Is Islamic Etiquette Limited to Kindness Toward Others?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
Some people believe that Islamic etiquette is merely about being kind to others. How can this concept be corrected?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
Without a doubt, being kind to others is part of Islamic ethics. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her):
“O ‘Aisha, whenever gentleness is in something, it adorns it, and whenever it is removed from something, it disfigures it.” [Ahmad]
However, Islamic etiquette is not limited to the kind treatment of others. Rather, it is a comprehensive set of behaviors and actions designed to promote virtuous interactions. These etiquettes include both obligatory and recommended aspects.
To correct the misconception, we can highlight other Islamic etiquettes that demonstrate the broad and multifaceted nature of good conduct in Islam, such as:
Integrity and Truthfulness
Islam emphasizes trustworthiness and honesty in dealings and speech. Allah (Most High) says:
“Indeed, Allah commands you to return trusts to their rightful owners; and when you judge between people, judge with fairness. What a noble commandment from Allah to you! Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran, 4:58]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays.” [Muslim]
Truthfulness
Truthfulness is a foundational virtue in Islam. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to tell the truth until he is recorded with Allah as truthful. Falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to Hellfire. A man continues to lie until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” [Bukhari]
Finally, Islam as a whole is rooted in good character. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was sent to perfect noble character traits. He also informed us that those with the best character will be closest to him on the Day of Resurrection. He said:
“Shall I not inform you of the most beloved of you to me and the closest to me in gathering on the Day of Resurrection?” The people remained silent, so he repeated it two or three times. They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Those of you with the best character.” [Ahmad]
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
