The Qur'an furnishes us with a number of lessons on housing. One of those lessons is related to the relationship between the house phenomenon and people's spiritual failings.
The Qur'an warns that the blessing and sanctity of the house must not be abused. The house must not be turned into a field, or a catalyst, for defying Allah's authority and the authority of His divine commandments. Doing that would imply a clear sign of one's disobedience and ungratefulness. In case someone rebels against Allah, using his house as a place and protective shield for his misbehavior, then only he will be the one to be blamed for whatever might come next as a consequence. Often, however, it is not only the people that are affected by the unavoidable outcomes resulting from their mischief, but also their houses, the very symbols of their being and their identities.
While revealing the causes of the spiritual ruin of certain people in this worldly life, Allah singles out the trap of excessive love for houses in which many people fall, as one of such causes. People tend to adore unduly their houses making use of them either as the end of their flawed spiritual cravings, or as the means for achieving some other forms of their waywardness. This is perhaps for the reason that people misconstrue the house phenomenon: as both a concept and sensory reality, as well as the roles of its form and function, and thus invest a lot of time, wealth and energy in those aspects of the house which are of less significance for the realization of man's purpose on earth. Allah says: "Say: If your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinsfolk and property which you have acquired, and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command: and Allah does not guide the transgressing people." (al-Tawbah, 9:24)
When exposing the addiction to materialism and the selfish fancies and aims of the polytheists of Makkah, who persistently defied Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his message, Allah says: "And they say: We will by no means believe in you until you cause a fountain to gush forth from the earth for us. Or you should have a garden of palms and grapes in the midst of which you should cause rivers to flow forth, gushing out. Or you should cause the heaven to come down upon us in pieces as you think, or bring Allah and the angels face to face (with us). Or you should have a house of gold, or you should ascend into heaven, and we will not believe in your ascending until you bring down to us a book which we may read. Say: Glory be to my Lord; am I aught but a mortal messenger?" (al-Isra',17:90-93)
Insisting on having "a house of gold", among other things, so that they could believe in the Prophet (pbuh) and his message, bears witness to the gross misjudgments, self-centeredness, going astray and the intellectual as well as spiritual flaws of every unbeliever and skeptic, which the polytheists of Makkah typified. As expected, the material aspect is the only lens through which things and events, including the issue of the house and housing, those people observe and judge.
