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Chapter (2) sūrat l-baqarah (The Cow)

Shakir: And when We made a covenant with the children of Israel: You shall
not serve any but Allah and (you shall do) good to (your) parents, and to the
near of kin and to the orphans and the needy, and you shall speak to men good
words and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except
a few of you and (now too) you turn aside.

Mohsin Khan: And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children
of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allah (Alone) and be dutiful and good to
parents, and to FAMILY & RELATIVES [kindred], and to orphans and Al-
Masakin (the poor/ THE NEEDY), [Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol. 10, Page 158 (Verse
9:60)] and speak good [WORDS] to people [i.e. enjoin righteousness and
forbid evil, and say the truth about Muhammad Peace be upon him ], and
perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat. Then you slid back, except
a few of you, while you are backsliders. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 2, Page 392).

Allah says, “Do not worship except Allah; and to parents do good and to relatives,
orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and
give zakah.” (Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:83).
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) said: “Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his
neighbor, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest
generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good or
keep quiet. (i.e. abstain from all kinds of evil and dirty talk).” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book #75, Hadith
#47]

The importance of this hadith

This hadith discusses some of the ways a Muslim’s faith should affect the way he relates to others. Ibn
Hajar al-`Asqalani writes: “This hadith speaks about three matters, and in doing so it brings
together everything that good manners entail with respect to both word and deed.”

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day…


This is a conditional sentence. It is repeated three times in this hadith, each time with a different
condition. The first of these three conditions is to either speak a good word or remain silent, the second is
to show hospitality to one’s neighbors, and the third is to show hospitality to one’s guests. This hadith is
showing us that these three qualities are among the many qualities of faith. A person who fails to fulfill
any of these conditions is a person whose faith is incomplete and in want of improvement.

Speaking a good word or remaining silent

This is an encouragement to speak what is good and beneficial; at the same time it is a warning,
cautioning us to be careful in what we say, lest we say something that is harmful or false.

It is part of a Muslim’s faith to speak the truth and to say things that bring about benefit to others. Allah
says: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak a word that is right. He will set right for you
your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has
certainly attained a great achievement.” [Surah al-Ahzab : 70-71]

Allah informs us in the Quran some of what constitutes good in our speech and benefits other people. He
says: “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin
charity or that which is right, or bring reconciliation between people. And whoever does that
seeking Allah’s pleasure, then we shall grant him a great reward.” [Surah al-Nisa' : 114]

When we have nothing beneficial to say, silence is golden.

Once, Mu`adh b. Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) to inform him of some good work that would admit him into Paradise and distance him from
the Hellfire. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mentioned to him the virtues of many
good deeds, then said: “Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?”

Mu`adh said: “Certainly.”

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain
yourself from this.”

Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) then asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Are we held to task for the
things that we say?”

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “May your mother be bereaved of
you, O Mu`adh! Does anything topple people headlong into the Hellfire save the harvests of
their tongues?” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah]

We should avoid speaking ill of others. We should rather remain silent unless we are seeking justice for
some wrong that has been perpetrated against us. Allah says: “Allah does not like that evil should be
mentioned in public except by one who has been done injustice. And Allah is all-hearing, all-
knowing.” [Surah al-Nisa' : 148]

Our tongues are like double-edges swords. They can work for us and against us, both in this world and the
Hereafter. We will be held accountable for what we say. Allah tells us: “He does not utter a statement
except that there is an observer by him ready to record it.” [Surah Qaf : 18]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Indeed a servant will speak a word
pleasing to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it Allah raises him by many
degrees. And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing to Allah that he thinks to be
insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî ]

We must be vigilant not to speak falsehood. We must think about what we are saying and the possible
consequences of our words before we go ahead and speak. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The servant speaks words that he does not understand
its repercussions but he sinks down in Hell-Fire farther than the distance between the east
and the west.” [Sahih Muslim, Book #042, Hadith #7121]
Al-Nawawi comments on the meaning of this hadith, saying: “This hadith encourages us to guard our
tongues. A person who wants to speak should think upon what he is about to say before he
utters it. If it then shows itself to have some benefit to it, he may speak it; otherwise he
should refrain from doing so.”

Showing hospitality to the neighbor and the guest

From the perfection of a person’s faith is his showing kindness to those with whom he has dealings,
especially his neighbors and his guests.

Allah says: “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents,
relatives, orphans, the poor, the near neighbor, the distant neighbor, the companion at your
side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those
who are conceited and boastful.” [Surah al-Nisa' : 36]

Islam emphasizes the right of the neighbor. Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) said: “Gabriel impressed upon me (the kind treatment) towards the neighbour
(so much) that I thought as if he would soon confer upon him the (right) of inheritance.” [Sahih
Muslim, Book #032, Hadith #6356]

There are many forms that this hospitality can take. It can take the form of help in times of need. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “He is not a believer who lets himself be
satiated while his neighbor goes hungry.” [Mustadrak al-Hakim]

It can mean making allowances for the neighbor’s needs, even by waiving some of one’s own rights. Abu
Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “None among you
should prevent his neighbour from fixing a beam in his wall.” [Sahih Muslim, Book #010, Hadith
#3918]

It can take the form of gift giving. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O Muslim women! None of you should look
down upon the gift sent by her she-neighbour even if it were the trotters of the sheep
(fleshless part of legs).” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book #73, Hadith #46]

Islam teaches us to be generous and hospitable to those who come to us as guests. Indeed, those who
come to our homes have a right over us.

Abu Shuraih Al-Adawi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:

“My ears heard and my eyes saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) spoke, “Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day,
should serve his neighbor generously, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day
should serve his guest generously by giving him his reward.”

It was asked. “What is his reward, O Allah’s Apostle?”

He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “(To be entertained generously) for a day and a
night with high quality of food and the guest has the right to be entertained for three days
(with ordinary food) and if he stays longer, what he will be provided with will be regarded as
Sadaqa (a charitable gift). And anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk
what is good or keep quite (i.e. abstain from all kinds of dirty and evil talks).” [Sahih al-Bukhari,
Book #73, Hadith #48]

ldquo;Indeed a servant will speak a word pleasing to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because
of it Allah raises him by many degrees. And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing to Allah that he
thinks to be insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace
be upon him) said:

"Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good, or keep silent; and let him who believes in
Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour; and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day
be generous to his guest."

Related by Bukhari & Muslim

Commentary Summary
Written commentary compiled by volunteers utilizing Sh. Jamaal Diwan's audio commentary
above and English translation of Ibn Daqiq Al-Id's commentary on The Forty Hadith of Imam al-
Nawawi.

Some of the scholars have mentioned that all of the Good Manners can be derived from four
Hadiths, and they mentioned amongst them this Hadith. The focus of this Hadith is actions;
actions of controlling one’s speech, actions of being good to your neighbor and actions of
being generous to your guests. All these actions lead to the improvement of Muslims’ behaviors
and manners.

Actions Manifest the Belief


The Hadith starts off by the Prophet’s statement “Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of
Judgment,” then He (sas) resumes his Hadith talking about the Muslims’ action, which indicates
that actions are part of our belief. It is not enough that we are Muslims or it is not enough that
we say that we believe in Allah (swt) and in the Prophet (peace be upon him) but also this belief
should manifest one’s actions. That is why the scholars said, “Belief is what settles in the heart
and manifest itself on one’s limbs.” It is part of Islam to act on what you believe in and act upon
the teachings of the prophet (peace be upon him) and the teachings of the Quran.
The Prophet (sas) put emphases on the importance of each action by repeating the statement
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment,” with every single action. It is a constant
repetition and reminder that these actions should come out of one's belief.

Speak Good, or Keep Silent


To control our speech is a very important aspect in manifesting our belief also it is very
important for our own spiritual development. If person wishes to say something, then if that
speech is good, and will surely be rewarded for, then let him say it. And if not, then let him
keep silent - whether it is apparent that the speech is Haram (forbidden) or Makrooh (disliked)
or even Mubah (permissible). It is said that the permissible speech is to be left and avoided, and
rather it is preferred to keep silent in such situations, out of fear that it may turn into
something which is Haram or Makrooh.

Be Generous to your Neighbors; Be Generous to your Guests


This is something that has been neglected a lot of times especially by the Muslims in the West.
The Prophet’s statement "let him be generous to his neighbor" and "let him be generous to his
guest" contains instruction on the rights of the neighbors and on doing good to them and
encouragement upon protecting the limbs from doing harm to them, and also Allah (swt) has
advised us in His Noble Book with Ihsan (good behavior, kindness, good treatment) towards the
neighbors. And the Prophet (sas) has said: "Jibreel (as) did not cease to advise me regarding the
rights of the neighbor, until I began to think that they would also receive a part of the
inheritance".

And hospitality is from Islam, and from the character of the Prophets and the Pious. And some
of the scholars have made it obligatory, though the majority considers it to be from the noble,
recommended traits of character.

Summary
 One should only speak what is good and true
 One must not under any circumstances speak evil or use filthy language

 One should be kind and generous to one’s neighbor

 One should treat one’s guest well

 If one is a true Muslim then one would do the above, else one’s [true] belief in Allah and
the Last Day is in question

Only speak when your words are more beautiful than silence
The importance of this hadith:

This hadith discusses some of the ways a Muslim's faith should affect the way he relates to others. Ibn Hajar al-
`Asqalânî writes: “This hadith speaks about three matters, and in doing so it brings together everything that good
manners entail with respect to both word and deed.”

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day…

This is a conditional sentence. It is repeated three times in this hadith, each time with a different condition. The first of
these three conditions is to either speak a good word or remain silent, the second is to show hospitality to one's
neighbors, and the third is to show hospitality to one's guests. This hadith is showing us that these three qualities are
among the many qualities of faith. A person who fails to fulfill any of these conditions is a person whose faith is
incomplete and in want of improvement.

Speaking a good word or remaining silent:

This is an encouragement to speak what is good and beneficial; at the same time it is a warning, cautioning us to be
careful in what we say, lest we say something that is harmful or false.

It is part of a Muslim's faith to speak the truth and to say things that bring about benefit to others. Allah says: “O you
who believe! Fear Allah and speak a word that is right. He will set right for you your deeds and forgive you your sins.
And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great achievement.” [ Sûrah al-Ahzâb : 70-71]

Allah informs us in the Qur'ân some of what constitutes good in our speech and benefits other people. He says: “No
good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right, or bring
reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking Allah's pleasure, then we shall grant him a great
reward.” [ Sûrah al-Nisâ' : 114]

When we have nothing beneficial to say, silence is golden. Once, Mu`âdh b. Jabal asked the Prophet (peace be upon
him) to inform him of some good work that would admit him into Paradise and distance him from the Hellfire. The
Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned to him the virtues of many good deeds, then said: “Shall I inform you of the
foundation of all of that?”

Mu`âdh said: “Certainly.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain yourself from this.”

Mu`âdh then asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Are we held to task for the things that we say?”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu`âdh! Does anything topple
people headlong into the Hellfire save the harvests of their tongues?” [ Sunan al-Tirmidhî and Sunan Ibn Mâjah ]

We should avoid speaking ill of others. We should rather remain silent unless we are seeking justice for some wrong
that has been perpetrated against us. Allah says: “Allah does not like that evil should be mentioned in public except
by one who has been done injustice. And Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.” [ Sûrah al-Nisâ' : 148]

Our tongues are like double-edges swords. They can work for us and against us, both in this world and the Hereafter.
We will be held accountable for what we say. Allah tells us: “He does not utter a statement except that there is an
observer by him ready to record it.” [ Sûrah Qâf : 18]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed a servant will speak a word pleasing to Allah that he thinks to be
insignificant, but because of it Allah raises him by many degrees. And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing
to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî ]
We must be vigilant not to speak falsehood. We must think about what we are saying and the possible consequences
of our words before we go ahead and speak. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A man might speak a word
without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance
between the east and west.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârîand Sahîh Muslim ]

Al-Nawawî comments on the meaning of this hadith, saying: “This hadith encourages us to guard our tongues. A
person who wants to speak should think upon what he is about to say before he utters it. If it then shows itself to have
some benefit to it, he may speak it; otherwise he should refrain from doing so.”

Showing hospitality to the neighbor and the guest:

From the perfection of a person's faith is his showing kindness to those with whom he has dealings, especially his
neighbors and his guests.

Allah says: “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the
poor, the near neighbor, the distant neighbor, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right
hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are conceited and boastful.” [ Sûrah al-Nisâ' : 36]

Islam emphasizes the right of the neighbor. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Gabriel continued to impress
upon me the rights of the neighbor until I thought that he would soon confer upon him the right of inheritance.” [Sahîh
al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

There are many forms that this hospitality can take. It can take the form of help in times of need. The Prophet (peace
be upon him) said: “He is not a believer who lets himself be satiated while his neighbor goes hungry.” [ Mustadrak al-
Hâkim ]

It can mean making allowances for the neighbor's needs, even by waiving some of one's own rights. The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said: “None of you should prevent his neighbor from placing his rafter in his wall.” [ Sahîh al-
Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim ]

It can take the form of gift giving. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Muslim women! None of you should
consider insignificant a gift that you give to your neighbor, even if it is but the trotters of a sheep.” [ Sahîh al-
Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim ]

Islam teaches us to be generous and hospitable to those who come to us as guests. Indeed, those who come to our
homes have a right over us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day
should show hospitality to his guest according to his right.”

He was asked: “What is his right, O Messenger of Allah?”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered: “It is (to offer the best) for a day and a night, and hospitality extends for
three days. What is beyond that is charity.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim ]

Smile:
It is the first arrow and the fastest of them all. It is like the salt for food. It is also regarded
as a kind of worship and alms-giving as is mentioned in a hadith
"Smiling at your brother's face is as charity (Sadaqa)" (Jami Tirmidhi). "Abdullah
ibn al Harith tells us about the Prophet (PBUH) saying that he had never seen
someone smile at the other's face as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to do "
(Jami Tirmidhi).

Be always the one who initiates greetings: This arrow is the one that lets
you to be in the innermost depths of the others hearts. This arrow needs a skillful shooter.
The needed skills are the hearty smile, the warm shaking of hands and the friendly
welcoming to the other. Being successfully achieved, such kinds of skills are going to be
rewarded, referring to the hadith:
"Those who are nearest to Allah are they who are first to give a salutation "
(Jami Tirmidhi). According to Hadith of Anas when people of Yemen came the Prophet
(PBUH) said ,
" The people of Yemen are approaching and they have softer hearts than yours'.
(Anas said) " They are the first who came with hand shaking". (Sunan Abu Dawud
and Adb ul Mufarad)


Exchanging Presents: It has a strange charming affection that captivates all
senses. Hence, exchanging presents and gifts in different occasions is a pleasant habit
however gifts should be within one's tolerable expenses.
Aa'ishah (RA) said: "The Messenger of Allaah used to accept gifts and reward
people for giving them."
(Sahih Bukhari)


Say something Good or remain silent:
Loud voice and chattering are bad merits. You have to be sweet-worded, tender in
expressing yourself. A good word has its own magic in winning the hearts of your enemies,
how powerfully it would work then with your brothers' hearts!! "Repel (Evil) with what is
better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy
friend and intimate "
(Surah Fussilat 41:34) .The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the
Last Day should speak good or be silent"
(Mawtta Imam Malik). Abu Abdullah Jadali
reported that he asked Sayyidah Aisha (RA) about the manners of Allah's Messenger She
said,
He was never indecent of speech or of manners. He never spoke loudly in the
markets. And, he never returned evil with evil, but he forgave and
overlooked.' (Jami Tirmidhi)


Be a good listener:
Listen patiently and never interrupt the speaker, as the Prophet (PBUH) never interrupted a
speaker till he ended his speech. And he who fights for this merit gains others love and
admiration, whilst on the contrary is the one who chatters and interrupts the other.


Appearance and dressing well:
You have to be careful with your appearance so as to be neat, well–dressed and sweet
smelling as well. The Prophet (PBUH) says that "Allaah is beautiful and he love beauty"
(Masnad Ahmed).

Being in others favor and helping them:
Good treatment classifies you as an obedient, beloved slave of Allaah. Allaah says in the
Qur'an:
"And spend of your substance in the cause of Allaah, and make not your own
hands contribute to (your own) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those
who do good"(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195).Sayyidina Abu Dharr (RA) reported that Allah's
Messenger (SAW) said,
"Your smile your brother is a sadaqah for you, and your enjoining piety and
forbidding evil is a sadaqah. Your guiding one who is lost on the land is a sadaqah
for you. Your leading the blind is a sadaqah for you. Your removing from the
thoroughfare a stone, a thorn or a bone is for you a sadaqah. And, your filling with
your bucket the bucket of your brother is a sadaqah for you."
(Jami Tirmidhi)


Being Generous:
Offering money is the key for most of the closed doors that hinder you from reaching others
hearts, especially in these days. Now I will tell you a story about the magic of the merit of
generosity. In the conquest of Makkah, there was a man called "Safwan Ibn Umia". That
man ran away after making all possible means in keeping the people of Islam and after
making conspiracies to kill the Prophet (PBUH). Later on, the Prophet (PBUH) forgave him
and he came back asking the Prophet (PBUH) to give him the time of two months to think
about Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) said, "You can take four months, not just two". In spite
of being an atheist, he accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) in the Hunain and Al Ta'if
conquests. In Al Ta`if, while the Prophet (PBUH) was dividing the booties of the war, he
noticed that man looking longingly to a vast land in which a large number of cattle were
flocking. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him, "Do you like it?" The man eagerly answered "Yes."
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "It is for you then." Safwan said, "Only a prophet could behave as
generously as you have. I believe that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His
Prophet." Notice how the Prophet (PBUH) found the missing key and succeeded in moving
his heart. Some people behave stingily as if they see the ghost of poverty waiting to attack
them once they think about being generous in offering money.


To have a good opinion of others and to give them an excuse:
Keeping an eye on others behavior is a bad merit that blocks your way to their hearts. On
the contrary is to have a good opinion of them. So, try hard to give your brothers the
excuse as much as you can. Concerning this merit, Ibn Al Mubarak says,
"The believer is he who gives his brothers the excuse, and the hypocrite is he who
seeks their slips."Quran says
" O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some
cases is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs." (Surah Hujraat 49:12)


Express your feelings:
If you love someone, or have good feelings about him, don't wait, just tell him at once.
Regarding this Allah's Messenger (SAW) said,
"If one of you loves his brother, let him inform him about it."
(Sahih Bukhari)
Prophet (PBUH) also said "
A good dream is from Allah, so if anyone of you saw a dream which he liked, he
should not tell it to anybody except to the one whom he loves."
(Sahih Bukhari)

We communicate with people on a daily basis, and what’s better than learning some
important types of etiquette that could improve our daily interactions! I personally
worked as an elementary school teacher in Sharjah for a period of time. After Allah
blessed me with my third child, I couldn’t get back to work and I didn’t miss the work
environment much except for a few wonderful things that used to happen. I reminisced
all those small, lovely things and especially remembered the peace greetings.
The school where I used to work, being an Islamic one, had the full Islamic greeting
instilled in its students from an early age, so whenever I used to enter any classroom
and utter the greetings of peace, the entire class would reply, ‘wa’alaykum as-salaam
warahmatul laahi wa barakaatuh’ (and may the peace and blessings [of Allah] be upon
you) in unison.

It was so beautiful, so pleasing to the ears and I had taken it for granted! Though I knew
I could not have that many duas showered over me now that I was at home, I made a
mental note to use every talking/meeting opportunity (provided the kids weren’t crying or
in tantrum-mode) to say the full greeting to everybody with the hope of receiving the
same beautiful greeting; a small decision with much to yield, In sha Allah.

We meet our brothers and sisters day in and day out. The sunnah of the Prophet
has taught us everything including manners and etiquettes of communicating with
people in meetings, gatherings and elsewhere. If we were to follow the sunnah when
communicating with people, we would be earning ourselves a great deal of reward, In
sha Allah.

So, let’s recall some fantastic communication tips from the sunnah. But before
proceeding, remember that our intentions must be pure and sincere, and unnecessary
communication with non-mahrams of the opposite sex should be avoided as much as
possible:

1. Smile: The Prophet said:

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]


Before you start talking, smile! This is an instant ingredient to start any conversation
positively and to remove any past ill feelings that could be present.

Smiling brings joy to the giver and the receiver (imagine being both!).

2. Pay attention to the tone and volume: Beware of your tone and the volume of your
voice. Your tone determines whether you will make your relationship or break it. Any
undesirable loudness in your voice could put people off and make any further attempts
to communicate futile.

“And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of
sounds is the voice of donkeys.” [Qur’an: Chapter 31, Verse 19]

3. Start with the Islamic greeting of peace: Whether you know this Muslim or not, the
greeting of peace or saying ‘Assalaamu alaykum’ (peace be upon you) is
recommended. It will repel hatred and create love between you.
“A man came to the Prophet and said: Peace be upon you! He responded to his
salutation. He then sat down. The Prophet said: Ten [rewards]. Another man came
and said: Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you! He responded to his salutation when
he sat down. He said: Twenty. Another man came and said: Peace and Allah’s mercy
and blessings be upon you! He responded to him and said when he sat down: and
blessings be upon you! He responded to him and said when he sat down: Thirty.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud]

Habituate yourself with saying the full and complete greeting and earn 30 rewards every
single time you greet someone!

4. Shake hands: Accompany your greeting with shaking hands (if you are greeting your
mahram or a person of your gender).

“There are no two Muslims who meet and shake hands, but they will be forgiven before
they part.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

5. Inquire about people: Ask them how they are doing and inquire about their health
and well-being and that of their family and friends. They will feel loved and cared for.

6. Remember not all are the same: Consider people’s different characteristics and
differences while communicating. Keep in mind their age, status, temperament and
other factors.

7. Teach at every opportunity: The Prophet used every chance to enjoin the good
and forbid the evil. If there is ever a need for you to say something corrective in nature,
do so gently.

8. Refrain from the common evils of the tongue: People getting together and
communicating with each other often leads to falling into various sins related to the
tongue such as talking about Allah without knowledge, slandering, lying, insulting
and cursing. These habits are grievous sins that eat away at our rewards and the
barakah in our lives: make it a habit to ensure whether anything you are about to say
may constitute any of these sins. And, if you were to indulge in joking, let the jokes be
true. The Prophet said:
“A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much
importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of
Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity
and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

9. Choose simple, concise words: Avoid complex language and sophisticated


terminologies. Instead, try to stick to concise words and phrases that are of eloquence
and seek to be understood.The Prophet said:

“I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six respects: I have been given
words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning” […] [Sahih Muslim].

He spoke with clarity and made people comprehend easily, sometimes by even
repeating his words thrice.

10. Stay away from argumentation: Being nice is easy when you’re dealing with nice
people. But, practically speaking, this world has more to it than such people. Despite
your best efforts, you are bound to walk into not-so-nice people. Try not to fall into
disputes and argumentation.
“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose
courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are
As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).” [Qur’an: Chapter 8, Verse 46]

If you realize you are already in a dispute, be wise and argue with that which is better.
Allah says:

“And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is
better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as
though he was a devoted friend.” [Qur’an: Chapter 41, Verse 34]

If you find the argument going nowhere positive, stop before you get angry, smile and
retreat after trying your best to reconcile for when a man said to the Prophet “Advise
me,” he said: “Do not get angry.” He repeated his question several times and again the
Prophet said: “Do not get angry.” [Bukhari]

11. End with the greeting: Before departing, smile, shake hands and greet people
warmly with the salam.

12. In writing, start with Allah’s Name: If you were to communicate in writing, in
addition to the points above that are relevant, it is desirable to start your written
communication with ‘Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem’ [In the name of Allah, the
Continuously Merciful, the Especially Merciful]. This was done by the Prophet
numerous times when he dispatched letters to kings and heads of peoples and tribes.

So that was a list of the basic etiquette from the sunnah on communicating effectively
with people. Smiling and starting with the salam, speaking kindly and gently, showing
warmth by shaking hands or a hug, giving due respect and/or showing love by
considering the position of whom you are addressing, saying only that which is good
and beneficial, choosing to be patient and kind over being right, and always ending with
a warm smile and the salam: what a beautiful way to create love in your brother’s or
sister’s heart for you!

Here’s a verse to further motivate you to communicate the sunnah way:

“Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the
like thereof [to his credit], and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be
recompensed except the like thereof; and they will not be wronged.” [Qur’an: Chapter 6,
Verse 160]

I hope this reminder of communicating effectively by following the sunnah has benefited
you, inshaAllah. Do share great ways you’ve discovered or tried in communicating
effectively with others.

I leave you with the best greetings: Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatul laahi
wabarakaatuh! (May the peace and mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you).

Effective Way of Communication According to Sunnah


Posted in Islamic Knowledge By admin On February 3, 2015

The word communication generally means “the transfer of information” in a defined


criterion whereby sender of the message is able to convey its point to the intended
receiver. It could be of different kinds, like verbal which could be face to face as well as
via phone, non verbal that includes in-written and through gestures. Despite being
diversity in means of contact, personal interaction is considered as the most effective
way of correspondence, which requires the highest degree of etiquettes and decorum.
The latest researches tell us that a person should consider some essential things in
mind while conversing with others, like having alignment of actions with words, proper
eye contact, easy talking, being original in tone, and having empathy etc. All of these,
no doubt are good means of disseminating one`s opinions, but for Muslims, the Sunnah
of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the best source of inspiration in this matter.

Let us discuss some of the necessary manners of Hazrat Muhammad`s (PBUH)


personalities that He displayed throughout His life while communicating with others:
Keeping a Smiling Face
The Apostle (PBUH) of the Almighty always expressed cheery facial expressions while meeting or
passing by people, apart from when He saw someone committing wrongdoing. Abdullah Ibn Haarith
(R.A) said:

“I never came across a person who smiled as much as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).” (At-
Tirmidhi).
It shows that keeping a smiling face is an open invitation to others for dialogue and giving an
indication of friendliness as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always had a welcoming conduct. This
behavior of openness to all serves as a great source of being able to spread one`s message
anywhere anytime. Consider an example of a person who is new to a given city, and wants to know
about a particular address. If that person meets an individual who is already agonized due to any
reason, there are maximum chances that first person would be rejected even a chance to talk with
the latter one. But through jovial gestures, one cannot only get someone`s attention to converse with
but also serve as relieving that person`s grief. The Messenger (PBUH) of God is reported to have
said:

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity.” (At-Tirmidhi)


Since aid is given for purpose of helping out others, so happy face also serves the same purpose
and facilitates others with a good feeling. In other context, it also means that giving positive
expressions is a deed of earning Allah`s blessings as does charity.
Wishing Peace by Saying Salam
It is compulsory for every one of us to say ‘Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh’
(peace be upon you and so may the mercy of Allah and blessings) to show a desire of having
sympathy for others. It has a greater implication in a sense that one does not know when or where
someone is struck with a misery, so it is emphasized in our religion to hope for the best for fellow
Muslims. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) showed the importance of this matter in the following way:
“A man came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said: Peace be upon you! He
responded to his salutation. He then sat down. The Prophet (PBUH) said: Ten
[rewards]. Another man came and said: Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you!
He responded to his salutation when he sat down. He said: Twenty. Another man
came and said: Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you! He
responded to him and said when he sat down: and blessings be upon you! He
responded to him and said when he sat down: Thirty.” (Abi Dawud)
It means that through demonstrating consideration for someone else (no matter one knows that
person or not), one does not only enhances belongingness with others, but also results in earning of
a number of Ajar (good tidings) from the Almighty Lord.

Shaking of Hands
It is advisable to shake hands with persons of same gender. This act is useful in achieving trust of
others and giving them indication of association with each other.

“There are no two Muslims who meet and shake hands, but they will be forgiven before
they part.” (Ibn Majah)
So, it highly regarded as a means gaining mercy of God by having positive and productive
relationship among Muslims.

Balancing Voice and Tone


It is one`s moral duty to in the best possible way, having pleasant tone and lower volume of voice.
As Islam greatly emphasizes on decency of behavior, so Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:
And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the
voice of donkeys.” [Quran, 31: 19]
It is common sense that the one who speaks in a disagreeable pitch and raises its voice over others,
conveys a message of detestation to them and also hurts their feelings, so we are directed to keep
the most favorable and delightful way of speech in Islam.

Asking about Family Members


It is highly advisable and wise to inquire about others` family and friends. This action helps to boost
affiliations with others, who would feel cared and highly revered. It also shows that one has greater
concern for not only people who are present, but also those who are away. This ultimately results in
strengthening of relationships when they come to know about being asked about their health and
condition.

Avoiding using Tongue for ill Purposes


One should abstain from using its speech for talking malevolence such as falsehood and backbiting
etc. First, speaking lies is strictly prohibited in Islam, and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) always preached
about being truthful in every matter. It is common observation that when we come into conversation,
we tend to use fabrication of words just for sake of making jokes and fun, but that is not the way of
our religious instructions.

“A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much
importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward): a slave (of
Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity
and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
It means that talking ill in any manner leads towards anger of the Almighty. Also, it has been seen
that we use to enjoy spitefulness against the ones who are present and talk about them in front of
our so called friends. This act is highly forbidden because one day we will be talking ill about
someone, and on the other, we might be sitting with him and chatting unwell about someone else,
and so the satanic action continues. Allah SWT has regarded this action as one of the most
nauseating things to do in the Holy Quran as:

“O you, who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.
And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when
dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.”
[Quran, 49: 12]
The above mentioned Ayah portrays the evil of this act, as it is synonymous with the disgusting deed
of eating flesh of one`s dead brother. That is why use of tongue in the most rightful manner is given
great importance in the religion of peace.
Using Simple, Precise Wording
One should use clear expressions and words while talking to others, so that other person can easily
understands it and makes chat meaningful. It had always been way of life of the Messenger (PBUH)
of Allah SWT, who always spoke eloquently.

“I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six respects: I have been given
words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning” […] (Muslim).
This Hadith stresses on using speech which is simple to comprehend, yet conveys complete sense.

Avoiding useless Arguing


As discussed earlier, positive use of tongue is the spirit a true Muslim`s life, but sometimes, during
conversation, things get out of control and leads towards harsh comments, which is not allowed in
Islam. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) always remained calm during disputes and showed great
wisdom.

A man said to the Prophet (PBUH) “Advise me,” he said: “Do not get angry.” He repeated
his question several times and again the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Do not get angry.”
(Bukhari)
As, arguing pointlessly open doors for clashes and quarrels, during which a man loses its conscious
and becomes annoyed, so it is advisable to remain positive during conversation, and if others talk ill,
one should remain patient.

Ending Conversation with Greetings


While leaving person behind, being a Muslim, it is one`s moral to wish Allah`s peace, mercy and
blessings for him by saying Walaikum assalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

These are some of the essential ways of meeting and taking to people in light of life of Hazrat
Muhammad (PBUH), which not only causes earning of blessings of Allah SWT but also results in
building up productive relationships among the Ummah. May the Almighty God give us the will and
desire to act upon the best ever way of life, i.e. Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
114. According to Islamic teachings, apart from having the right belief
how important is it for a person to do good deeds?
Doing good and having the right belief go hand in hand in Islam. In fact, doing
good in practice is the proof of having the right belief in the heart. This is why
the Holy Quran speaks of true Muslims very often as "those who believe and do
good deeds". Both the Quran and the Holy Prophet have told Muslims that the
best among them is that person who shows the best behaviour towards other
people.

115. Please give a list of some of the good qualities a Muslim must
try to acquire.

Below we give, in the words of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet
Muhammad, the chief qualities a Muslim should display:

1. Truthfulness:

"O you who believe! keep your duty to Allah and speak straight, true words."
(Holy Quran 33:70)
"O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful people."
(9:119)
"Be maintainers of justice and bearers of true witness for Allah, even if it (the
truth) goes against your own selves or parents or relatives or someone who is
rich or poor." (4:135)

2. Sincerity:

"Serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience." (39:2)


"It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say things which you do not do."
(61:3)
"Woe to those who pray but are unmindful of their prayers, who do good to be
seen." (107:4-6)

3. Unselfishness:

"You cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend (in charity) out of those
things which you love." (3:91)
"They (the true believers) give food, out of love for Allah, to the poor, the
orphan and the slave, saying: We feed you only for Allah's pleasure - we desire
from you neither reward nor thanks." (76:8-9)
"Do no favour seeking gain." (74:6)

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