BEYT

One of the major meanings of this word in Arabic is HOUSE. But house is not only the place where one lives, that is, eats drinks and resides. It is more than just a physical building. Arabs have always used BEYT to mean (among other things) the honor of a tribe or family. They say : " BEYTU BENI HARITH" meaning the family. When they say: "a man of a good BEYT", this means a man from a good and honored family. In the Book we meet this use in 28:12.

" And We ordained that he refused suck at first, until (his sister came up and said: "Shall I point out to you/take you to a people of a house (AHLU BEYTIN) who would nourish and bring him up for you and take care of him."

We see here that what they were seeking was a good family that could be trust for such a task.

Another example that may shed some light on the meaning and usage of this word (BEYT) is the fact that in Arabic a word used for a line of poetry is BEYT which contains a set of words organized in harmony, melody and is meaningful.

As we see, in the Book we meet this meaning in more that one place. BEYT is more than the physical walls, ceilings, doors and windows. It represents the attitude and the philosophy of its resident.

Let's us ponder over this verse:

"wa idh baw wa'na li ibraheema makanal beyta ALA TUSHRIKA BI SHI'AN." 22:26

"And when We pointed to Ibraheem the /position place of the House; that you associate nothing with Me."

This is the position of the BEYT. No partnership with God is allowed.

The same BEYT is to serve as reference to people, a reference that leads to security and peace.

" And when we made the House (BEYT) a reference to people and security and take you from the Position of Ibraheem musala (a linking position/ a position to follow from, .) 2:125.

The same place is set as means of support to men. (5:97)

The same place where Ibraheem once resided symbolizes monotheism and how should a BEYT be established (2:127)

Men are called to head for the site and to remember God and His bounties to man as presented through the relation of Ibraheem with God. God took Ibraheem as friend (describing the very close relation)(4:125)

Such a house (BEYT) where God is served and admired and where a life is led to please Him becomes a MASJID, a place of admiring and paying respect and giving thanks to the One who has given everything.

Ibraheem has been honored and set by God as a leading example and thus the BEYT whose foundations were set by him is made into the forbidden MASJID.

We should learn from this and try to raise our houses into MASJIDS and not to choose to build/establish them on an undermined sand-cliff.

" (Is it better he) who founds his building on a piety/God-fearing/awareness of God and His pleasure or that who founds his building on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces and it crumbles with him into pieces into fire of hell and God does not guide transgressing people." 9:109.

So this is the base for establishing and founding MASJIDS. On TAQWA (9:108)

A MASJID put up by ways of mischief and infidelity- to disunite the believers (9:107) becomes a building of suspicion and shakiness in the hearts of those we found it (9:110).