The Way to Reform Society

Good manners, respecting others, and ensuring their rights result in friendly bo
nds between people, and removes dislike and grudges from their hearts. In this w
ay the hearts become pure, sympathetic, and kind; so feelings of love and brothe
rhood prevail. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: He is no
t from my nation, he who does not respect our elderly, have mercy upon our young
, and honor our scholars. [Musnad Ahmad]
Good moral conduct is the path to beneficial knowledge:
Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {Allah will raise those who have believed a
mong you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah 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 ti
me, 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 mann
ers save us from such things.
A student of knowledge any type of knowledge cannot obtain it without acquiring g
ood 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 Here
after, because he risks being a bad scholar.
Our predecessors frequently cautioned about taking knowledge from someone who la
cks good manners.
One of the righteous predecessors said, One who seeks religious knowledge and doe
s not have good manners is likely to tell a lie about Allah [The Exalted] and Hi
s Messenger.
Another person said, Through good manners, knowledge can be understood, and throu
gh knowledge, deeds are soundly performed.
Good manners are a necessity
Good manners are necessary for every Muslim with Allah The Exalted, the Prophet
Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and with all creation. Allah The Exalted
Says (what means): {And speak to people good [words]} [Quran 2:83]
When there is interaction between a Muslim and another person, each one should f
ulfill the criterion of rights and obligations; and it is necessary to understan
d the principles needed for interacting with others. This is what is meant [here
] by good manners. This can only be gained through acquiring knowledge. Some wou
ld say good manners are a kind of etiquette; but in reality they are a Shareeah (
Islamic legislation) and religion and a way by which to draw nearer to Allah The
Exalted; and they are subject to the five basic Shareeah rulings. Good manners a
re an obligation upon every Muslim to seek and to abide by [in everyday life]. G
ood manners constitute the following five basic Shareeah rulings: that which is o
bligatory, forbidden; recommended, and that which is permissible, and that which
is disliked.
Obligations are known through good manners:
Through good manners a Muslim knows what his obligations are in worship, in dail
y practices, in his interaction with others and in his conduct. The Messenger of
Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said, May Allah have mercy upon a man who is
forgiving if he sells, [who is forgiving] if he buys, and [who is forgiving] if
he collects money due to him that he had lent out. [Al-Bukhari]
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 Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam,
said, He is not from my nation he who does not respect our elders, have mercy up
on our young, and honor our scholars. [Musnad Ahmad]
Good manners are the result of the Dawah 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 Dawah (call to Islam).
The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said:
I was sent to perfect righteous manners. [Ahmad]

 A believer reaches with his good manners the rank of one who is fasting and prayi
ng throughout the night. [Ahmad]
There is nothing heavier in the scales [of the Hereafter] than good manners. [Abu
Dawood]
I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for he who leaves arguing even i
f he is right; and a house in the center of Paradise for he who does not lie eve
n when he jokes; and a house in Upper Paradise for the one who has good manners.
[Abu Dawood]
When you realize the value of good manners in Islam and how Islam gives much imp
ortance 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 essent
ial 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.
Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {O you who have believed, protect yourselve
s and your families from a fire whose fuel is people and stones} [Quran 66:6]
Ibn Abbas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said (that protecting them in the vers
e means): Educate them and teach them good manners.
The manners required for a person when he is grown is to supplement what was mis
sed, and this is what is required, because it is necessary for the reformation o
f the soul. With a righteous soul the body becomes sound; rather, a persons whole
life and affairs become sound.
Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {He has succeeded who purifies it [the soul
], And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].} [Quran 91: 9-10]