Audio Recordings & Summary Notes of Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari’s Lessons on the book Min Adab al-Islam (Islamic Manners) by Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda (رحمه الله)
All recordings on this blog are from Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam’s daily discourses that were streamed live on Radio Ramadhan Leicester (FMO) 2008.
A sister has put up her notes of the same course when Mufti saheb taught the kitaab in Manchester. Please do visit the blog to benefit from her excellent notes.
The subject that will be studied is the subject of Islamic Manners (adab) based on the book in Arabic “Min Adab al-Islam” written by Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda (may Allah have mercy on him).
The word “Adab” is used in Arabic as well as in Urdu. In the Urdu language, the term normally used to mean respect. However, this is different to when the term is used in Arabic. The Arabic term encompasses much more.
The word Adab (plural: Adaab) linguistically has been derived from the word “Adb” which means ‘inviting people for food’, and derived from it is the word Ma’duba which means inviting many people for food where lots of different types of dishes are presented.
Technically, Adab holds the meaning of excessiveness in it. Adab is a unique word that cannot be translated into the English language with a single word. Ulema say the word refers to an excessive amount of good traits.
Adab is very important in a Muslim’s life. This topic is often neglected and hence is in need of our attention.
The importance of Islamic manners (adab) is looked at within this audio.
Traditionally, the subject of Adab was not taught but acquired and embodied between interactions between people. It has been narrated that Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal would have up to 5000 attendees at his gatherings, maybe 500 would write and learn; the rest (4500) would simply learn from his actions and his Adab. Hence, it is important to have Adab in our lives.
The area of Adab relates to everyone, the young and the old, the male and the female, this together forms the essence of an Islamic society. The benefit of having a society where everyone pays heed to Islamic Manners is that the society will be peaceful and you will be beloved to Allah Most High, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) as well as the people around you.
The personality of a Muslim should stand out with its beauty, perfection and uniqueness due to his/her cleanliness and code of conduct. Islam is not only about the way you look and dress, but a believer is able to stand out with his/her adaab.
Islam is a religion that teaches purity (taharah). Appearance is also important, the external appearance to a degree in terms of beauty is important in Islam. It goes back to benefitting other people. When a person is dirty, filthy and unclean; bad odour emanating from the body, then this harms those around you.
A few points:
One should remain in a neat and presentable state with neat clothes.
A believer should stand out amongst the people as a beauty mark, not just the way we act even the way we dress is important. Islam places a lot of important on taharah. Purity is half of faith. Islam does not only place importance on purity, it also places importance on nazhafa (cleanliness).
-Do not open and close the door violently and harshly. This includes moving from one room to the next. Open and close doors calmly, gently and gracefully.
-Use the Islamic greeting of Assalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh
When entering one’s home, one should make their presence known.
When you enter your own home or even enter a different room where people are inside, let them know, make them aware that you are about to enter before approaching them. Make them aware that you are entering so that they do not become shocked by your sudden appearance.
One can clear his/her throat or tap his/her shoes to make others aware of one’s arrival.
When one enters different rooms within one’s own house, one must seek permission before entering.
When knocking at somebody’s door, three things should be kept in mind:
-One knocks softly (in a non-violent way)
-One knocks no more than three times
-Adequate time is left between each knock to allow the person within the house to for e.g finish wudhu if they had started wudhu, finish their salah if they had started that and finish their morsel of food if they had been eating.
When calling or knocking at someone’s door, it is important to identify one’s self. One should never say “it’s me” as this is incorrect. Rather one should try their utmost best to identify themselves in the clearest manner possible.