How to protect our families from the Fire

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

How to protect our families from the Fire (1/6)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid



Raising and caring for a family is putting the order of Allah the Exalted into action, when He the Exalted Said (what means):
"O you, who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire." [Qur’an, Surah At-Tahrim, 66:6]

It is a way that one can follow in the footsteps of the noble prophets of Allah the Exalted whom Allah the Exalted ordered us to follow when He Said (what means):
"So from their guidance take an example." [Qur’an, Surah Al-An'am, 6:90]

The example of the prophets being keen on safeguarding their families is evident in what Allah the Exalted Said regarding his prophet Isma`eel (Ishmael), may Allah exalt his mention, (what means): "And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet. And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and Zakah and was to his Lord pleasing." [Qur’an, Surah Maryam, 19:54-55]

The first obligation of the Muslim is to base the foundation of his household on the fear of Allah the Exalted and on proof and evidence. They must make their household a Muslim household in the true sense of the word. They should guide their family to performing the obligations that allow them to reach Allah the Exalted and make them closer to Paradise.

A believer is responsible for guiding their family by showing them the way and reforming their household, just as they are responsible for guiding themselves and reforming their homes, because the Prophet, sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: “All of you are guardians, and all of you are held accountable. So, a leader is a guardian, and they are responsible for things under their guard. A man is a guardian of his family, and he is responsible for that. A woman is a guardian over the house of her husband, and she is responsible for that. A slave is a guardian over the wealth of their master, and they are responsible for that. All of you are guardians, and all of you are responsible and are held accountable.”[1] This text shows us the responsibility of the Muslim and the general responsibility that no one is free of and that has no exceptions.

The responsibility a believer has regarding their own selves and family is a heavy and intimidating one. Hellfire has been prepared for the unjust, and a believer and their family might be susceptible to entering it. They must protect themselves and their families from it.

In order to protect our families from the Fire, we must pay attention to several issues, including:

First: Keenness on teaching them the Book of Allah the Exalted and the matters pertaining to their religion:
Religious knowledge is a means of fearing Allah the Exalted. Out of all the slaves of Allah the Exalted, the scholars are those who fear Allah the Exalted the most. When the leader of the household is keen on teaching their family the Book of Allah the Exalted and Islamic knowledge that pertains to them, then they have placed them on the first path of safety from the Fire.

The Haneef religion (i.e., religion that inclines away from polytheism) urges people to teach their womenfolk and guide them to correct manners. Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, named a chapter: “Chapter: A man should teach their slave-girl and wife.” In this chapter, he placed the Hadeeth of Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “There are three individuals who have two rewards… A man who has a slave-girl, teaches her good manners in a good way, teaches her in a good way, then frees her and marries her, such a person has two rewards.”[2] Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The relation of the Hadeeth to the chapter heading and mentioning a slave-girl is through the obvious text, but it applies to the wife through analogy, since keenness regarding one’s free wives in teaching them the obligations of Allah and the traditions of His Messenger is more important than keenness regarding one’s slave-girl.”[3].

Adh-Dhahhaak, may Allah have mercy on him, and Muqaatil, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “It is a right on the Muslim to teach their family, such as their relatives, slave-girls, and servants, what Allah the Exalted has made obligatory on them and what He the Exalted has prohibited for them.”[4].

So, we must teach the religion, good things, and manners that they must learn to our children and families.

The religion has given women the right to being accorded special care in teaching. Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Chapter: Can women be given a day in solitude with knowledge?” Then, he mentioned the Hadeeth of Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “Women said to the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam: ‘The men have overtaken us in benefitting from you, so give us a day that is convenient for you.’ At that, he appointed them a day when he would meet them, and would admonish them and enjoin them.”[5].

In the narration of Sahl ibn Saalih, may Allah have mercy on him, who reported from his father, may Allah have mercy on him, who reported from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, something similar to this story, and in it, the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Your appointment is in the home of so-and-so woman.”[6] So, he went there and taught them. So, the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave them a specific timing and place wherein he would teach them.

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “I went with the Prophet, sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam, during the day of (‘Eed) Al-Fitr or Adha, and he prayed, then gave a sermon, then went to the women, admonished them, reminded them, and ordered them to give charity.”[7].

Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned some benefits of this Hadeeth, saying: “It is recommended to admonish women, teach them the rulings of Islam, and remind them regarding the matters that are obligated on them. It is recommended to urge them to give charity, and to do so in a specific sitting. All of this should be done if there is no fear of Fitnah or corruption.”[8]


[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari (5188) and the wording is his, and Muslim (1829).

[2] Reported by Al-Bukhari (97) and Muslim (154).

[3] Fat-h Al-Baari (1/190).

[4] Tafseer Ibn Katheer (4/502).

[5] Reported by Al-Bukhari (102) and Muslim (2634).

[6] Reported by An-Nasaa’i in Al-Kubra (3/452), Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (3003) and Al-Humaydi in his Musnad (1067). Shu`ayb Al-Arnaa’oot said: “The chain of narration is authentic according to the conditions stipulated by Muslim.”

[7] Reported by Al-Bukhari (932) and Muslim (884).

[8] Fath Al-Baari (3/407).

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

How to protect our families from the Fire (2/6)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
A man should be forgiving and should entertain their questions and objections to what he says with a smiling face. They should try to give them the information in the correct manner.
Ibn Abu Mulaykah, may Allah have mercy on him, reported that whenever ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, would hear about something she would ask about it in order to understand it correctly, and that the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever is thoroughly examined regarding their accounting will be punished.” ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “Did not Allah the Exalted Say (what means): "He will be judged with an easy account" [Qur’an, Surah Al-Inshiqaq, 84:8]” He, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “That is when the actions are presented. However, whoever is thoroughly examined with regards to their accounting will be destroyed.[1]”

Thus, there are some people who will be accounted in an easy manner. They will not be asked about every minor and major sin that they did. Their accounting will end very swiftly and they will proceed to Paradise. As for those who are examined about their actions, and are asked about all major and minor sins that they did, they will be destroyed and punished. We ask Allah the Exalted for safety and protection.
Here we have ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, despite being a woman, asking her husband, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, regarding issues that were confusing to her. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to answer her questions. Our women should follow in the footsteps of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, by asking about matters pertaining to their religion, and our men should follow in the footsteps of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, by teaching their women.
Actually, ignorance that overtakes a wife, daughter, and sister due to the negligence of the man might actually affect them even in their grave. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that when ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was killed, Hafsah, may Allah be pleased with her, cried for him. At that, he, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Stop, O young woman! Do you not know that Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘The dead person would be punished due to their family crying over them.[2]’
Scholars have various ways of interpreting this Hadeeth, and of the strongest views is that they are punished in their graves if they knew that it was the practice of their family to wail but neglected teaching them regarding the prohibition of wailing and did not prevent them from doing so before they died. If that is so, they would be punished in their graves due to their wailing over them, and this is a good interpretation of the Hadeeth, and it reconciles between it and when Allah the Exalted Said (what means): "No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another." [Qur’an, Surah Al-An’am, 6:164]
A man must ask about the issues that their family needs to know but they do not know. We are very pleased when we hear of men going to people of knowledge and asking questions pertinent to their women, such as matters of purity dealing with natural blood, rulings of her relatives, whom she must cover in front of, and whom she does not need to cover in front of.
Whenever a man does this, it shows that they are keen regarding their family, and are keen on implementing when Allah the Exalted Said (what means): "O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones. " [Qur’an, Surah At-Tahrim, 66:6] So, they are certain of the responsibility and feel it, which is why they ask regarding rulings for their wives.
At the end of this section, it is appropriate to give advice that the following matters be taught to the family:
As for the Qur’an, they should be made to memorize whatever they need in order for their prayers to be sound and can be used to be implemented during their lives, such as Juz’ ‘Amma and Tabaarak, Soorat Al-Kahf, An-Noor, and Al-Hujuraat, while also knowing the explanation of what they memorize.
A student of knowledge asked a teacher before traveling, saying: “My teacher, what do you advise me to do?” He said: “I advise you to stay connected with the Book of Allah the Exalted through recitation, reflection, memorization, and knowing its explanation.” This is one of the most comprehensive advice that we should raise our families upon.
We must establish a close connection with the Book of Allah the Exalted, and we should be keen regarding bringing the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, alive in our lives. Allah the Exalted Said (what means):
"And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom." [Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:34]
Wisdom here means the Sunnah.
In the field of Hadeeth, then the book Al-Arba’een An- Nawawiyyah should be explained to them, and they should be urged to memorize it. In ‘Aqeedah, we should teach them an easy book, such as 200 Questions and Answers regarding ‘Aqeedah by Haafith Al-Hakami, may Allah have mercy on him.
In jurisprudence, we should teach them the characteristics of ablution and prayer of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as well as matters pertaining to women, such as Hijaab, adornments, and issues pertaining to menstruation.
One should not neglect teaching the biography of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, especially to young kids. Admonishment and reminders should have a specific focus in our lessons. The lessons should not be turned into simply imparting information wherein the opinions of various scholars are mentioned, but one forgets to mention the Lord the Giver. Many people are driven away by their dull knowledge from finding mistakes and illnesses in their hearts. Hearts become rusty, and its rust is removed through remembrance of Allah the Exalted.
It is important that when teaching our children, the effort should be consistent and not inconsistent. The class should have an appointed time that is weekly, and the entire family is instructed to attend and no one may be absent. This class should be a regular occurrence in our homes for the lifetime.
Enjoining them to perform obligations and supervising them:
The head of the household should be diligent with regards to the obligations and following up with their spouse and children. They should also be watchful over them to see if they are performing the obligations, especially prayer. They should urge them to establish the prayer with its pillars, conditions, obligations, and voluntary actions at their appointed times, especially Fajr prayer.
Shaykh ‘Abd Al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked: “If a person has a class in the mosque after Fajr, and they go out to the prayer while their family is sleeping, must they go back and wake their family, even if they miss some parts of the class, or if they miss the entire class? Or, should he sit in the class?” He said: “He must go back, because ordering his family to pray is obligatory, while attending the class is voluntary. They should not give precedence to a voluntary action over an obligatory one; he must go home and wake his family.”
The unfortunate reality is that people do not take proper care regarding the prayers of our families and children and there is a great deal of negligence. Do you know, O guardian who is responsible, how to teach your child to pray? Our children learn how to pray from each other. They all look at one another and imitate each other. Besides, children are not taught the importance of concentration in the prayer and implementation of the voluntary actions therein. We should ask why they do not learn from their fathers and guardians.

[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari (103) and Muslim (2876).

[2] Reported by Al-Bukhari (1288) and Muslim (927).

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

How to protect our families from the Fire (3/6)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Obligations we must be watchful over regarding our families:
The obligation of charity (Zakah); some of our relatives might have wealth, jewelry, or business that requires them to pay Zakah. At that, we must admonish them to pay Zakah, following the footsteps of the Prophet of Allah, Isma’eel (Ishmael), may Allah exalt his mention, who used to order his family to pray and give Zakah, as Allah the Exalted Said (what means): "And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet. And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and Zakah and was to his Lord pleasing." [Qur’an, Surah Maryam, 19:54-55]
Also, the head of the household must be watchful of their family while fasting and should help them in making up the days that they were not fasting in Ramadhan by fasting with them and urging them to be make haste in making up those days.

We should make it easy for our womenfolk to perform Hajj and ‘Umrah and to organize our time to travel with them in performing these two rites, because she needs a Mahram (male relative whom she cannot marry) to accompany her in her travels. The husband must not stand in the way of his wife if she wishes to perform the obligatory Hajj and has a Mahram. It is impermissible for him to prevent her from making the obligatory Hajj. Also, she does not have to obey him if he orders her to stay back while she is able to go.
If you can enable your family to preserve their religion, then I congratulate you. Life is truly amazing in a house where all of its members turn to Allah the Exalted, obeying His commands, and abstaining from His prohibitions.
Second: Keenness on worship-based upbringing in family life:
The man must work hard to raise the level of worship in family life. They should not make do with merely fulfilling what Allah the Exalted obligated on them, rather, they should encourage them to pray the emphasized voluntary prayers, the voluntary prayers, and the recommended prayers, just as the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to do, as ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “Allah’s Messenger would, when the last ten nights would enter, would bring the night to life (through prayer), would wake his family, and would become serious and dedicated in prayer.”[1]
Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, woke one night and said: “Transcendent is Allah! How many afflictions have been sent down by Allah tonight, and how many treasures have been sent down? Who will wake the women sleeping in these rooms? Perhaps one will be clothed in this world, but naked in the Hereafter.”[2]
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to pray by night, and when he would pray the Witr prayer, he would say: ‘Get up and pray Witr, O ‘Aa’ishah.’[3]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up and prays by night and wakes his wife and she also prays and if she refuses, he lightly drips some water on her face. May Allah have mercy on a woman who gets up and prays by night and wakes her husband and he also prays and if he refuses, she lightly drips some water on his face.” [4]
Abu Waa’il, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“We went in the morning once to ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood after praying Fajr. We greeted him and he gave us permission to enter, but we remained at the door for a short while. A slave-girl came and said: ‘Will you not enter?’ We entered and found him sitting and glorifying Allah.
He said: ‘What stopped you from entering while I had given you permission?’ They said: ‘Nothing but we thought that some of the household would be asleep.’ He said: ‘You think that the family of Ibn Umm ‘Abd (meaning, Ibn Mas’ood) is heedless? (meaning, that they do not wake for Fajr or that they do not glorify and remember Allah after Fajr).’ Then, he proceeded to glorify Allah the Exalted until he thought the sun had risen.
Then, he said: ‘O girl, go see if the sun has risen.’ She went and checked and found that it had not yet risen.
So, he continued again to glorify Allah until he thought that it had risen, and said: ‘O girl, go see if the sun has risen.’ She went and checked and found that it had risen. He then said: ‘All praise is for Allah who forgave us this day and did not destroy us due to our sins.’[5]
An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “This Hadeeth contains evidence that a man should be keen regarding their household and those under his care in matters pertaining to their religion.”[6]
Third: Teaching the family to have praiseworthy manners, shyness, and modesty:
Mujaahid, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Advise yourselves and your families to fear Allah, and teach your family manners.”[7] No doubt, the head of the household must work to develop praiseworthy manners in their family, such as honesty, trustworthiness, a spirit of forgiveness, contentment, and patience. They should also teach them humility, modesty and how to treat parents, neighbors, relatives, and friends.
The husband must also be watchful over the tongue of his wife or daughter especially in regard to backbiting and slandering. He should also create an environment where the womenfolk of his family meet with righteous women. He should not allow them to mix with others, or he should prevent non-religious women from entering his home, because women's gatherings entail incurring numerous sins of the tongue, and sitting with righteous women lessens these sins.

[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari (2024) and Muslim (2008).

[2] Reported by Al-Bukhari (1058).

[3] Reported by Muslim (744).

[4] Reported by Abu Daawood (1308) and An-Nasaa’i (1610) and it was ruled as acceptable by Al-Albaani in his book Saheeh At-Targheeb wa At-Tarheeb (625).

[5] Reported by Muslim (823).

[6] Sharh Muslim (6/107).

[7] Reported by Al-Bukhari without a chain of narration or with a partial chain of narration (4/1868).

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

How to protect our families from the Fire (4/6)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid



Some dissolute female companions might teach our women matters which corrupt the nature or religion, as some men mention that their wives ask to have intercourse in an area prohibited by legislation, and she informed him that her friend does that with her husband, and refuge is sought with Allah the Exalted.
We must be keen that the women in our family should save their time and not waste it. Some women waste their time in long phone calls without any benefit that is worth mentioning. So, the caller to Allah the Exalted must guide their family and inform them of the value of time.
Likewise, one must teach women the etiquette of speaking to non-related men, the recommended mannerisms and perils thereof. They should be taught how to answer the phone if the caller is a non-related man. Also, they should make sure that when a woman is going to a wedding or feast or places such as those places, that nothing reprehensible occurs in such festivities.
They should also be watchful over the covering of the woman when she goes out, and should make sure it is long, covers the whole body, is thick, is not scented, does not resemble clothes of men or disbelieving women, and is loose rather than tight.
Unfortunately, some people who ascribe themselves to Islam display manners that are more suited to a cuckold or someone whose sense of right and wrong is dull.
Due to that, they do not care for the modesty and Islamic covering of their wife, daughters, or sisters. So, you find them allowing their daughters to go out however they want and with whomever they want. They have no one watching over them or taking them to account. If such an individual is reprimanded for that, his excuse is that she is still young and that he trusts her completely.
Some people take their womenfolk to gardens and parks, and there, he allows her to play around as they wish and do whatever they want. Some parts of their bodies might become uncovered and their covering would be neglected.
Even more disastrous is that some people do not ask their women where they are going and where they are coming from. A man would be ordered by his wife or daughter to drive them to a particular place, and he would comply without asking about the reason they are going there or the place they are going to.
Worse than that is that he drops her off there and allows her to return with a chauffeur. Does not this grievous matter lead to reprehensible actions that in turn lead to great calamities in society?
A man is responsible for all of this, and you have a good example in Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to have great protective zeal for his wives, as reported that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered on her while there was a man sitting with her, and that severely bothered him.
She said: “I noticed anger in his face, and then he, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O ‘Aa’ishah, who is this?” I said: ‘This is my brother due to suckling.’ He, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Be careful of whom you consider your brothers through suckling, because suckling only occurs when the child is suckled at a young enough age that breast milk satisfies them, and they are suckled to the point that they are full.”[1] Meaning, before allowing a man to enter your homes and claiming that they are your brothers from suckling, make sure that suckling actually occurred in the timeframe that is recognized, or if it occurred in a timeframe that is not recognized, making the impermissibility of marriage thereafter invalid.
Fourth: Warning the family of the dangers of the people of misguidance:
One of the most important ways to save the family from deviation and misguidance is to teach them the practices and dangers of criminals and the people of misguidance in how they misguide others due to their vileness by presenting misguidance and sin in beautiful manners, and calling it by another name.
Two of the most important things that one must warn the women of are:
• Certain criminals try to incite them to remove their covering and take them out of their homes in order to enjoy themselves with her, and they call it "freedom" of women.
• Undermining the Islamic family and its size, and lessening the size of the Islamic Ummah, and they call it the plan of birth *******.
These calls have been given by many satellite channels that have been established solely in order to destroy homes and manners and to kill modesty and shyness.
Fifth: Safeguarding the home from blameworthy matters:
Many fathers are negligent regarding their families and children during these times.
A child might watch something reprehensible in the home, which would embed itself in their mind slowly and their heart would become inclined to sinful actions.

(Continued)

[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari (5102) and Muslim (1455).

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

How to protect our families from the Fire (5/6)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid



There are many reprehensible matters in the homes which can be divided into three categories:
First Category:
Reprehensible actions which are specific to the head of the household. These are very dangerous, because the child is raised while seeing his role-model doing those actions, such as smoking and watching movies and soap-operas. Some of them order their children to stay away from sins, but they commit them in front of them, then ask later on: why did my child go astray?

Listen to some elementary school teachers who relate what the children speak about innocently and spontaneously concerning reprehensible actions that occur in their homes. One of them said: “One of my students spoke to me, and he was in one of the elementary levels. He said: ‘My father drinks alcohol in the house, but when his friends come to drink alcohol together, he takes us out of the room.’ I said: ‘Perhaps they are drinking juice,’ and the child said: ‘No, I know it, they are drinking alcohol.’”

This young boy of six years old has this to say about his father. The father thinks that if he takes his boy out of the room he will not know what is happening. It did not cross his mind that children are intelligent and can understand many things. Another child said to his teacher: “My father does to the maid what my mother does to the driver.” Do you realize what the father is doing and what the mother is doing? What do we hope from such children when they become older? What kind of life, misery, and unhappiness will overcome these children while they witness such awful immoral actions being perpetrated in their homes?

Second Category:
Reprehensible matters which are specific to women and children but are facilitated by a man for his family. He might do so just to let them have some leisure, and does not wish to plant different types of sin and evil in them.

Many things that are facilitated for our children conflict with religion and our beliefs and plant polytheism and disbelief in them. Some cartoons, for example, plant the love of magic and magicians in the hearts of our children, while magic is disbelief in Allah the Exalted. In such movies, or in some video games, you find that the magician is a good person, helps the innocent, and fights the criminals. So, you find that the child wishes that the “good” magician is victorious. Therefore, look how the beliefs are turned upside down.

We do not mean that we should not give our families and children their rights in recreation or lawful leisure that is free of blameworthy matters, but, from the rights of the family and children on their parents is that they provide them with beneficial games, various types of lawful leisure, and to remove anything that would corrupt their religion or mind.

Earlier, when we would hear about an individual bringing things into the household that corrupts them, we should think that they just want them to amuse themselves and make them happy, and that they were heedless with regards to the types of corruption that such things cause. We did not believe that anyone would purposely try to corrupt their families, until I heard some stories that are contrary to intellect and sound nature. One of the young women said: “My father used to bring pornographic movies to the house and used to force me to watch them while I was two years and a half.”

Another says: “My father, since I was young, would take us with him to disbelieving countries during summer break. He would take us with him to bars that had dancing and corruption. After we got older and became young women who reached puberty, he would order us to dance with young disbelieving men. He would give us to them by his own hand in order to dance with them, and they could do what they wanted to us.” These are two stories I have heard myself and they were not told to me by anyone besides the two narrators.

These are astonishing examples that indicate complete bankruptcy of religion, manners, modesty, and the instinct to safeguard one’s family and preserve their modesty. These are examples that are present in our Islamic society. We are not talking about American or English societies in the disbelieving nations, we are talking about something that is present among us; this is how some of them raise their children, then we ask why sins are so widespread in our societies, why there are so many indecent incidents, and why fornication is so widespread.

Third category:
Immorality and immodesty in society works its way into our homes. The growing corruption and decadence in the markets, streets, and schools easily work their ways into our homes, because our children go to these places and mix with both righteous and corrupt people. The presence of corrupt individuals is glaring in our societies today. Thus, the head of the household must warn their families and children from learning from this society.

The Muslim who is a sincere advisor must constantly supplicate to Allah the Exalted to safeguard their family from the prevailing decadence and widespread destructive sins in our societies today.

For example, Loote (Lot), may Allah exalt his mention, lived in a corrupt society, and his people did not accept that he and his family be far from sin, and they pressured him in various ways. What did he say? He used to pray fervently to Allah and call on Him, saying (what means):

"My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do." [Qur’an, Surah Ash-Shu'ara' 26:169] He, may Allah exalt his mention, was keen on saving his family from corruption, and now, every Muslim with a sound mind should say: "My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do." [Qur’an, Surah Ash-Shu'ara' 26:169] Because the corruption that is present in our societies is similar to those of the people of Loote, may Allah exalt his mention; rather, they are more.

Allah the Exalted answered the supplication of Loote, may Allah exalt his mention, as He the Exalted Said (what means): "So We saved him and his family, all," [Qur’an, Surah Ash-Shu'ara', 26:170] This is the recompense of honesty and sincerity.

Here are some examples from the guidance of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions in correcting some reprehensible matters in their homes:
• The Prophet, sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam, rejected certain blameworthy acts in his home:

‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that she purchased a cushion that had some images on it. When the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw her, he stood at the door and did not enter. She realized that he disliked something and said: “O Allah’s Messenger, I ask the forgiveness of Allah and of His Messenger; what have I done wrong?” He, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What is that cushion?” She said: I purchased it so that you can sit and lie down on it.” He, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said; “Those who create these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them: ‘Bring to life what you have created."[1].

In another narration, it states that he did not enter until she removed it from the house[2].

Also, the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, expelled an effeminate man who had no desire for women who used to visit the wives of the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Then, he described one of the women of At-Taa’if, and the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “This one shall not enter on you.”[3].
(Continued)

[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari (1999) and Muslim (2107).

[2] The addition was reported by Abu Bakr Ash-Shaafi’i in Kitaab Al-Fawaa’id. Refer to Aadaab Az-Zafaaf (pg. 115).

[3] Reported by Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (4488) and Shu’ayb Al-Arnaa’oot ruled it as authentic.

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

How to protect our families from the Fire (6/6)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid





• ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, reprimanded wailing and struck the wailing woman: Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, reported without a chain that ‘Umar expelled the sister of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, when she wailed.[1] Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Ibn Sa’d narrated it with a complete chain of narration in At-Tabaqaat, with an authentic chain of narration, from Sa’eed ibn Al-Musayyib who said:
“When Abu Bakr died, one of his relatives was wailing over him. When ‘Umar heard of that, he prohibited them from doing so, but they did not listen. He said to Hishaam ibn Al-Waleed: ‘Let us go to the home of Abu Quhaafah – meaning, that woman.’ Then, he began striking the home with a stick or whip, and the wailing women left after hearing of that.”[2] In another narration: “He expelled them, one woman at a time, while striking them with a stick or whip.”[3]


• Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, and his freeing himself from reprehensible actions: Look and reflect on the story of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, when he said: “May Allah curse the tattooed women, those women that tattoo other women, women who pluck their eyebrows, and women who create gaps in their teeth to beautify themselves, because they are changing the creation of Allah.” One of the women from Banu Asad called Umm Ya'qoob heard this and came up to him and said: “I see your family doing something of the sort.” He said: “Go and see if they do that.” She went and saw but did not see what she wanted to see. Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Had it been thus, I would not be with her under one household.”[4] The meaning is that he would not be in one home with her, would not be her companion, would not be with her, and would not allow her to remain in his house.


• Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him, and his warning his family against some prohibited matters: Abu Burdah reported that Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him, experienced some pain that caused him to become unconscious while his head was in the lap of one of his female relatives. She began to scream, but he was unable to say anything to her. When he woke up, he said: “I am free from what Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, freed himself from. Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, freed himself from women that raise their voices and scream during calamities, women that shave and cut their hair during calamities, and women that tear their clothes during calamities.”[5] Here, we have Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari, may Allah have mercy on him, rebuking his wife while on the deathbed. Should not those who are enjoying sound health take that as a lesson and call their family to goodness while rebuking them for reprehensible matters?


Sixth: Watching over women who work:
When women leave their homes for work, many times it leads to corruption. Women working is one of the great doors to spreading evil that were it not a matter of necessity or the premise of pious women, it would result in great corruption.


Almost every day we hear of terrible stories in homes due to women going to work, and so forth. A woman who worked in a company got to know a man through her workplace. The outcome was that when her husband traveled, she received that man in her home when he was not present. All began in the workplace.


Therefore, a woman going to work is a dangerous matter and must be given rules and the orders of Islamic legislation must be taken into account.


The biggest goal and wish of the enemies of Allah such as the secularists and people like them are to figure out how to get the woman out of her home. That is why we find that they are so keen on women working, and by that, they are trying to destroy the last stronghold of the Islamic society.


Seventh: Keenness on educating and disciplining the child from a young age:
Negligence in caring for a child during their young age usually leads to their becoming deviants in the future, because our society is filled with moral corruption. This is the case if the child is neglected, so how about if the parent themselves are those corrupting them? Reforming children begins at a young age. If they get older, the train of reform will have passed, unless Allah the Exalted chooses to favor whomever He Wills through His Mercy.


A father once came to Shaykh Ibn Baaz, may Allah have mercy on him, complaining, and said: “I have children that never pray. I advised them, spoke to them, admonished them, and cursed them about this, but to no avail. What should I do?” The Shaykh, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Advise them. When they reach ten years old, he should hit them until they reach puberty. As for at the time of puberty, then afterwards, hitting does not benefit, and it only results in hatred; also, the son might respond and hit their parents twice as hard as they hit them.” Look at the deep understanding of this Imam, and how he knew that children, after reaching the age of puberty, have also passed the age of reformation.


An elderly man on once said: “My daughter goes out to the street alone, hails a taxi and rides it. I do not know where she goes or where she comes from. I admonished her but she did not listen to what I said. I spoke to her mother about it, but she and her mother screamed at me and said: ‘This is how we live! Leave us alone!’ So, what should I do?”


To this we respond: now, after the period of education and raising them correctly has passed, you wish to try and advise and order them, and you wish to be obeyed? Raising and teaching children occurs best when they are young. When the young person is raised on something, they grow old doing that thing. We should fear Allah the Exalted with regard to our children and should begin teaching them when they are young, and before they enter a stage wherein they do not accept our advice or guidance.


Such a person should not despair in the Mercy of Allah the Exalted. He should continuously call them and advise them. He should also vary his methods. Thus, he should invite them sometimes, with a tape, other times through speaking to them, other times through a book, and other times through asking one of the righteous women in his family to talk to them. They should persist until Allah the Exalted rectifies their affairs, or Allah the Exalted allows a matter to proceed that He had predestined.

[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari (8/267).

[2] Reported by Ibn Sa’d in his book At-Tabaqaat (3/208).

[3] Fath Al-Baari (7/307).

[4] Reported by Al-Bukhari (4604).

[5] Reported by Al-Bukhari (1234) and Muslim (104).