Sunnats and Aadaab of the Home – Part 2

8. Keep the home neat and tidy. Items that have their specific places in the home should be kept in their places. They should not be lying about everywhere (e.g. the dirty clothes should be placed in the laundry basket, etc.).

عن صالح بن أبي حسان، قال: سمعت سعيد بن المسيب، يقول: إن الله طيب يحب الطيب، نظيف يحب النظافة، كريم يحب الكرم، جواد يحب الجود، فنظفوا، أراه قال، أفنيتكم ولا تشبهوا باليهود قال: فذكرت ذلك لمهاجر بن مسمار، فقال: حدثنيه عامر بن سعد بن أبي وقاص، عن أبيه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم مثله، إلا أنه قال: نظفوا أفنيتكم (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2799)

Hazrat Sa’eed bin Musayyib (rahimahullah) is reported to have said, “Certainly Allah Ta’ala is pure and He loves purity. Allah Ta’ala is clean and loves cleanliness. Allah Ta’ala is kind and loves kindness. Allah Ta’ala is generous and loves generosity. Hence, keep the courtyards of your homes clean and do not resemble the Jews (in their untidiness).”

9. While living in one’s home, one should conduct with respect and speak politely to the inmates of the home at all times. One should not be impolite or rude in one’s approach when dealing with one’s family.

If the parents correct their children for any mistake, then the children should humbly accept their mistake and should not backchat their parents or argue with them.

It is permissible for parents to correct their children when they make mistakes. However, they should adopt a respectful and caring attitude. They should not swear or use vulgar language when correcting their children.

Being rude, swearing or using vulgar language is part of the kuffaar culture and is alien to Islam.

Apart from this, using this type of approach when correcting the children has a negative impact on the upbringing of the children and causes the children to become ill-mannered. The children will also speak rudely to others when they are overcome with anger or frustration.

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها قالت: لم يكن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فاحشا ولا متفحشا ولا صخابا في الأسواق ولا يجزي بالسيئة السيئة ولكن يعفو ويصفح (الشمائل المحمدية للترمذي رقم: 330)

Hazrat Aa’ishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) never spoke rudely (to people, as this was against his mubaarak nature of being respectful and polite), and he never displayed rudeness (in any specific situation when speaking to people e.g. at the time of anger). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would not raise his voice (or shout) while in the market place (as uncultured people do). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would not respond badly to the person who treated him in a bad manner, but instead he would forgive and pardon the person for what he had done.”

10. See to the comfort and ease of the inmates of the home, especially one’s parents and elderly family members (e.g. one’s grandparents, uncles and aunts etc.). If they have any need, then you should make yourself available to fulfil their need.

Being of service to others is a highly rewarding act and is greatly appreciated in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.

عن الأسود، قال: سألت عائشة، ما كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصنع في أهله؟ قالت: كان في مهنة أهله، فإذا حضرت الصلاة قام إلى الصلاة (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 6039)

Hazrat Aswad (rahimahullah) reports that he asked Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu anha) regarding what Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would do at home. Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu anha) replied, “He would assist his family (in the home), and when the time of salaah would come, he would go to perform salaah.”

عن جابر بن عبد الله قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: كل معروف صدقة، وإن من المعروف أن تلقى أخاك بوجه طلق وأن تفرغ من دلوك في إناء أخيك. (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 1970)

Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Every good deed is an act of sadaqah, and from the good deeds is to meet your brother with a smiling face, and (also from the good deeds is that) you pour water from your bucket into the utensil of your brother.”

عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: بينما رجل يمشي بطريق، وجد غصن شوك على الطريق، فأخره فشكر الله له فغفر له (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1914)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Once while a person was walking on a pathway, he found a thorny branch on the road. He removed it (from the pathway so that it will not be a means of inconvenience to the people). Allah Ta’ala appreciated (and accepted) this action and forgave him (because of it).”

11. While in the home, one should ensure that one remains clean at all times. If there is any foul odour coming out of one’s body or mouth, then one should clean himself or change one’s clothes, etc. so that one does not become a means of inconvenience for others with whom one interacts in the home.

Islam lays great emphasis upon adopting purity and cleanliness at all times. Hence, one should be concerned of physical and oral hygiene at all times.

Similarly, one should ensure that he keeps his heart and mind pure at all times in the home. Therefore, one should refrain from viewing haraam or doubtful content on the phone and internet while one is in the home. Viewing impermissible content adversely impacts on one’s behavior and causes the barakah of the home to be lost.

عن صالح بن أبي حسان، قال: سمعت سعيد بن المسيب، يقول: إن الله طيب يحب الطيب، نظيف يحب النظافة، كريم يحب الكرم، جواد يحب الجود، فنظفوا، أراه قال، أفنيتكم ولا تشبهوا باليهود قال: فذكرت ذلك لمهاجر بن مسمار، فقال: حدثنيه عامر بن سعد بن أبي وقاص، عن أبيه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم مثله، إلا أنه قال: نظفوا أفنيتكم (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 2799)

Hazrat Sa’eed bin Musayyib (rahimahullah) is reported to have said, “Certainly Allah Ta’ala is pure and He loves purity. Allah Ta’ala is clean and loves cleanliness. Allah Ta’ala is kind and loves kindness. Allah Ta’ala is generous and loves generosity. Hence, keep the courtyards of your homes clean and do not resemble the Jews (in their untidiness).”

12. While in the home, after eating, one should make miswaak. Similarly, at other times, if one perceives the need to make miswaak, then one should do so.

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن كان قاله لولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم بالسواك مع الوضوء وقال أبو هريرة رضي الله عنه لقد كنت أستن قبل أن أنام وبعد ما أستيقظ وقبل ما آكل وبعد ما آكل حين سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول ما قال (مسند أحمد، الرقم: 9194)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, and most certainly he had said, “Had it not been for the fear of my Ummah experiencing difficulty, I would have certainly commanded them (and made it compulsory upon them) to use the miswaak at the time of every wudhu (however, using the miswaak is not compulsory but an emphasized sunnah).” Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) further said, “On account of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) emphasizing the use of the miswaak, I made it a habit to use the miswaak before going to sleep, upon awakening, before eating and after eating.” 

عن جعفر بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال ما لي أراكم تدخلون علي قلحا استاكوا ولولا أن أشق على أمتي لأمرتهم أن يستاكوا عند كل صلاة (كتاب الآثار، الرقم: 41)

It is reported from Hazrat Ja’far (radhiyallahu anhu) that on one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) addressed certain people saying, “What is the matter that you come to me in the condition where I see your teeth to be yellow? I advise you to cleanse your teeth with the miswaak.” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then said, “Had it not been for the fear of my Ummah experiencing difficulty, I would have certainly commanded them (and made it compulsory upon them) to use the miswaak at the time of every salaah (however, using the miswaak is not compulsory but an emphasized sunnah at the time of wudhu).”

عن عبد الله بن بشر المازني رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قصوا أظافيركم وادفنوا قلاماتكم ونقوا براجمكم ونظفوا لثاتكم من الطعام وتسننوا ولا تدخلوا علي قخرا بخرا (نوادر الأصول تحت الأصل التاسع والعشرين في باب النظافة)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Bishr (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Trim your nails and bury your nails, cleanse your joints thoroughly, keep your gums clean from food particles, make miswaak, and do not come to me in the condition that I find your teeth to be yellow and your mouths emitting a bad odour.”