The Muslim Home - 40 Recommendations (pt. 7)
By: Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid cont…
12) Learning the Islaamic rulings with regard
to houses.
These include:
Praying in the House
With regard to men, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, said: “The best 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, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, 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 Abu Shaybah. Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2953).
With regard to women, the deeper inside her home her place
of prayer is, the better, because the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
said: “The best prayer for women is [that is offered] in the furthest part of
their houses.” (Reported by At-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, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
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
At-Tirmithi, 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
Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): “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.” [Q24: vs27-28].
And also (what means): “…so
enter houses through their proper doors…” [Q2: vs189].
It is permissible to enter houses that are empty if one has
some legitimate business there, such as a house prepared for guests. Allaah The
Exalted Says (what means): “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.” [Q24: vs29].
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. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):
“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…” [Q24:
vs61].
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 The Almighty Says (what means): “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.” [Q24: vs57].
It is forbidden to look into the houses of other people
without their permission. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, 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 (what means): “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].” [Q65: vs1]
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
(what means): “… refuse to share their
beds…” [Q4: vs34]. With regard to forsaking women outside the home, this is
what happened when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
forsook his wives, leaving them in their apartments and staying in a room
outside the houses of his wives. (Reported by Al-Bukhaari, Kitaab at-Talaaq,
Baab fi al-Eelaa’).
One should not stay alone overnight in the house. Ibn ‘Umar,
may Allaah be pleased with them both, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, 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-Fat-h ar-Rabbaani, 5/64).
Not sleeping on the roof of a house that has no protecting
wall, lest one fall. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
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 Daawood, asSunan, 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 Abu
Qataadah reported from his father that water was put out for him to make
Wudhoo’, and a cat came and lapped at the water. He took the water and did
Wudhoo’ with it, and they said: “O Abu Qataadah! The cat drank from it.” He
said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
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, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, 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).
to be continued...
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