Needs an acceptable place to pray
29-9-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
As a revert to Islam, I need to know is it acceptable to pray in the houses of my family who are not Muslims. They have crosses and statues/figures around. So my question is can I pray in a room that doesn't have these things? Or can I not pray in a house altogether that has these things even if they are not in the room that I'm praying in?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
First of all, all perfect praise be to Allaah, who guided you to Islam which is the religion of the truth, and the religion of all the Prophets. We ask Allaah to make us and you firm on this religion until the day we meet Him. As regards praying in the house of your family where there are statues, pictures and crosses, there is no harm as the Prophet 
said: "When the time of the prayer comes, wherever someone is, he has to pray." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] But it is better to pray in rooms where there are no such things as this leads to more submissiveness during prayer. We urge you, dear sister, to do your utmost to call your family to Islam and spare no effort in this regard in order to comfort your eyes by seeing them in Paradise on the Day of Judgment, especially your parents; they have a great right on you, as Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship and do good to parents…}[4:36]. You can, for instance, offer them beneficial books and tapes which illustrate the truth and greatness of Islam, as well as books and tapes that clarify for them that the belief in the cross is falsehood and contradicts sound reason, and inform them that the Torah no longer exists, and the Bible is distorted. You have to call them to Islam using wisdom and beautiful preaching. Allaah says (interpretation of meaning): {Invite (all) to the way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.}[16:125]. Allaah also says (interpretation of meaning): {And argue not with the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner inviting them to Islamic monotheism with His verses)… except with such of them who do wrong, and say to them "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, Our ‘Ilaah (God) and your ‘Ilaah is One (i.e. Allaah) and to Him we have submitted as (Muslims).}[29: 46]. In addition to the above, the best means of calling people to Islam is to observe good moral standards which the religion of Islam has advocated. We advise you as well, dear sister, to be keen to seek knowledge about Islam from its original sources, which are the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah (way and guidance) of the Prophet not from the behaviour of some deviated Muslims who are so many, and not from the enemies of Islam. If you are confused in understanding anything, then do not hesitate to contact us to clarify the matter to you.
Allaah knows best.