PREVENTIVE ACTION - Home Safety according to the SOP

عن أَبي موسى - رضي الله عنه - ، قَالَ : احْتَرقَ بَيْتٌ بالمَدِينَةِ عَلَى أهْلِهِ مِنَ اللَّيلِ ، فَلَمَّا حُدِّثَ رسولُ الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بشَأنِهِمْ ، قَالَ : (( إنَّ هذِهِ النَّارَ عَدُوٌّ لَكُمْ ، فَإِذَا نِمْتُمْ ، فَأطْفِئُوهَا عَنْكُمْ )) مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيهِ

Abu Musa (RA) reported: A house in Madinah burnt down upon the occupants at night. When this was reported to Messenger of Allah (SAW) he said, "Fire is your enemy; so put it out before you go to sleep."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary: This is a clear hadith showing the prophet giving on instruction to take preventive measure before going to sleep, as a reaction to the accident that happened in Madinah. Clearly, the instruction was an SOP. What does SOP means? In modern language, it refers to STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. I used the abbreviation 'SOP' to mean SUNNAH OF PROPHET.

But, did the prophet only reacted, or was he pro-active too?

عن جابر - رضي الله عنه - ، عن رسولِ اللهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ، قال : (( غَطُّوا الإنَاءَ ، وَأَوْكِئُوا السِّقَاءَ ، وَأَغْلِقُوا الأَبْوَابَ . وَأطْفِئُوا السِّرَاجَ ، فإنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لاَ يَحُلُّ سِقَاءً ، وَلاَ يَفْتَحُ بَاباً ، وَلاَ يَكْشِفُ إنَاءً . فإنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ أَحَدُكُمْ إلاَّ أنْ يَعْرُضَ عَلَى إنَائِهِ عُوداً ، وَيَذْكُرَ اسْمَ اللهِ ، فَلْيَفْعَل ، فإنَّ الفُوَيْسِقَةَ تُضْرِمُ عَلَى أهْلِ البَيْتِ بَيْتَهُمْ )) . رواه مسلم

Jabir (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "Cover up the containers (pots, pans, etc.), tie up the mouth of the water-skin, lock up the doors and extinguish the lamps, because Satan can neither untie the water-skin nor open the door nor uncover the containers. If one can cover the cooking pot even by placing a piece of wood across it, and pronounce the Name of Allah on it, let him do it. A mouse can sometimes cause a house to burn along its occupants.''
[Muslim]

Commentary: Another instruction which is pro-active rather than reactive. There was no mention of any incident that happened, but he nevertheless instructed clearly to take safety preventive measures before going to bed, and explained that even a mouse can cause an accident. This gives out a clear message to eradicate unsafe conditions that may still be around the house and a small cause, like a mouse, can cause a major accident.

Of course, in the modern world nowadays, certain things have changed and become more sophisticated. However, the objective or goal remain the same. Nowadays, we don't use fire for light, but we use bulbs. But, bulbs are still fire hazard. Rather, the whole electrical circuitry at homes and workplaces is a fire hazard. We need to take extra precautions to keep everything safe and sound. This means awareness of potential hazards at home and workplace.

Important Note: I mentioned above that this was the SOP. My intention is, as the english says: Killing two birds with one stone. I would like to point out that most of us, if not all, have been looking after the safety aspects at home and workplace. Why?
1) It may be due to concern which is usually out of a person's good heart.
2) It may be due to a person's job because he is the Safety & Health Officer

I suggest here the most noble of intention that you can have and that will earn you rewards in abundance!! Yes, and that is you do it because it is the SOP (Sunnah of Prophet) Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam). Once you know the hadiths above (or others within my blog), and while doing those things concerning Safety & Health at home or at workplace, think about these hadiths... think about the instructions of the prophet and that you are doing all these things related to Safety & Health to follow his instructions and attitude towards Safety & Health, you will get your rewards from Allah for following the prophet's Sunnah and for the love of prophet Muhammad too! And Allah will love you....

قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

"Say (O Muhammad!): If you truly love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you sins. And Allah is All-Forgiving All-Merciful."
[Aali Imran:31]