Abū Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not make your houses graveyards*. The devil flies from the house in which sūra al-Baqara is recited.” *A house in which there is no prayer or recitation of the Qur'ān is here intended. The dead cannot engage in these practices, so such a house is likened to a graveyard.Muslim transmitted it.
The Excellent Qualities of the Qur'an - Mishkat al-Masabih 2119
This noble hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) contains profound wisdom regarding the spiritual state of Muslim households. The metaphor of "graveyards" for houses where no Qur'an is recited refers to the spiritual death that envelops such dwellings, devoid of divine remembrance and worship.
The specification of Surah al-Baqara holds particular significance, as this comprehensive chapter contains the greatest verse in the Qur'an (Ayat al-Kursi), numerous legal rulings, stories of previous nations, and fundamental articles of faith. Its recitation creates a spiritual barrier against satanic influences, causing devils to flee from such illuminated environments.
Classical scholars explain that just as graves are places of silence and inactivity regarding worship, houses without Qur'anic recitation and prayer become spiritually dead spaces. The living should distinguish their homes through regular acts of devotion, transforming them into centers of divine light and protection.
This teaching emphasizes the transformative power of Qur'anic recitation in purifying domestic spaces and establishing environments conducive to faith and piety, while warning against neglecting this fundamental aspect of Muslim household practice.