The Importance of Manners in ISLAM Elementary Course on Islam 2011 Organized by: Dawah Committee of Kowloon Masjid The Importance of Manners in ISLAM Mohamed Atallah 19 Nov, 2011

Do you know? How Islam spread to places like Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, North Europe, etc? What was the main mission of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH? Do you know why the Muslim nation is today lagging behind other nations? Do you know what is a key factor for nations to prosper?

Listen to this story… A man came to the Prophet PBUH and told him that, O Messenger of Allah PBUH, there is a lady who is known for performing a lot of prayers, fasting and charity however she harms her neighbors by her tongue, so the Messenger said SHE’S IN HELL FIRE!

"Do you know who is the one who is bankrupt?" 'The bankrupt is the one who has no money and no possessions.' He said, 'Among my Ummah (nation), the one who is bankrupt is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer and fasting and Zakah (to his credit), but he will come having insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one and shed the blood of that one, and beaten that one. So they will all be given some of his hasanaat (good deeds), and when his hasanaat run out, before judgment is passed, some of their sins will be taken and cast onto him, then he will be cast into the Fire.'"

THE IMPORTANCE OF MANNERS IN ISLAM

What is more Important? Manners Physical Worship

Manners & Worship PRAYERS "And establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds" [29:45]

Manners & Worship CHARITY "Take alms of their wealth, wherewith thou mayst purify them and mayst make them grow" [9:103]

Manners & Worship HAJJ "For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good ye do, (be sure) God knoweth it." [2:197]

Manners & Worship FASTING When any one of you gets up in the morning in the state of fasting, he should neither use obscene language nor do any act of ignorance. And if anyone slanders him or quarrels with him, he should say: "I am fasting, I am fasting." (Muslim, 2563)

Selections of some of the manners that the Prophet PBUH has taught us

Making peace among people. Feeding ones wife. Being good to neighbors. Guarding secrets. Politeness in speech. Etiquettes: Guests, relatives & speech. Treating servants. Being humble. Selflessness (Ethaar)

Making peace among PEOPLE "Doing justice between two men is charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal or to load his luggage on it is charity; and a good word is charity, every step which one takes towards the mosque is charity, and removing harmful things from the way is charity." [Bukhari]

Kindness to Wives "You will never spend anything seeking thereby the Face of Allah, but you will be rewarded for it, even (the food) that you put in your wife’s mouth“ [Bukhari 56] “The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character. The best of you are those who are the best to their women.'" [at-Tirmidhi]

Being good to NEIGHBORS "By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer." It was asked, "Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "One whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil." [Bukhari].

Guarding SECRETS "The most evil of the people to Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be the man who consorts with his wife and then publicizes her secret." [Muslim]

"It is also a charity to utter a good word." [Bukhari] Politeness in SPEECH "It is also a charity to utter a good word." [Bukhari] "Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day either speak good or be silent.” [Bukhari]

Etiquettes: GUESTS, KINS & SPEECH “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him show hospitality to his guest; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain good relation with kin's; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent." [Bukhari]

"People are as equal as the teeth of a comb," Treating SERVANTS "Anas (the servant of the Prophet PBUH) says: "I served the holy Prophet for ten years. He never said 'Uf (expressing dissatisfaction), nor did he ever ask me why I did this or did not do that. [Muslim] "People are as equal as the teeth of a comb,"

Being HUMBLE "He who observes humility God will make him so exalted that, ultimately, he will attain the highest grade in Paradise.” "There is no honor for a white man over a black man, or for an Arab over a non-Arab except in piety"

Selflessness (Ethaar) It means, giving preference to others over yourself and considering their happiness and welfare before your own. For example: When Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab was dying after being struck by Lo’lo’a Al-Majoosi, he asked his son to go to Aisha (RA) and tell her, “Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab, and don’t tell her Amir Al-Mo'mineen for I am not so any more, tell her Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab is requesting your permission to be buried beside his friends (the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu-Bakr (RA)) in her room. She replied, “I wanted that place for myself, but I shall offer it to Omar”.

The rewards & blessings of having good manners

Pleasing Allah SWT Being close to the Prophet PBUH on the Day of Judgment. Paradise. Heavy deeds in the scale on the Day of Judgment. Being amongst the best in the world.

1. Pleasing Allah SWT The Prophet PBUH said "Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, and He loves noble manners (ma'ali) and He hates, he despises lowly characteristics."

2. Being close to the Prophet PBUH on the Day of Judgment "Those of you who will be closest to me on the Day of Judgment will be those who have the best manners." "And the people who are the most hated by me and the ones who are the furthest from me in the Hereafter are those who have the worst manners.”

3. Paradise "Someone asked the Prophet PBUH, "What is the one characteristic that will cause the most amounts of people to enter Paradise?" The Prophet PBUH responded, "To have the taqwa (fear) of Allah and to have good manners."

4. Heavy deeds in the scale on the Day of Judgment ""The heaviest aspect, the heaviest matter [that will help a believer] that will be in the Meezaan (scale), on the scales on the Day of Judgment, is good manners."

5. Being amongst the best in this world "The best blessing that a person can be given in this life is manners." "Mankind has not been given anything better than good manners." "The people (or the Mu'mins) who have perfected their eman (faith) most perfectly, are those who are best in manners.“ "The best of the Mu'mineen (the believers) are the ones who are best in their manners.“ "The best of you are those of you who are best to their wives."

Can a person really change / improve his manners / behaviors?

Definitely, and the biggest proof are the companions of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. HOW?? Supplicate “"O Allah, as You have beautified my image, so beautify my morals” Choose the right companions. Accept criticism and work on improving. Know the importance and the blessings of having good / perfect manners. Follow the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, whom Allah SWT says about him in the Quran "And indeed, you are upon a noble conduct, an exemplary manner" [68:4]

- May Allah SWT reward you all - JAZAKOM ALLAH KHAYRAN - May Allah SWT reward you all - Mohamed Atallah Serving Islam Team – Hong Kong +852 90973841 info@servingislamteam.com www.servingislamteam.com www.facebook.com/ServingIslamTeam.HKG