My question is in relation to adaab/ettiquettes towards madrassah kitaabs (such as Nahw, Sarf, Fiqh – dars-e-nizami kitaabs) 1) I have a madrassa bench at home alhamdulillah and hence it requires of me to sit on the floor (though I have a desk too but I don’t use it for studying deen, I prefer floor seating) However, my Grandma is bed-ridden patient. I wish to spend more time with her as I don’t manage to spend time due to college commitments, studying etc. Hence I thought to study in my Grandma’s room, so I may tend to her too. Will it be permissible for me to study seated on the floor whilst my Grandma is a bed-ridden patient hence her feet will be placed higher than my kitaabs?
I don’t wish to disrespect my kitaabs and I know we should never raise our feet high and keep kitaabs in high place etc. But as my Grandma is bed-ridden, she can’t lower her feet just for me. She is always in bed. Or should I study at a higher desk in my Grandma’s room? (But then I will be no longer seated on the floor) Secondly, my madrassa ‘study space’ is in the attic. Our attic is full of storage. I have just noticed that there are shoes (brand new) stored in a box and the box is quite high and once again, my kitaabs are lower than the shoes. Is this disrespectful too towards the kitaabs? I hope my question is clear in relation to the adaab of kitaabs. Jazakallah Khair Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is true that Shariah has emphasised on showing respect to Deeni educational books. Showing respect is based on the environment (Urf) and circumstances.
In the circumstances explained by you, your grandmother’s feet being higher will not be regarded as disrespectful to the Deeni kitabs (books) by anyone. Also, the new shoes which are in a box in the higher place of the attic is also not regarded as showing disrespect to the Deeni kitabs.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Safwaan Ibn Ml Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim
Student Darul Iftaa
Limbe, Malawi
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.