Introduction: Manners are applied to every aspect of a believer's life.

Islam therefore teaches us the manner in which we treat all. Islam also teaches us that faith is related to our manners and that if our manners are weak our faith will be weak.

Intention: Islam teaches us the importance of intention. All actions are based on intentions. The Quran says, Say O Muhammad: 'verily, Im commanded to worship God alone by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only. {39-11} The prophet said, All actions are driven by intention and for every one is what he intended. So before we do any thing we must have the proper intention and as the Quran says our intention should be to do everything for the sake of God. The prophet also said: He, who sincerely considered doing a good deed but did not do it, will have one good deed recorded for him. Allah: We must thank God for all the bounties we receive with our tongues, praising Him in a proper manner. We must also thank Him with our limbs by using them to obey him. This is how we should behave towards God. Islam teaches us to think about Gods knowledge and the fact that He is watching us under any circumstance. When we think about this we become filled with awe and respect. One becomes shy and embarrassed to disobey Him. Muslims put their hope and trust in God, it just isnt proper to rely upon any other. It is also not proper manners to fear God and obey Him while suspecting that he will not be rewarded for the good deeds or acts of obedience or acts of worship. God says, And whoso ever obeys God and his messenger, fears God, and keeps his duties, such are the successful.{Quran 25-52} We must turn to God put our trust in Him and have hope for his mercy and fear his punishment. Quran:

We believe that the Quran is the sacred speech of God. It contains no falsehood or contradictions. God created all things, so when we want to worship Him we should do it in the best manner. And who decides what that manner is...God of course. The prophet said, Read the Quran, for it shall come as an intercessor for its companion on the Day of Resurrection. The prophet also said, The best of you is he who learns the Quran and are Gods people and his special slaves. The prophet also said, The heart gets rusty like iron gets rusty. The people asked him, What is its cleaning? He said: Reciting Quran and remembering death. Because of the Qurans sacredness the following manners must be applied while reading it. Should recite it under the best circumstances including, being in a state of purity, facing the Kaba and sitting in a respectable and honorable manner. Reciting it slowly and not being hasty in ones recitation. One must have fear of God, humility and feel sorrow while reciting. One must recite in the most beautiful voice. One should recite in private if they fear reciting for show or reputation. One must contemplate the meaning while reading. One should not recite the Quran while they are heedless and going against what it says. You should strive to have the characteristics that are described in the Quran. Muhammad: Muhammad is the prophet of God, so that places an obligation to treat him with respect and the proper manner. It is also obligatory for us to obey Gods messenger. The Quran says, O you who believe obey God and obey the messenger. {47:33} God

also says, Say Muhammad to mankind: If you love God, then follow me. Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. {3:31} God has declared Muhammad to be the leader and judge of the people. So, the proper way is not to refuse his leadership or judgment. The Quran says, But no, by your lord, they can have no faith until they make you Muhammad judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept them with full submission. {4:65} Because of the prophets statues it is proper to love him. The prophet said, By the one whose hand is my soul, none of you truly believes until I am more beloved than his father, child and all of mankind. One must not only give the prophets their love but must also give love, loyalty and respect to anyone who gives his love, loyalty and respect to the prophet. We must always show honor and respect to the prophets name when ever it is mentioned. The proper manner is to ask for blessings upon the prophet when is name is mentioned. Oneself: The Quran says: Indeed, he succeeds who purifies his own self. And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self. {91:9}God also says: By the time. Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe in monotheism and do righteous deeds, and recommend one another to patience. {103:1-3} As Muslims we believe that good deeds and faith in God purifies the soul. And that things that ruin and destroy the soul are the evils of disbelieve and disobedience. The Prophet said, When the believer commits a sin, a black spot is dotted on his heart. If he leaves that deed and repents, his heart is cleansed of that dot. If he continues such acts, his covering is increased over his heart until it covers it entirely. Some things that we must do to keep our hearts and souls clean are: Repentance: One must feel remorse for any sins committed in the past and have firm convictions not to return to them. Watchfulness: This is a realization that God is always watching us and because of this we must strive to purify and repent. The prophet said, Worship God as if you see him. If you do

not see him, he sees you. Struggling and striving against ones self: A Muslims greatest enemy is his own soul. By its nature, it leads him to evil and is inclined to follow its desires. When one follows their desires and lust, it can only lead to their own misery. So a Muslim must struggle against their own desires. A Muslim who strives against their desires for the sake of God, in order to purify it, refine it, make it wholesome and tranquil, they become fitting of Gods pleasure. Parents: Muslims believe that his parents have rights upon them and an obligation to be good to them, obey them, and treat them in the best way. We feel this obligation because God has made it obligatory to obey them. The Quran says, And we have enjoined on man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Give thanks to me and to your parents. Unto me is the final destination. {31:14} The importance of parents is up there with obeying God and his messenger. Parents even have rights after they pass a way. Which are: Praying for their forgiveness Fulfilling their promises Honoring their friends One should obey their parents in everything they order them to do or prohibit them to do, as long as it is not in disobedience to God. One should respect them and honor them in all of their affairs. Meaning you should be very kind and gracious to them in speech and action and never get mad, or raise your voice above theirs. One should do their best to keep the ties of kinship which there are no ties except through the parents. Children: As well as your parents your children also have rights over you.

And furthermore there are certain manners to be followed. Such as: Choosing a good name Sacrificing a sheep after birth Circumcision Showing mercy and gentleness Providing necessities Raising them up in a proper way Teaching them about Islam and their religious duties Spouses: In Islam both spouses have rights over the other. However, a man has more duties and thus has some special rights. Some of the common rights between the two are: Loyalty & Honesty: This means each is obliged to be truthful, sincere and honest in all matters big or small. Love & Mercy: Because marriage is a serous commitment and would not survive with out it. Trust: Neither spouse should have any amount of doubt or suspicion concerning the others honesty, sincerity, or devotion. General good manners: Kindness, smiling, good speech, and respect. Wife's rights: He must treat her with respect. The Quran says, And live with them honorably. The Prophet said, Feed her when you feed yourself, clothe her when you clothe yourself and dont strike the face or shame her and do not boycott her except in the house. He must teach her about religion, if she isnt already

knowledgeable. If he cant or wont teach her then he has to allow her to attend lectures and such. A husband must make her adhere to Islamic teachings and manners. The prophet said, The man is responsible for his household and he will be asked about his guardianship. He must be just between his wives, if he has more then one. He must be equal with respect to food, drink, clothing, living with, and sleeping in their beds. He must not spread her private aspects nor should he mention her shortcomings. Husbands rights: She must obey him in matters that are not disobedient to God. She must protect his honor and dignity as well as his wealth, children and household. She must not leave the house except with her husbands permission and approval. She must lower her gaze and keep her voice low. She must guard her hands from evil and her tongue from lewd speech. Close relatives: A Muslims behavior to his relatives is similar to the manners in with respect to his parents. He treats his maternal aunt like his mother and his paternal uncle like his father. Every one who shares a common link of the womb is considered his relative, regardless whether they are Muslim or not. One must respect the elders among them and show mercy towards the younger among them. One visits them when they are ill and keeps good relations even if they do not. The Quran says, Worship God and join none with him in worship and do good to parents, kinfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a strangers, the companion by your side, travelers whom you meet and those slaves whom, your right hands possess. Neighbors:

The prophet said, Whoever believe in God and the last day should be generous to his neighbor. One should not harm his neighbor, neither by ones actions or speech. One must give help and assistance when they seek it, visit them when they are ill, be kind and gentle, overlook their mistakes , dont get involved in their private matters and not bothering them with your trash. Generosity: It is reported that when ever the wife of the prophet had any meat she would give all but the shoulder in charity as she new that was the prophet's favorite part. If one is being harmed by his neighbor he should bear it with patients. Muslims in general: One should greet a Muslim with the greetings of peace. One should ask for God merci upon the one who sneezes and then praises God. One must visit the sick and pray for them. One must attend the funeral of his brother. One must fulfill their oaths. One must give sincere advice when asked for. Love for your brother what you love for your self and dislike for your brother that which you dislike for yourself. Must give him support and may not abandon them when in need of support. Should not afflict him with anything harmful or disliked. The prophet said, A believer is one from whom the believer's lives and wealth are secure. He also said, A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe. One must be humble and not arrogant.

 A Muslim should not boycott another for more then 3 days. A Muslim should not backbite, scorn, insult, ridicule another, or call others by offensive nicknames. A Muslim should not envy another have bad thoughts hatred or spy on another. One must not try to be deceitful or cheat One should not double cross or delay repaying debts. Muslims should keep each other from harm. And should accept his good and forgive the bad. One must act with justice and always give others their rights. One must conceal his brother's private matters and shouldnt eavesdrop intentionally or unintentionally. One should respond to the good that the other does by similar good deeds or should pray for him.

Disbelievers: A Muslim cannot accept or be pleased with the disbelief of the disbelievers. We should dislike the disbelief because of Gods dislike for disbelief. A Muslims should be just and righteous and do good in regards to the disbeliever as long as they are not form those who are fighting Islam. The Quran says, I do not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of your religion nor drove you from your homes. Verily, God loves those who deal with justice. God created all mankind, so we must have mercy or a general compassion for all. We should feed those in need, give water to those who are thirsty, give medicine to those who are sick

and keep them form being harmed. A Muslim may not harm a non-Muslim who is at peace or is not fighting.