A BELIEVER’S HOME
In the Quran, while addressing the noble wives of the Prophet of Islam, it is said:
“Stay in your homes and do not flaunt your charms as in the former times of ignorance. Attend to your prayers, pay the zakat and obey God and His Messenger. Women of the [Prophet’s] Household, God seeks only to remove all impurity from you, and to make you completely pure. Bear in mind all that is recited in your homes of the revelations of God and of wisdom. God is all-pervading and all-aware.” (33:33-34)
At its most immediate level, these verses instruct the wives of the Prophet on how they should live in their homes. They are advised to give up the habit of public display that was common in the age of ignorance and to live with dignity and composure. Their homes should be centers of remembrance, prayer, zakat, and charity. Their lives should be marked by obedience to God and the Prophet of Islam. Their homes should echo with discussions rooted in divine knowledge and wisdom. The overall environment should reflect noble human character.
Just as the life of the Prophet of Islam was a model for all Muslims, his household also serves as a model for every home. Until the end of time, all Muslim men and women are obligated to shape their homes according to the example the Prophet established during his lifetime.
1. A Muslim woman should make her home the center of her efforts. The home is the basic unit of social life, and it is the woman’s responsibility to strengthen this unit. When individual homes are set right, the society as a whole begins to improve.
2. The atmosphere of a Muslim woman’s home should be simple and modest, not extravagant or showy. A lavish home nurtures a materialistic mindset, while a simple home encourages spiritual awareness. A flashy home draws attention to worldly life, while a modest home reminds one of the Hereafter. A material environment cultivates worldly desires, while a simple one supports a life of purpose and mission. Showiness fosters superficial character, while simplicity develops depth and dignity.
3. A believing woman’s home is a place of worship—where the five daily prayers are observed, fasting is practiced, charity is given, and the names of God and the Prophet of Islam are frequently mentioned. Rather than being absorbed in distractions, her focus remains on spiritual and religious development.
4. A believer’s home is centered on obedience to God and the Prophet of Islam. In every matter, large or small, the guiding question is: What has God commanded? What is the example of the Prophet? What guidance is found in the lives of the Companions? By seeking direction from these sources, the home becomes a place of genuine faith and submission.
5. A believer’s home is a place of purity. Just as a bathroom cleanses the body, a believer’s home becomes the space for purification of the soul. Its environment is marked by dignity, compassion, sincerity, principle, and acknowledgement of truth. Those who live in such a home continue to grow and refine their character, so that when they go out into the world, they reflect the traits of someone shaped by divine guidance.
People often build their homes to impress others. A believing man or woman, however, builds a home that is pleasing to God—so that angels may bring blessings into it, and from it emerge individuals of high moral character. Such a home becomes a source of peace and success in both this world and the next.
In these verses, while the direct address is to the Prophet’s wives, the guidance extends to all Muslim women. It outlines how they should live in their homes and what model they should adopt. In ordinary circumstances, a Muslim woman should remain within her household domain. She should not adopt the public displays common among worldly women. Her focus should be on worshiping God, spending her resources in His cause, and promptly following divine guidance in all aspects of life. She should dedicate her time to listening to and understanding the teachings of God and the Prophet of Islam.
This way of life purifies the soul—and only purified souls are beloved to God.
