Ramadan is an opportunity to train oneself to practice good manners and more acts of worship, whereby be strong enough to overcome the world’s temptations. However, good morals and other virtuous characteristics shouldn’t only be shown during Ramadan, but also throughout the year. This has a great status in Islam, so Muslims are encouraged to adhere to it, in order to receive Allah’s Almighty and Prophet Muhammad’s love, peace be upon him.
This Article Sheds Light On The Following
Mentions of good manners in the Sunnah
The Sunnah gives special attention to good manners. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, referred to
this in many hadiths as follows:
- “There is nothing that will weigh more heavily in the scale of the believer on the Day of Resurrection than a good attitude, and verily Allah hates the foulmouthed person who speaks in an offensive manner.”
- “Verily, the believer may reach by their good character the rank of one who regularly fasts and stands for prayer at night.”
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the embodiment of all good qualities. This is why Allah Almighty praised him in the Qur’an, saying: “… indeed you possess a great character.” [Al-Qalam:4].
Allah Almighty also praised the way the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, deals with his companions, saying: “It is out of Allah’s mercy that you [O Prophet] have been lenient with them.” [Al-Imran:159].
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to visit his companions and care for all of them to the extent that each of them thinks no one is dearer to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, than him. Here are some of the descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, by his companions:
- Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “I served the Messenger of Allah [may peace be upon him] for ten years, he never said to me any harsh word, and he never said to me about a thing as to why I had done that and as to why I had not done that.” [Hadith narrated by Al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
- Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “He was the best of the people in generosity, the most truthful of the people in speech, the gentlest of them in temperament, and the noblest of them in relations.” [Hadith narrated by Al-Tirmidhi].
- Jarir Ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “The Messenger of Allah [may peace be upon him] never refused me permission to see him since I embraced Islam and never looked at me except with a smile [on his face]. When I complained to him that I could not be steady on a horse, he hit his hand on my chest and prayed, “O Allah, make him steadfast, guided, and a guide to others.” [Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah].
What is meant by good manners?
Muslims should treat others with good manners, the way they like to be treated. This includes keeping a smiling face, being lenient with others, rendering good for evil, and so on.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Fear Allah wherever you are, follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will erase it, and treat people with good morals.” [Narrated by Ahmed and Al-Tirmidhi, classed as good and authentic by Al-Tirmidhi, and classed as good by Al-Albani].
In An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths “treat people with good morals” was explained as treating others the way one like to be treated, knowing that nothing is heavier on the believer’s scale on the Day of Judgment than good character.
Some people of knowledge explained good morals as restraining anger for Allah’s sake, being cheerful, keeping a smiling face except for those who introduce innovation in religious matters and are immoral, forgiving those who misbehave except if discipline is needed, implementing penal law, and refraining from harming any Muslim or non-Muslim under covenant of protection unless for forbidding evil or taking the right of the oppressed without committing any transgression.
How to practice good manners?
This could be done following the Sunnah and the Quran as follows:
- Asking Allah Almighty to improve your morals. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to pray: “O Allah, guide me to the best of manners, for none can guide to the best of them but You. And protect me from bad manners, for none can protect against them but You.” [Hadith narrated by Muslim].
- Realizing that bad character ruin good deeds. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Verily, bad character spoils deeds just as vinegar spoils honey.” [Classed as good by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami’].
- Getting acquainted with the reward of adhering to good morals in the Hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Among the dearest of you to me and those who will be seated closest to me on the Day of Resurrection are the best of you in attitude.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi].
- Getting acquainted with the reward of adhering to good morals in this world. Allah Almighty said: “… the good deed and the evil deed are not equal. Repel [evil] with what is best. Then the one whom you had enmity in between becomes as if they were a compassionate friend.” [Fussilat:34].
- Striving for Heaven. Allah Almighty said: “And those who strive for Us- We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allāh is with the doers of good.” [Al-‘Ankabut: 69].
- Good manners are developed over time. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, referred to this saying: “Verily, knowledge only comes by learning and forbearance only comes by cultivating forbearance. Whoever aims for good will receive goodness and whoever seeks to evade evil will be protected from it.” [Narrated by Al-Tabarani].
Supplications for good manners
Muslims are encouraged to supplicate a lot asking Allah Almighty for improving their good character, granting them patience, forbearance, and restraining their anger, following the Sunnah:
- The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to ask Allah Almighty for good manners, saying: “O Allah You have made my creation perfect, so make my moral characteristics also be the best.” [Narrated by Ahmed in Al-Musnad, on the authority of Ibn Mas’ud].
- The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to supplicate when commencing the prayer, saying: “… Guide me to the best of manners for none can guide to the best of them but You. Protect me from bad manners for none can protect against them but You.” [Narrated by Ali].
- The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to say in his supplication: “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from opposing the truth, hypocrisy and bad manners.” [Narrated by Abu Hurairah in Sunan Abi Dawud].
