Rules of a Muslim Home – Sixth Rule: Ta’leem (Learning and Teaching) and Ibaadah (Worship)

Ta’leem

A Muslim home should never be void of the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala at any time. Learning, teaching and engaging in the Ibaadah (worship) of Allah Ta’ala should be an integral part of every Muslim home. In the days of the Sahaabah it was common among them that they would make their homes into places of learning Deen. Sayyidinah Umar Ibn Khattaab (Radiyallahu Anhu) was inspired to accept Islaam because of the same reason. When he visited the home of his sister Faatima, she and her husband, Saeed bin Zaid (Radiyallahu Anhuma), were learning the Qur’an from Hadhrat Khabbaab (Radiyallahu Anhu).

In Madinah Munawwarah, Hadhrat Umar Farooq (Radiyallahu Anhu) had lived some distance away from the Masjidun Nabawi. On account of the distance, he could not be present in the masjid all the time. He then arranged with one of his neighbours that they both would take turns to go to Masjidun Nabawi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) on alternate days. Hence on the day that he attended the Musjid, he would go to the home of his companion and teach him what he had learnt from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). His companion would also do the same. In this manner they would remain fully informed of the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).

It was the habit of the Noble Sahaabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) to come home daily and teach their wives and children what they had learnt from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Every Muslim should also make it a daily practice that some learning and teaching takes place in his home. Our senior Ulama and elders have very strongly suggested that daily ta’leem should be made of the book “Fadhaail e A’maal” by Sheikhul Hadith, Hadhrat Moulana Zakariyyah Khandelwi Saheb (Rahmatullahi Alayh). Daily the entire family should be made to sit together and the noble ahaadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) should be read and explained. In this manner Deeni knowledge will be disseminated and learnt in the environment of the home and a desire to practise on Deen will be created in our families.

We should also daily set aside time to sit with our children and teach them the asbaaq (lessons) that they have been taught at the madrasah. In this way we will be able to monitor their progress and we will be able to assist them in making the next days work easier. Otherwise the influence of the television, DVD’s, computer games, comics, etc., will gradually overtake our children, leaving them morally bankrupt. (May Allah save us from bringing instruments of evil into our homes)

 

Ibaadah

Similarly the inmates of a Muslim home should always be engaged in the Ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has mentioned in a Hadith, “Do not make your homes into graveyards, for verily shaytaan runs away from that home wherein Surah Baqarah is recited.”

In the explanation of this Hadith, some commentators have mentioned that ones’s home should not be void of the recitation of the Qur’an-ul-Kareem. It is well known about Hadhrat Abu Bakar Siddeeq (Radiyallahu Anhu) had apportioned a section in his house wherein he would recite the Qur’an-ul-Kareem aloud. Many of the Kuffaar took objection to this as their wives and children would be tempted to listen to the beautiful voice in which he used to recite the Qur’an, thus drawing them towards Islaam.

Hadhrat Moulana Siddeeq Ahmad Baandwi Saheb (Rahmatullahi Alayh), a great and eminent scholar of the fifteenth century (hijri) gave the following advice to his children on his death bed:

“Allocate a special area / room in the house for Ibaadah and Salaah. Call it a masjid if you wish. By calling it a masjid, it will not fall under the law of a masjid. Try and keep this place especially for Ibaadah (the worship of Allah Ta’ala). Have a musallah (salaah mat) spread out at all times. Place a Qur’an Shareef and have a tasbeeh hanging there. Whenever you get a chance, come and sit in this room and engage in the Ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala. It will also have a positive effect on your children. When they will see this room, the musallah, the Qur’an-e-Majeed etc., they will also have a desire to make the Ibaadah of Allah Ta’ala. At a time of need it could be used for other things also. There is no harm in sleeping there as well, as it is not classified a Shar’ee masjid. Hadhrat Moulana Thaanwi (Rahmatullahi Alayh) has written the similar advice and also had a room like this in his home.” [Hayaat e Siddeeq pg. 324].

Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shafee’ Saheb (Rahmatullahi Alayh), the grand Mufti of Pakistan, mentioned that during 1930’s a movement called the “Shudhi Movement” was converting Muslims to Hinduism in large numbers. However, those homes wherein the Qur’an was recited daily were saved from their influence.

Make a habit of reciting the Qur’an daily in the home. Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised him saying, “Hold fast onto the reading of the Qur’an, because it is a noor in this life and a provision for the hereafter. On one occasion, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)mentioned that the houses in which the Holy Qur’an is recited shine unto the inhabitants of the heaven as do the stars shine unto the inhabitants of the earth. [Fazaail-e-Qur’an pg.48].

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu Anhu) says, “That house wherein the Qur’an Shareef is recited, the household members increase, virtues and blessings multiply, angels descend upon them and shaytaan runs away from such a house. Whereas the house in which the Qur’an is not recited, life therein becomes straitened and devoid of blessings, angels leave the house and shaytaan ravages it. [Fazaail-e-Qur’an pg.42].

Hadhrat Ibn Masood (Radiyallahu Anhu) as well as others have reported that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “A deserted house is one in which the Holy Qur’an is not recited.” [ibid].

On a Thursday night, make a habit of reciting abundant durood shareef at home. Gather the members of the family and recite a few Ahaadith regarding the virtues of durood shareef. Thereafter recite as much durood shareef as possible.

May Allah Ta’ala assist us in making our homes into gardens of Jannah. Aameen.

 

Edited from Talimi Board KZN