Manners

Human nature desires a society based on morals and manners which provides a stable and secure life leading to liberty and happiness for all people.

Islam is no different as within our teachings of the Prophet SAWS and the lessons derived from the glorious Quran are etiquettes and manners that we must adhere to as Muslims.

The Prophet SAWS is reported to have spoken on this topic in the following hadith which is translated to say:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Fear Allah wherever you are, do good deeds after doing bad ones, the former will wipe out the latter, and behave decently towards people”.

In fact, there is often a post that circulates the internet where at least 75 of those manners are listed with references from the Quran. This reminder can’t list them all but our facebook page has the post listed today for anyone who wants to check them all out.

In regards to the reminder today, manners is something which we all encourage in ourselves and in each other, especially our youth and so why is it that we need reminding of this topic today?

Dear brothers and sisters, manners is the way in which we practically implement the religion of Islam. By having good manners we are demonstrating to others the beauty of Islam as well as attaining reward from Allah SWT inshAllah.

And so, this can be achieved by teaching ourselves the following 4 points:

1. Following in the footsteps and copying the examples of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (s), his infallible household (Ahlul Bayt) and the most righteous among his companions. Studying their biographies and considering all aspects of their virtuous behaviour are essential ways of being led on the right path.

2. Practice makes perfect and we should practise conducting ourselves with the best of morals, like truth, courage, generosity, mercy, and forgiveness. Whoever repeatedly does good deeds and behaves in a good manner, such conduct will undoubtedly become a habit, whereas whoever commits misdeeds and ill-natured vices like hypocrisy, lying, deceiving …etc. will accept them to such an extent that they will become a habit also and cause themselves destruction in this life and the next.

3. Avoiding people characterised by bad manners and not making them friends, because not mixing with such people removes the danger of being misled and should also discourage their bad behaviour.

4. We should also ask the forgiveness of Allah SWT in case of committing sins or doing evil deeds and should regret and repent for such actions.

Dear brothers and sisters, to summarize:

Good manners surely indicate the goodness of the upright human soul while bad manners indicates that the soul of that man is evil and wicked.

Allah instructs us towards the best morals and will reward us accordingly on the Day of Judgement and also forbids us against bad morals for which He will duly punish us on that day.

Bad manners cause the destruction of society and the spread of corruption; he who has vices, his personality will be disliked and he will be liable to punishment, and people will avoid and humiliate him. Whereas the man with good morals is considered the foundation on which the structure of a sound Islamic society is built, and is among the causes of giving strength to Muslims.

We need to understand that if Muslim communities lose their good morals of justice, mercy and forgiveness, they will be destroyed, and all the scientific progress and abundance of wealth can not prevent it. When moral principles are abandoned, the quality of life is disrupted and led astray. We see this today through war, gross injustice and rising crime spreading in immoral societies.

The onus is on all Muslims to ensure good morals which are preserved by way of self-education and practising exemplary behaviour. We are ambassadors to the truth that is Islam and the primary way we are going to go out there and show the truth to others is through our manners and conduct.

Dear brothers and sisters, having good manners is more than just providing for a stable society, it is about practically adhering to the commandments of Allah SWT and the teachings of the Prophet SAWS. We ought to make that effort to perfect our manners so that we are of the people that are referenced in this final hadith in which the Prophet SAWS said:

“I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.”