and Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, and other scholars, whether they are written fatwas or fatwas recorded on tapes.
Another matter that may be included in a syllabus for teaching women and family members is reminding them of lessons or public lectures given by trustworthy scholars and seekers of knowledge which they can attend, so they can have a variety of excellent sources for learning. We should not forget either the radio programs of Idhaa'at al-Qur'aan al-Kareem; another means of teaching is reminding family members of the particular days when women can attend Islamic bookstores, and taking them there, within the guidelines of sharee'ah [i.e., proper hijaab, etc.]
Start building an Islamic library in your home
Another thing that will help in teaching your family and letting them develop a understanding of their religion and help them adhere to its rules, is having one's own Islamic library at home. It does not have to be extensive; what matters is choosing good books, putting them in a place where they are readily accessible, and encouraging family members to read them.
You could put books in a clean and tidy corner of the living room, and in a suitable place in a bedroom or guest room; this will make it easy for any member of the family to read constantly.
In order to build a library properly - and Allaah loves things to be done properly - you should include references so that family members can research various matters and children can use them for their studies. You should also include books of varying levels, so that old and young, men and women can all use them. You should also have books for giving to guests, children's friends and family visitors, but try to get books that are attractively presented, edited properly and with the sources and classification of the ahaadeeth properly given. You can make the most of Islamic bookstores and exhibitions to build a home library, after consulting and seeking advice from those who have experience in the field of books. One way in which you can help family members to find a book when they want it is to organize the books according to subject, with books of Tafseer on one shelf, books of hadeeth on another, fiqh on a third, and so on. One of the family members could also compile alphabetical or subject indexes of the library, to make it easier to look for books.
Many of those who want to start a home library may ask for titles of Islamic books. Here are a few suggestions:
Tafseer:
Tafseer Ibn Katheer
Tafseer Ibn Sa'di
Zubdat al-Tafseer by al-Ashkar
Badaa'i' al-Tafseer by Ibn al-Qayyim
Usool al-Tafseer by Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Lamahaat fi 'Uloom al-Qur'aan by Muhammad al-Sabbaagh
Hadeeth
Saheeh al-Kalim al-Tayyib
'Aml al-Muslim fi'l-Yawm wa'l-Laylah (or: Al-Saheeh al-Musnad min Adhkaar al-Yawm wa'l-Laylah)
Riyaadh al-Saaliheen and its commentary Nuzhat al-Muttaqeen
Mukhtasar Saheeh al-Bukhaari by al-Zubaydi
Mukhtasar Saheeh Muslim by al-Mundhiri and al-Albaani
Saheeh al-Jaami' al-Sagheer
Da'eef al-Jaami' al-Sagheer
Saheeh al-Targheeb wa'l-Tarheeb
Al-Sunnah wa Makaanatuhaa fi'l-Tashree'
Qawaa'id wa fawaa'id min al-Arba'een al-Nawawiyyah by Naazim Sultaan
'Aqeedah
Fath al-Majeed Sharh Kitaab al-Tawheed (edited by al-Arnaa'oot)
A'laam al-Sunnah al-Manshoorah by al-Hakami (ed.)
Sharh al-'Aqeedah al-Tahhaawiyyah, edited by al-Albaani
The series on 'Aqeedah by Umar Sulaymaan al-Ashqar in 8 parts
Ashraat al-Saa'ah by Dr. Yoosuf al-Waabil
Fiqh
Manaar al-Sabeel by Ibn Duwiyyaan
Irwa' al-Ghaleel by al-Albaani
Zaad al-Ma'aad
al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah
Fiqh al-Sunnah [also available in English translation]
Al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhi by Saalih al-Fawzaan
Collections of fatwas by different scholars ('Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz, Muhammad Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, 'Abd-Allaah ibn Jibreen)
Sifat Salaah al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) by Shaykh al-Albaani and Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz [available in English under the title The Prophet's Prayer Described]
Mukhtasar Ahkaam al-Janaa'iz by al-Albaani
Good manners and purification of the soul:
Tahdheeb Madaarij al-Saalikeen
Al-Fawaa'id
Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi
Tareeq al-Hijratayn wa Baab al-Sa'aadatayn
Al-Waabil al-Sayib
Raafi' al-Kalim al-Tayyib by Ibn al-Qayyim
Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif by Ibn Rajab
Tahdheeb Maw'izat al-Mu'mineen
Ghadhaa' al-Albaab
Seerah and biographies
Al-Bidaayah wa'l-Nihaayah by Ibn Katheer
Mukhtasar al-Shamaa'il al-Muhammadiyyah by al-Tirmidhi, abridged by al-Albaani
Al-Raheeq al-Makhtoom by al-Mubaarakpoori [available in English translation]
Al-'Awaasim min al-Qawaasim by Ibn al-'Arabi, ed. by al-Khateeb and al-Istanbooli
Al-Mujtama' al-Madani (2 vols.) by Shaykh Akram al-'Umari [available in English under the title Madinan Society at the Time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)]
Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'
Minhaj Kitaabat al-Taareekh al-Islaami by Muhammad ibn Saamil al-Salami
There are many other good books on various topics, such as those by:
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhaab
Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Naasir al-Sa'di
Shaykh 'Umar Sulaymaan ibn Ashqar
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ismaa'eel al-Muqaddim
Prof. Muhammad Muhammad Husayn
Shaykh Muhammad Jameel Zayno
Prof. Husayn al-'Awayishah's books on al-Raqaa'iq (topics to soften the heart and strengthen eemaan)
Al-Eemaan by Muhammad Na'eem Yaaseen
Al-Walaa' wa'l-Baraa' by Shaykh Muhammad Sa'eed al-Qahtaani [available in English translation]
Al-Inhiraafaat al-'Aqdiyyah fi'l-Qarnayn al-Thaani 'Ashara wa'l-Thaalith 'Ashara by 'Ali ibn Bukhayt al-Zahraani
Al-Muslimoon wa Zaahirat al-Hazeemah al-Nafsiyyah by 'Abd-Allaah al-Shabaanah
Al-Mar'ah bayn al-Fiqh wa'l-Qaanoon by Mustafa al-Sibaa'i
Al-Usrah al-Muslimah amaam al-video wa'l-tilifiziyon by Marwaan Kijik
Al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah I'daadaatuhaa wa mas'ooliyaatuhaa by Ahmad Abu Bateen
Mas'ooliyat al-Abb al-Muslim fi Tarbiyat Waladihi by 'Adnaan Baahaarith
Hijaab al-Muslimah by Ahmad al-Baaraazi
Wa Jaa'a Dawr al-Maajoos by 'Abd-Allaah Muhammad al-Ghareeb
Books by Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Abhaath al-Shaykh Mashoor Hasan Salmaan
There are many other useful, good books - what we have mentioned is only by way of example, and is by no means a complete list. There are also many useful pamphlets and booklets, but it would take too long to list everything. The Muslim should consult others and think hard. Whomever Allaah wishes good for, He helps him to understand His religion.
Home audio library
Having a cassette player in every home may be used for good or for evil. How can we use it in a manner that is pleasing to Allaah.
One of the ways in which we can achieve this is to have a home audio library containing good Islamic tapes by scholars, fuqaha', lecturers, khateebs and preachers.
Listening to tapes of Qur'aan recitation by some Imaams, for example those recorded during Taraaweeh prayers, will have a great impact on family members, whether by impressing upon them the meanings of the Revelation, or by helping them to memorize Qur'aan because of repeated listening. It will also protect them by letting them hear Qur'aanic recitation rather than the music and singing of the Shaytaan, because it is not right for the words of al-Rahmaan (Allaah) to be mixed with the music of the Shaytaan in the heart of the believer.
Tapes of fatwas may have a great effect on family members and help them to understand various rulings, which will have an impact on their daily lives. We suggest listening to tapes of fatwas given by scholars such as Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh Muhammad Naasir al-Deen al-Albaani, Shaykh Muhammad al-'Uthaymeen, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, and other trustworthy scholars.
Muslims must also pay attention to the sources from which they take fatwas, because this is the matter of religion, so look to where you take your religion from. You should take it from someone who is known to be righteous and pious, who bases his fatwas on sound ahaadeeth, who is not fanatical in his adherence to a madhhab, who follows sound evidence and adheres to a middle path without being either extreme or too lenient. Ask an expert. Allaah, Most Gracious: ask, then about Him of any acquainted (with such things). [al-Furqaan 25:59 - interpretation of the meaning - Yusuf Ali's translation].
Listening to lectures by those who are striving to raise the awareness of the ummah, establish proof and denounce evil, is very important for establishing individual personalities in the Muslim home.
There are many tapes and lectures, and the Muslim needs to know the features of the sound methodology so as to distinguish sound lecturers from others and look for their tapes, which they can listen to with confidence. Among these features are:
The lecturer should be a believer in the 'aqeedah of the Saved Group, Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah, adhering to the Sunnah and firmly rejecting bid'ah. The speaker should be moderate, neither extremist nor lenient.
He should base his talks on sound ahaadeeth, and beware of weak and fabricated ahaadeeth.
He should have insight into people's situations and the realities of the ummah, and should offer the appropriate remedy for any problem, giving the people what they need.
He should speak the truth as much as he can, and not utter falsehood or please the people by angering Allaah.
We often find that tapes for children have a great influence on them, whether by helping them to memorize Qur'aan by listening to a young reader, or du'aa's to be recited at various times of day and night, or Islamic manners, or nasheeds (religious songs with no instrumental accompaniment) with a useful message, and so on.
Putting tapes in drawers in an organized fashion will make it easier to find them, and will also protect them from getting damaged or from being played with by young children. We should distribute good tapes by giving or lending them to others after listening to them. Having a recorder in the kitchen will be very useful for the lady of the house, and having a recorder in the bedroom will help a person make good use of time until the last moments of the day.
Inviting good and righteous people and seekers of knowledge to visit the 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 home, it will increase in light (noor), and will bring many benefits because of your conversations and discussion with them. The bearer of musk will either give you some, or you will buy from him, or you will find that he has a pleasant scent. When children, brothers and parents sit with such visitors, and women listen from behind a curtain or screen to what is said, this offers an educational experience to all. If you bring good people into your home, by doing so you keep bad people from coming in a wreaking havoc.
Learning the Islamic rulings with regard to houses.
These include:
Praying in the house
With regard to men, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The best of prayer is a man's prayer in his house - apart from the prescribed prayers. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 731).
It is obligatory to pray (the five daily prayers) in the mosque, except if there is a valid excuse. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said: A 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 Abi Shaybah. Saheeh al-Jaami', 2953).
With regard to women, the deeper inside her home her place of prayer is, the better, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The best prayer for women is [that offered] in the furthest part of their houses. (Reported by al-Tabaraani. Saheeh al-Jaami', 3311).
A man should not be led in prayer in his own home, and no one should sit in the place where the master of the house usually sits, except with his permission. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place in his house, except with his permission. (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2772). I.e., no one should go forward to lead him in prayer, even if they recite Qur'aan better than he does, in a place that he owns or where he has authority, such as a householder in his home, or an imaam in a mosque. Similarly, it is not permitted to sit in the private spot of the head of the master of the house, such as a bed or mattress, etc., except with his permission.
Seeking permission to enter.
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 find no one therein, still, enter not until permission has been given. And if you are asked to go back, go back, for it is purer for you. And Allaah is All-Knower of what you do. [al-Noor 24:27-28 - interpretation of the meaning].
so enter houses through their proper doors [al-Baqarah 2:189 - interpretation of the meaning].
It is permissible to enter houses that are empty if one has some legitimate business there, such as a house prepared for guests. There is no sin on you that you enter (without taking permission) houses uninhabited (i.e., not possessed by anybody), (when) you have any interest in them. And Allaah has knowledge of what you reveal and what you conceal. [al-Noor 24:29 - interpretation of the meaning].
Not feeling too shy to eat in the houses of friends and relatives, and in houses of friends and relatives and others to which one has the keys, if they have no objection to that. There is no restriction on the blind, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the sick, nor on yourselves, if you eat from your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your father's brothers, or the houses of your father's sisters, or the houses of your mother's brothers, or the houses of your mother's sisters, or (from that) whereof you hold keys, or (from the house) of a friend. No sin on you whether you eat together or apart [al-Noor 24:61].
Telling children and servants not to barge in to the parents bedroom without permission at the times when people usually sleep, i.e., before Fajr, at siesta time and after 'Isha, lest they see something inappropriate. If they see something accidentally at other times, this is forgivable, because they are tawwaafeen (those who go about in the house) and it is difficult to stop them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): O you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions: before Fajr prayer, and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and after the 'Isha prayer. (These) three times are of privacy for you; other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, - attending (helping) you each other. Thus Allaah makes clear the aayaat (verses of this Qur'aan, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits, etc.) to you. And Allaah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. [al-Noor 24:57].
It is forbidden to look into the houses of other people without their permission. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever looks into someone's house without their permission, put his eyes out, and there is no diyah or qisaas [blood money or retaliation] in this case. (Reported by Ahmad, al-Musnad, 2/385; Saheeh al-Jaami, 6046).
A woman who has been divorced by talaaq for a first or second time [and could still go back to her husband] should not leave or be made to leave her home during the 'iddah, and she should still be supported financially. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): O Prophet! When you divorce women, divorce them at their 'iddah (prescribed periods), and count (accurately) their 'iddah (periods). And fear Allaah your Lord (O Muslims), and turn them not out of their (husband's) homes, nor shall they (themselves) leave, except in case they are guilty of some open illegal sexual intercourse. And those are the set limits of Allaah. And whoever transgresses the set limits of Allaah, then indeed he has wronged himself. You (the one who divorces his wife) know not, it may be that Allaah will afterward bring some new thing to pass (i.e., to return her back to you, if this as the first or second divorce). [al-Talaaq 65:1]
It is permissible for a man to forsake his rebellious wife inside or outside the home, according to the interests prescribed by sharee'ah in any given case. The evidence for forsaking her inside the home is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): refuse to share their beds [al-Nisa' 4:34]. With regard to forsaking women outside the home, this is what happened when the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forsook his wives, leaving them in their apartments and staying in a room outside the houses of his wives. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Talaaq, Baab fi'l-Eelaa').
One should not stay alone overnight in the house. Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade being alone and said that a man should not stay overnight alone or travel alone. (Reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad, 2/91). This is because of the feelings of loneliness etc., that come from being alone, and also because of the possibility of attacks by enemies or robbers, or the possibility of sickness. If one has a companion, he can help fight off attacks, and can help if one gets sick. (See al-Fath al-Rabbaani, 5/64).
Not sleeping on the roof of a house that has no protecting wall, lest one fall. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever sleeps on the roof of a house that has no protecting wall, nobody is responsible for what happens to him. (Reported by Abu Dawood, al-Sunan, no. 5041; Saheeh al-Jaami, 6113; its commentary is in 'Awn al-Ma'bood, 13/384). This is because one who is asleep may roll over in his sleep, and if there is no wall he may fall off the roof and be killed. In such a case, nobody would be to blame for his death; or his negligence would cause Allaah to lift His protection from him, because he did not take the necessary precautions. The hadeeth may mean either.
Pet cats do not make vessels naajis (impure) if they drink from them, or make food naajis if they eat from it. 'Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Qutaadah reported from his father that water was put out for him to make wudoo, and a cat came and lapped at the water. He took the water and did wudoo with it, and they said, 'O Abu Qutaadah! The cat drank from it. He said, I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: Cats are part of the household, and they are among those who go around in your houses. (Reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad, 5/309; Saheeh al-Jaami', 3694). According to another report he said: They [cats] are not naajis; they are among those who go around [al-tawwaafeen wa'l-tawwaafaat - refers to children, servants, etc.] in your houses. (Reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad, 5/309; Saheeh al-Jaami', 2437).
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