Adab (Islam)

Adab (Arabic: أدب‎‎) in the context of behavior, refers to prescribed Islamic etiquette: "refinement, good manners, morals, decorum, decency, humaneness".^[1] While interpretation of the scope and particulars of Adab may vary among different cultures, common among these interpretations is regard for personal standing through the observation of certain codes of behavior.^[2] To exhibit Adab would be to show "proper discrimination of correct order, behavior, and taste."^[2]

Islam has rules of etiquette and an ethical code involving every aspect of life. Muslims refer to Adab as good manners, courtesy, respect, and appropriateness, covering acts such as entering or exiting a washroom, posture when sitting, and cleansing oneself. According to Sahih Bukhari, Muhammad refrained from bad language; neither a 'Fahish nor a Mutafahish. He used to say "The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character."

Customs and behaviour

Practitioners of Islam are generally taught to follow some specific customs in their daily lives. Most of these customs can be traced back to Abrahamic traditions in pre-Islamic Arabian society.^[3] Due to Muhammad's sanction or tacit approval of such practices, these customs are considered to be Sunnah (practices of Muhammad as part of the religion) by the Ummah (Muslim nation). It includes customs like:

• Saying "Bismillah" (in the name of God) before eating and drinking.^[4]
• Using the right hand for drinking and eating.^[5]
• Saying "As-Salaam Alaikum" (peace be upon you) when meeting someone and answering with "Wa 'alaikumus salam" (and peace be upon you).^[6]
• Saying "Alhamdulillah" (all gratitude is for only God) when sneezing and responding with "Yarhamukallah" (God have mercy on you).^[7]
• Saying the "Adhan" (prayer call) in the right ear of a newborn and the Iqama in its left.
• In the sphere of hygiene, it includes:
  • Clipping the moustache
  • Removing armpit hair regardless of gender
  • Cutting nails
  • Circumcising the male offspring^[8][9]
  • Cleaning the nostrils, the mouth, and the teeth^[10] and
  • Cleaning the body after urination and defecation^[11]
• Abstention from sexual relations during the menstrual cycle and the puerperal discharge,^{[Quran 2:222]} and ceremonial bath after the menstrual cycle, and Janabah (seminal/ovular discharge or sexual intercourse).^{[Quran 4:43][Quran 5:6]}
• Burial rituals include funeral prayer^[12] of bathed^[13] and enshrouded body in coffin cloth^[14] and burying it in a grave.^[15]

Examples of encouraging Adab

Quran

• "See you not how Allâh sets forth a parable? - A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high)...... And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth having no stability."

  — Qur'an, Sura 14 (Ebrahim), ayat 24-25^[16]

• "Repel evil with that which is best: We are Well-acquainted with the things they say."

  — Qur'an, Sura 23 (Al-Mu’minoon), ayat 96^[17]

• "And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: 'To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant.'"

  — Qur'an, Sura 28 (Al-Qasas), ayat 55^[18]

• "Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good."

  — Qur'an, sura 3 (Ali Imran), ayat 134^[19]

• "When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all things."

  — Qur'an, sura 4 (An-Nisa), ayat 86^[20]

Hadith or (sayings of Mohammad)

Sunni hadith:

Abu 'Amr ash-Shaybani said, "The owner of this house (and he pointed at the house of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud) said, "I asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which action Allah loves best. He replied, 'Prayer at its proper time.' 'Then what?' I asked. He said, 'Then kindness to parents." I asked, 'Then what?' He replied, 'Then jihad in the Way of Allah.'" He added, "He told me about these things. If I had asked him to tell me more, he would have told me more. Kitab Al Adab Al Mufard p.29 Qahwama.com

See also

• Etiquette in the Middle East
• List of Islamic terms in Arabic
• lexicon

Notes and references

• Bruce Privratsky, Muslim Turkistan, pgs. 98-99