The way to reform society

Good manners, respecting others, and ensuring their rights result in
friendly bonds between people, and removes dislike and grudges from
their hearts. In this way the hearts become pure, sympathetic, and
kind; sofeelings of love and brotherhood prevail. The Messenger of
Allaah, said: "He is not from my nation, he who does not respect our
elderly, have mercy upon our young, and honor our scholars." [Musnad
Ahmad 5/323]
Good moral conduct is the path to beneficial knowledge:
Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): } Allaah will raise those who
havebelieved among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.
And Allaah is acquainted with what you do. { [Quran 58:11].
We are so much in need today for beneficial knowledge that leads us
towards the progress, glory, and dignity that we have lacked for a
long time. At the same time, this would achieve for us the
satisfaction of our Lord and knowledge that is not a result of
[following] the inseparable two: whims and ignorance. Good manners
save us from such things.
A student of knowledge –any type of knowledge –cannot obtain it
withoutacquiring good manners first. Should a person obtain some
knowledge without obtaining good manners, it shall have negative
consequences on him in this life and in the Hereafter, because herisks
being a bad scholar.
Our predecessors frequently cautioned about taking knowledge from
someone who lacks good manners.
One of the righteous predecessors said, "One who seeks religious
knowledge and does not have good manners is likely to tell a lie about
Allaah [The Exalted] and His Messenger."
Another person said, "Through good manners, knowledge can be
understood, and throughknowledge, deeds are soundly performed."
Good manners are a necessity
Good manners are necessary for every Muslim with Allaah The Exalted,
the Prophet Muhammad, , and withall creation. Allaah The Exalted Says
(what means): } And speak to people good ] words ]} [Quran 2:83]
When there is interactionbetween a Muslim and another person, each
oneshould fulfill the criterionof rights and obligations;and it is
necessary to understand the principlesneeded for interacting with
others. This is what is meant [here] by good manners. This can only
begained through acquiring knowledge. Some would say good manners are
a kind of etiquette; but in reality they are a Sharee'ah (Islamic
legislation) and religion and a way by which to draw nearer to Allaah
The Exalted; and they are subject to the five basic Sharee'ah rulings.
Good manners are an obligation upon every Muslim to seek and to abide
by [in everyday life]. Good manners constitute the following five
basic Sharee'ah rulings: that which is obligatory, forbidden;
recommended, and that which is permissible, and that which is
disliked.
· Obligations are known through good manners:
Through good manners aMuslim knows what his obligations are in
worship, in daily practices, in his interaction with others and in his
conduct. The Messenger of Allaah, , said, "May Allaah have mercy upon
a man who isforgiving if he sells, [whois forgiving] if he buys, and
[who is forgiving] if he collects money due to him that he had lent
out." [Al-Bukhaari:1934]
· Good manners are the nation's image:
We require good manners so that a youth respects his elders, a student
respects his teacher, a teacher respects his students, offspring
respect their parents; a wife respects her husband. The Messenger of a
Allaah, , said, "He is not from my nation he who does not respect our
elders, have mercy upon our young, and honor our scholars." [Musnad
Ahmad 5/323]
· Good manners are the result of the Da'wah of the Prophets:
Good manners are the means to every virtue, and they are one of the
purposes for sending messengers and the result of their Da'wah (call
to Islam).
The Messenger of Allaah, , said:
· "I was sent to perfect righteous manners." [Ahmad, Saheeh ].
· "A believer reaches with his good manners the rank of one who is
fasting and praying throughout the night." [Ahmad, Saheeh ].
· "There is nothing heavier in the scales [of the Hereafter] than good
manners." [Abu Daawood, Saheeh ].
· "I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for he who leaves
arguing even if he is right; and a house in the center of Paradise for
he who does not lie even when he jokes; and a house in Upper Paradise
for the one who has good manners." [Abu Daawood, Saheeh [
When you realize the value of good manners inIslam and how Islam gives
much importance to it then know that acquiring good manners is
comprised of two stages:
First. The manners that parents teach their children
Second. The manners that a person acquires as he grows up
Parents should teach their children basic manners, so that they become
an essential part of their lives and they can easily acquire them as
they grow up. Should teaching a young child good manners be ignored,
it is very difficult to achieve that after he has grown up.
Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): } O you who have believed,
protect yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is people
and stones… { [Quran 66:6]
Ibn 'Abbaas said (that protecting them in the verse means), "Educate
them and teach them good manners."
The manners required fora person when he is grown is to supplement
what was missed, and this is what is required, because it is necessary
for the reformation of the soul. With a righteoussoul the body becomes
sound; rather, a person's whole life and affairs become sound.
Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): } He has succeeded who purifies
it[the soul], And he has failed who instills it [withcorruption]. {
[Quran 91: 9-10] - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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