Adab

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

Adab, 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."

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 (Ibrahim), ayat 24-25^[3]

• "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^[4]

• "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^[5]

• "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 ^[6]

  .

• "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 ^[7]

Hadith or (sayings of Mohammad)

Sunni hadith:

Shi'a hadith:

The sunni Ahadith are those collections by Imam Maliki;Shafiyi;Bukhari;Muslim and analogical reasoning of the ulama.These ,thus are authentic sources of the sayings and deeds of the prophet of Islam:Muhammadu Rasulullah[SAW]

See also

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

Notes and references

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