allaah the almighty says (what means): {and allaah has made for you from your homes a place of rest.}[quran 16:80]

you have told the truth, o our lord! the home is a place of rest, stability, comfort, reassurance, safety and tranquility, in which we live, and with which we protect ourselves from the heat of summer and the cold of winter. it is also our shelter in which we take refuge after the trouble and toil of the day.

undoubtedly, the muslim home differs from any other. its inhabitants carry in their chests a glorious belief which fills their hearts with the light of faith, and this light is reflected on all aspects of their life. a muslim person should be (an example of the) quran among people, the same as was the moral character of the messenger of allaah, . for this reason, a muslim home, with its corners, furniture, and the way it is arranged, should express the islam of its owner.

the muslim home might be a simple hut, or a graceful palace, and in either there is pleasure, gratitude, satisfaction and living in the shades of the noble quran and sunnah. the family members are happy, not because they have great furniture or expensive fittings, but because happiness springs from their believing hearts and reassured souls. this is because they are pleased with allaah the almighty as their lord, islam as their religion and muhammad, , as their prophet and messenger.

the houses of the prophet, , were a good pattern for an islamic home. as small in size and modest in building as they might have been, they were full of happiness and satisfaction, and remained the highest ideal for the homes of the companions and any of the muslims who wished to lay the foundation of a home afterwards.

the houses of the prophet, , were established on obedience and seeking the satisfaction of allaah the almighty, thereby representing the best example of the real islamic home. allaah the almighty says (what means): {then is one who laid the foundation of his building on righteousness [with fear] from allaah and [seeking] his approval better or one who laid the foundation of his building on the edge of a bank about to collapse, so it collapsed with him into the fire of hell? and allaah does not guide the wrongdoing people.} [quran 9:109]

although the houses of the prophet, , were as humble, only enough as to satisfy his need, as simple as to cover (the minimum requirements of) his living, they were full of happiness, where their inhabitants were well-pleased with the fate and sustenance endowed to them by allaah the almighty, and believing in the statement of the prophet, : “he, upon whom morning comes while being safe and sound, healthy in his body, and having the sustenance of his day, seems as if the entire world has been granted for him.” [at-tirmithi and ibn maajah]

the houses of the prophet, , were based on worship and obedience to allaah the almighty, where humbleness, simplicity and abstinence from the enjoyment of this worldly life seemed evident. all his houses surrounded the mosque. some of them were built of palm reeds covered with mud, others of stones piled on top of each other, having their ceiling made of palm reeds.

the home of the mother of believers, ‘aa‘ishah the dearest of his wives to him after khadeejah consisted of one chamber, built of bricks covered with mud, and another room annexed to it, made of palm reeds, covered with animal hair. its door had a single wooden post, and its ceiling was low, like all the other houses of the prophet, . it had simple furniture: a bed of pieces of wood tied with fiber ropes, having a cushion of leather stuffed with fiber; a water-skin; and clay vessels for his food and ablution.

simplicity and contentment also seemed evident in the homes of the companions of the messenger of allaah, . the furniture of faatimah the daughter of the prophet, , with which she was wed to ‘ali ibn abi taalib consisted of a mantle of velvet, a cushion of leather stuffed with fiber, a millstone, a water-skin and two jars. that was the furniture of the leader of the women of paradise, and the daughter of the master of all the prophets, may allaah exalt their mention. this shows how the houses of the prophet, , and of his companions were a good model for the islamic home.

if such was the state of the houses of the prophet, , and his companions this does not mean that islam impedes one from being blessed in a graceful spacious home; on the contrary, according to islam, that is a sustenance, favor and grace bestowed by allaah the almighty upon whomever he pleases. allaah the almighty says (what means): {say, “who has forbidden the adornment of allaah which he has produced for his servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?”} [quran 7:32] the messenger of allaah, , said: “four things bring about happiness: a righteous woman (i.e., wife), a spacious residence, a good neighbor, and a comfortable means of transport.” [al-haakim] man then has to utilize this pleasure in all that is good, for he would be held accountable about it on the day of judgment as confirmed by allaah the almighty in the verse (which means): {then you will surely be asked that day about pleasure.} [quran 102:8]

the muslim family neither boasts nor shows pride over others because of the favors of allaah the almighty bestowed upon it. it always shows the bounty and favor conferred by allaah the almighty upon it in response to his statement (which means): {but as for the favor of your lord, report [it].} [quran 93:11]  and, acting upon the statement of the messenger of allaah, : “indeed, allaah likes to see the signs of his favor on his slave.” [at-tirmithi and al-haakim]

once, ‘ali ibn abi taalib passed by a man who was building a house, thereupon he said to him, “you were dead before you came to life, and in a short while you will be dead [yet again]. you are building a house for the perishing abode [i.e. this worldly life], so build a house for the eternal abode [i.e. the hereafter as well].”

the main point lies not in the walls and furniture of the house so much as it lies in its inhabitants. hence, every family member could bring about happiness and satisfaction to his household with the smallest thing available to him. the faithful believer is intelligent and prudent, as the messenger of allaah, , said: “the sagacious one is he who holds himself accountable [for his deeds], and works for [the life] after death; and the incompetent is he who subjugates his self to its fancies and has hopeful expectations from allaah.”[ahmad, at-tirmithi and ibn maajah]