Adab

This is a sub-article of Islamic jurisprudence and etiquette.

Adab is prescribed etiquette, a way of living outlined in Islam. 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 the slightest 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."

Salem Qilu: The Daily Greeting

Among the Kazaks especially, the daily greeting ritual or "Salem Qilu", is one of the easiest religious practices for them. The Kazak men shake the hand of other men freely, and a woman to another woman is the same, but when a man and a woman shake hands, it must be in a professional setting and the woman has to offer her hand first. The actual handshake is a Russian tradition that is followed by a kiss on a single cheek. As an alternative to the Russian greeting, two people can embrace with a kiss on both cheeks where the Arab words "As-salam 'alaykum", (translated "Peace be with you") are given by the man or woman who initiated the embrace.

A less respectable way to greet another is with the simple phrase "Salemetsiz be", meaning "Are you at peace?". The typical response of the fellow Kazak is "Rahmet" meaning "thank you" or, literally, "mercy". Many of the words and phrases used by the Kazaks are derived from a combination of Islamic and Arabic terms, due to the main fact that the lexicon of the Kazaks all but does not exist. The Kazaks had assumed the roles of Muslims and therefore adapted to their languages and practices.

Examples of encouraging Adab

Qur'an

• "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 14: 24, 25. Ibrahim Sura

• "Repel evil with that which is best: We are Well-acquainted with the things they say."—Qur'an 23:96.

• "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 28:55.

• "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 3:134.

• "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 4:86.

Hadith

Sunni hadith:

Shi'a hadith:

See also

• List of Islamic terms in Arabic
• lexicon

Notes and References

1. ^ "keeping away" implies "keeping away from evil and doing what is right"
2. ^ "Zivare donyah se chiz ast: mal, farzand va zan. Zinate akerat se chiz ast: elm, parhizgari va zadage. Zinate badan: Kam khordan, kam khabidan va kam koftan. Va zinate Ghalb: Sabr, zukot va shokr." "Nasayeh: sayings of the fourteen infalibles, 1001 sayings", by Ali Meshkini.

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

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