Chosen Islamic Manners

Symbols Used in This Book

() sal'lal-laa-who a'lai'he wa sal'lam, i.e. may Allah praise

him

and safeguard him from all evil.
() ra'de al'laa-who an'who, i.e. with whom Allah is

pleased.

() ra'de al'laaho an'hom, plural of ().
() a'lai'hiss sa'laam, i.e. may Allah safeguard him from all

evil.
() jal'la ja'laa-lo-who, i.e. the Exalted.

Introduction
All praise is due to Allah alone. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of ourselves and our sinful deeds. Whomever Allah guides aright none can lead astray and whomever He leads astray none can guide aright. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of being worshipped except Allah alone, Who has no partner. I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger ().

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims with complete submission to Allah). (3:102)

O mankind! Be dutiful to your Rubb, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. (4:1)
O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement. (33:70-1)

Indeed the most truthful of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (). The most evil of matters are the innovated ones and every religious innovation is a means of misguidance and every misguidance leads to the Hell-Fire.

One should spend their precious time to learn the Shari'ah (i.e. Islamic Law) which was conveyed to us by the best of mankind. This knowledge consists of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of our Messenger (). All other types of knowledge are used to understand the Qur'an and Sunnah, or have nothing to do with them.¹

A Muslim should apply the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah () in their lives and it should be apparent in their actions and statements. Indeed, the rank of a believer is considered by their obedience to the Messenger of Allah (); the more one applies the Sunnah, the higher their rank is with Allah (). Therefore, Muslims should try their best to emulate and uphold the Sunnah and manners of the Prophet () in their daily lives.

Allah blessed me by giving me the great opportunity to read a number of books which pertain to Shari'ah manners. I have also been fortunate to attend many lectures for our Sheiks, may Allah have mercy on them, with whom I spent many pleasant days. I noted down all the benefits I learned from them and thereafter presented this knowledge to the people in a series of short talks. Due to the need, I compiled these manners into a small handbook, so that a person can easily access and read about these beautiful manners whenever they wish.

The purpose of this work is not solely to pass knowledge on; rather, the purpose of this work is to make it easier for people to apply these manners in their lives. We should realize that not putting knowledge into practice will indefinitely diminish its blessing upon an individual. Knowledge which is learned and not practiced will be held against an individual on the Day of Resurrection. Allah, the Exalted, says:

O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do. (61:2-3)
That is why our Pious Predecessors were extremely keen on applying what they learned. The great Companion Abdullah b. Masood () said: