An Ideal Home
An ideal home is one where love, compassion, respect, and mutual cooperation form the foundation of family life. It is a home where members live together peacefully, understanding one another’s feelings and supporting each other’s spiritual and physical growth. Harmony and tranquility prevail in such a household, and every individual contributes to the moral and emotional development of the family.
From the Islamic perspective, a successful family is not only a place of comfort but also a center of spiritual training and moral refinement. Each member is responsible for nurturing values of faith, kindness, and sincerity.
In this article, we will explore a few essential guidelines for building such an ideal home as taught by Islam — beginning with the purity of intention in marriage.
The Sincerity of Intentions
Marriage, in Islam, is a sacred bond that brings numerous blessings to both husband and wife. It is the source of love and mercy between two hearts, a shield against loneliness, and a means of peace and stability in life. Through marriage, families unite, one’s sustenance increases, and half of one’s faith is preserved. It provides lawful fulfillment of natural desires, the joy of having children, and companionship in the journey of life.
However, beyond these worldly benefits lies a deeper spiritual dimension: when marriage is entered for the sake of Allah (SWT), it becomes an act of worship. The purity of intention transforms an ordinary contract into a divine covenant blessed by God’s mercy.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) said:
“Whoever marries and visits his relatives for the sake of Allah, Allah will honor him with a crown like that of the angels.” (1)
In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“He who marries to please Allah and to establish a righteous family, Allah will adorn his head with the crown of angels.”
Such an individual rises in spiritual rank, becoming equal in worth to the angels in the sight of Allah. Therefore, it is vital that the foundation of marriage and the beginning of family life be laid upon sincere intentions and pure motives.
Muslim men and women must give utmost attention to this matter so that both their worldly and spiritual lives may be blessed with divine mercy, acceptance, and prosperity.
Imam Ali (peace be upon him – Imam ‘Ali A.S.) beautifully stated:
“Among all deeds, none holds value except those accepted by Allah.”
Hence, sincerity is the soul of every action. Without it, even the greatest acts lose their worth in the eyes of God.
The Peak of Sincere Intention
To illustrate the power of pure intention, let us reflect upon a remarkable story narrated about Prophet Moses (peace be upon him – Prophet Musa A.S.) and Prophet Jethro (peace be upon him – Prophet Shu‘ayb A.S.).
It is said that one day, Prophet Musa (A.S.) helped Prophet Shu‘ayb (A.S.) by watering his flocks of sheep. In return, Shu‘ayb (A.S.) invited him to his home. When Musa (A.S.) entered his house, he saw that a table was already set with food. Shu‘ayb (A.S.) kindly requested him to sit and eat.
However, Prophet Musa (A.S.), despite being hungry, hesitated and said that he would not eat because he feared the food might be given as payment for his earlier deed of kindness — watering the sheep. He explained,
“We are from a family who never exchange even a single act done for Allah’s sake for the goods of this world, not even for a heap of pure gold.”
Upon hearing this, Prophet Shu‘ayb (A.S.) assured him,
“O young man! By Allah, I did not intend to compensate you for your good deed. It is our family’s tradition to host guests and feed them sincerely for the sake of Allah.”
When Prophet Musa (A.S.) realized that Shu‘ayb’s intention was also pure and for the sake of Allah, he accepted the invitation and joined him at the table. (2)
This story beautifully reflects the depth of sincerity in the hearts of Allah’s chosen servants. Though Prophet Musa (A.S.) had been wandering for days, exhausted and hungry, he refused to allow even the smallest act of worldly desire to mix with his service for Allah. His action demonstrated a level of purity that only prophets and the truly righteous attain.
Equally, Prophet Shu‘ayb’s (A.S.) sincerity became a means for divine blessing — for it was after this meeting that Musa (A.S.) stayed with Shu‘ayb (A.S.) as his shepherd for eight years and later married one of his daughters. Both prophets were united by their pure intentions, and through their sincerity, Allah granted them honor, closeness, and success.
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