What makes a home a Muslim home?

Is it only that Muslims live in that home or that there are frames with Ayats of the Qur'aan, Hadith or Arabic inscription on them or a Kalima sticker on the front door or some taweezes hung up here and there. A Muslim home is really one in which 5 times salaat takes place (by the females), Nafl namaazes take place, tilawat (recitation) of the Qur'an Sharif, Zikrullah, duas, muraqabah (meditation) and very important Taleem takes place. Also good Islamic characteristics are displayed by all inhabitants as well as Islamic Aadab(Manners), etc. Taleem(an educational programme) is of vital importance in everyone's home - the laymen or the learned, for it serves the purpose of learning & teaching and revising. By repetition an encouragement to practice upon what has been learnt occurs. If there is an Alim in the house, advantage should be taken of tafsir and hadith lessons etc. as well. If there is a hafiz or qari, great advantage can be taken of Tajwid lessons. Allah reminds the wives of Nabi-e-Kareem(sallallaahu alaiyhi wassallam) of His special favours upon them that the Ayats of the Qur'an and Hikmah(hadith) being recited in the house i.e. Taleem taking place i.e. when the wives of Rasulullah(sallallaahu alaaiyhi wassallam), requested an increase in their allowance, they were told amongst other things to make Taleem, as a special favour of Allah upon them.


Hadhrat Umar(R.A.) was on his way to take the life of Rasulullah(sallallaahu alaaiyhi wassallam) when he was told that his sister had also embraced lslam. In fury, he turned to his sister's house. T'hey were busy conducting Taleem. With the barakah (blessing) of this taleem, Hadhrat Umar(R.A.) was blessed with lmaan. Where is taking the life of Rasulullah(sallallaahu alaiyhi wassallam and where is being blessed with Imaan and becoming Khalifat-ut-Muslimeen - all with the barkat of Taleem.


Rasulullah(sallallaahu alaiyhi wassallam) himself was commanded by Allah to make du'a - "O Allah, increase me in knowledge," that is obviously Dini knowledge, for with regard to other knowledge, Allah's Rasul(sallallaahu alaiyhi wassallam) made du'a, "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit." We have made this knowledge in the form of the secular studies of our children and their homework such a great fardh while we have no time for Dini Taleem i.e. a short educational programme at home.


It is narrated in a Hadith that Allah's azab (punishment) does not descend in a place where the hadith of Rasulullah(sallallaahu alaiyhi wassallam) is read. Subhanallah! By making Taleem in our homes, we will be saved from the azab of Allah. A vacuum does not exist anywhere. If there is no Taleem (rahmat) of Allah in the house, then there will be all types of ghaflat (unmindfiilness) like television, videos, newspapers, magazines, radios, games, idle talk of dunyi, etc. which all draw the azab of Allah. This azab then manifests itself in the form of the disobedience of the children to their parents, of them choosing alien, hated and horrible ways of the west, etc. in their attitudes, dressing, speaking, etc, Also the azab is seen in the form of no communication, etc. between husband and wife. Many a person complains that Alhamdulillah we have got every thing of dunya but there is no muhabbat (love) in our house or we are earning so much but there is no barakah. Before the end of the month, all the money is finished and so many bills still have to be paid This is yet another form of Allah's azab. By having taleem, barakah, rahmat will descend in the form of love and respect between all the family members. Money will not only be sufficient, but there will always be extra as well. We will be saved from terrible diseases, accidents, problems, etc. Aafiyat (a smooth life) will be granted.