How to Make Your Home an Islamic One

1. How to Make Your Home an Islamic One Seemab Memorial Masjid Charlieville, Trinidad & Tobago Presented by Mirza Ali-Mohammed Mirza Ali-Mohammed

2. Presentation Outline • A House vs a Home • Houses mentioned in the Qur’an • Ahadeeth on homes • Practical ways of Islamizing the home • Building a Home in the Hereafter Mirza Ali-Mohammed

3. Practical Advices based on a book by Shaykh Salih Al-Munajjid Mirza Ali-Mohammed

4. A House vs a Home Definitions Mirza Ali-Mohammed

5. Definitions • A House – walls, roof, windows doors etc. • A Home – a place of warmth, respect, comfort, love, security, etc • A home could therefore be a mansion or a shack. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

6. Houses mentioned in the Qur’an • But those who heed their Lord will have mansions raised upon mansions high, beneath which runnning waters flow. That is Allah's promise. Allah does not break His promise. (Surat az-Zumar, 20) • Platters and cups of gold will be passed around among them, and they will have there all that their hearts desire and in which their eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 71) Mirza Ali-Mohammed

7. The Spider’s house • (The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the spider's house;- if they but knew) (Surat Al-Ankabot: 41). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

8. House of the Bee • "And your Lord inspired the Bee, saying: 'Take your habitations in the mountains and the trees and in what they erect. Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord, made easy (for you).' There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying colour wherein is a healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think." [Al-Quran 16:68-69] Mirza Ali-Mohammed

9. "And Allah has made for you in your homes a place of rest..."[An-Nahl:80] Mirza Ali-Mohammed

10. Is Your Home an Islamic Home? • Your automatic response: • "Why, of course my home is an Islamic Home!! My family is Muslim and that makes our home a Muslim one!!" Mirza Ali-Mohammed

11. Checklist …to determine if your home is really Islamic. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

12. Guide / Encourage Your Spouse • A pious spouse is more likely to bring happiness and contentment to the other spouse and the couple together will be more able to build a righteous family and home life. This is the foundation of the home. • Striving to strengthen imaan; paying attention to worship and correcting it, encouraging reading the Quran, encouraging your husband to attend Jumah prayers, giving charity, reading books on Islam, helping to choose pious friends, etc. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

13. Our Home is a Place for Remembrance of Allah • Remembrance can be in many forms: with the heart, with the tongue, through prayer, recitation of Qur'an, memorizing adhkaar and using them, discussing Islamic issues, or reading Islamic material. • These are things that should occur on a consistent basis so that the angels will come to the home and bring Allah's blessings. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

14. The Living and The Dead A comparison Mirza Ali-Mohammed

15. Our Home is a Place for Remembrance of Allah • The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said: "The example of a home in which Allah is remembered and the example of a home in which Allah is not remembered, is like comparing the living and the dead." (Muslim). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

16. A Place of Worship Mirza Ali-Mohammed

17. Our Home is a Place of Worship • Salah is established within the home at its required time and that members of the family pray in congregation when several are present. • For men, it is recommended to pray voluntary prayers at home after having prayed obligatory prayers in the masjid. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

18. Our Home is a Place of Worship • For women, it is better to pray each prayer within the home. • "The voluntary prayer in the home is better than 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." (Sahih al-Jaami). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

19. We Regularly read Surat Al-Baqarah and Ayatul Kursi to Keep Satan Away • The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said: "Recite Surat Al-Baqarah in your houses, for the Satan does not enter a house in which Surat Al-Baqarah is recited." (Sahih al-Jaami). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

20. We Regularly read Surat Al-Baqarah and Ayatul Kursi to Keep Satan Away • "When you go to your bed, recite Ayatul Kursi: 'Allah! There is no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the One Who Sustains and Protects all that exists', to the end, for then there will remain over you a guardian from Allah, and Satan will not come near you until morning." (Bukhari). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

21. Ayatul Kursi – Surah al Baqarah: 255 Mirza Ali-Mohammed

22. Teaching and Learning Mirza Ali-Mohammed

23. Teaching and Learning are Ongoing Activities in Our Home • This is primarily the responsibility of the head of die household • Guiding his family to the correct path, enjoining them to do good, and forbidding them from evil is the father’s responsibility • Attaining knowledge is incumbent upon all members of the family Mirza Ali-Mohammed

24. Teaching and Learning are Ongoing Activities in Our Home • A study circle should be established in the home that covers the various areas in Islam and from which all family members will benefit. • Children should especially be encouraged to participate since this will establish a pattern for them that will be carried throughout their lifetimes. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

25. Family studying Qur’an together Mirza Ali-Mohammed

26. Islamic Library – Do you have one? Mirza Ali-Mohammed

27. We Have an Islamic Library in Our Home • This may include such things as books, CDs, DVDs, Magazines • It is important to choose accurate and reliable material that will benefit the members of the family. • Books should cover a variety of topics, Mirza Ali-Mohammed

28. We Have an Islamic Library in Our Home • Audiotapes and CDs may include Qur'an recitation, lectures, khutbahs, tapes for children containing supplications, reminders of Islamic manners • Family members should encourage one another to use these materials on a regular basis, and should be shared with other Muslim families who may be in need of them. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

29. Some of the books in my Library Mirza Ali-Mohammed

30. Morals like the Prophet Muhammad (saw) Mirza Ali-Mohammed

31. We Try to Have Morals and Manners Like Prophet Muhammad • The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said; "When Allah wills some good towards the people of a household. He introduces kindness among them." (Ahmad, Sahih al-Jaami). • There are many examples of the Prophet's kindness and good treatment toward his family that we should try to emulate. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

32. Inviting the Righteous and knowledgeable to your home. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

33. We Invite Righteous and Knowledgeable People to Our Home • رَّبِّ اغْفِرْلِىْ وَلِـوَالِدَىَّ وَلِمَنْ دَخَلَ بَيْتِىَ مُؤْمِنًا • وَّلِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنٰتِ • "My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women." [Surah Nuh, 71:28]. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

34. We Invite Righteous and Knowledgeable People to Our Home • Righteous people who enter your home will bring many benefits due to their presence and conversations with them. • They are more likely to discuss useful topics and may be excellent sources of information and knowledge. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

35. We Invite Righteous and Knowledgeable People to Our Home • We should always make du'aa that Allah will bless us with righteous friends since they can have such positive effects on us • The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said: "Keep company with a believer only, and let your food be eaten only by the righteous." (Abu Dawud, Tirmithi). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

36. Make sure there are no evils in your home. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

37. There are No Evils Within Our Home • Television (except possibly for educational programs) and unlawful music are not allowed in the house • Pictures on the wall do not contain animate beings • There are no statues or anything that resembles statues Mirza Ali-Mohammed

38. There are No Evils Within Our Home • Decorations are kept simple to avoid excessiveness • The telephone is used for beneficial purposes and not harmful ones (such as gossiping or backbiting) • The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: "Angels do not enter a house which has either a dog or a picture in it." (Bukhari). Mirza Ali-Mohammed

39. Be a customs guard to all evil from entering your home • Movies • Friends • Magazines • Music • Food and drink • Clothing • Language Mirza Ali-Mohammed

40. Using Duahs from the Sunnah Mirza Ali-Mohammed

41. Say Sunnah Duahs in your home • "If a man goes out of his house and says, 'Bismillah, Tawakkaltu Ala Allah, La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah (In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah, there is no help and no strength except in Allah),' it will be said to him, • 'This will take care of you, you are guided, you have what you need and you are protected.' The Shaytan will stay away from him, and another Shaytan will say to him, 'What can you do with a man who is guided, provided for and protected?'" (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi) Mirza Ali-Mohammed

42. Say Sunnah Duahs in your home • The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:"When any one of you enters his home and mentions the Name of Allah when he enters and when he eats, the Shaytan says: 'You have no place to stay and nothing to eat here.' If he enters and does not mention the name of Allah when he enters, [the Shaytan] says, 'You have a place to stay.' If he does not mention the name of Allah when he eats, [the Shaytan says], 'You have a place to stay and something to eat.'". (Ahmad) Mirza Ali-Mohammed

43. Other Simple Duahs • Before and after Eating • Before and after Toileting • Before and after Sleeping • etc Mirza Ali-Mohammed

44. Building a Home in the Hereafter The Most important home Mirza Ali-Mohammed

45. A Home in the Hereafter • What materials do you need? • What currency do we use to buy material? • How do we purchase our plot of land? • What kind of work do we have to do to get currency used for purchase? • What size of house am I allowed to build? Mirza Ali-Mohammed

46. The home – better and enduring • [87:17] بَلْ تُؤْثِرُوْنَ الْحَيٰوةَ الدُّنْيَا • But you prefer the life of this world, • [87:18] وَالْاٰخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَّ اَبْقٰى • Whereas the Hereafter is better and more lasting. Mirza Ali-Mohammed

47. Thank You May Allah help us to make our homes Islamic. Mirza Ali-Mohammed