Islamic Manners

ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ — Assalamu Alaikum — "Peace be upon you"

This is the beautiful greeting of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said: "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something that if you do it, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of Salam among you." (Sahih Muslim)

The full response is: وَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ — Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh — "And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings."

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ — Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim — "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

The Prophet ﷺ taught us to say Bismillah before eating, drinking, entering the home, and starting any good action. When we say Bismillah, we invite Allah's blessings into what we do.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Any significant action that does not begin with Bismillah is lacking in blessings." (Paraphrased from hadith)

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ — Alhamdulillah — "All praise and thanks be to Allah"

Allah says in the Quran: "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]." (Surah Ibrahim 14:7)

The Prophet ﷺ used to say Alhamdulillah in every situation — whether happy or facing difficulty. Gratitude is the key to more blessings. When we sneeze, we say Alhamdulillah. When we finish a meal, we say Alhamdulillah. When something good happens, Alhamdulillah.

Being grateful transforms our mindset and brings us closer to Allah.

بِرُّ ٱلْوَالِدَيْنِ — Birr al-Walidayn — "Kindness and goodness to parents"

Allah commands in the Quran: "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, do not say to them [so much as] 'uff,' and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word." (Surah Al-Isra 17:23)

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Paradise lies under the feet of your mother." (Ahmad, Nasa'i)

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ: "Who is most deserving of my good company?" The Prophet ﷺ replied: "Your mother, your mother, your mother, then your father." (Bukhari & Muslim)

صِدْق — Sidq — "Truthfulness, honesty"

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A person continues to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person. And indeed, lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Being honest means telling the truth even when it's difficult. The Prophet ﷺ was known as Al-Amin (the Trustworthy) even before he became a prophet.

Honesty brings barakah (blessings) in everything — in our words, our business, and our relationships.

الْوَفَاءُ بِالْعَهْدِ — Al-Wafa' bil 'Ahd — "Fulfilling the covenant"

Allah says in the Quran: "O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts [and covenants]." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:1)

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is entrusted, he betrays." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Keeping promises is a sign of true faith. Whether it's a small promise to a friend or a serious commitment, a Muslim always keeps their word.

إِحْسَان — Ihsan — "To do beautiful things, excellence, kindness"

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has prescribed Ihsan (excellence) in all things." (Sahih Muslim)

Being kind means smiling at your brother, helping those in need, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and being gentle with everyone. The Prophet ﷺ was the kindest of people — he played with children, helped the poor, and was merciful to all creation.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others." (Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat)

سُنَّة — Sunnah — "The way of the Prophet ﷺ"

Beautiful Sunnah habits to practice daily:

• Using the right hand — for eating, drinking, giving and receiving. The Prophet ﷺ loved using his right hand for good things.
• Saying MashAllah — مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ — when admiring something, to acknowledge that all good comes from Allah.
• Visiting the sick — The Prophet ﷺ said: "Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captives." (Bukhari)
• Saying Salaam when entering/leaving home — This brings blessings into the house.
• Eating with three fingers — and licking them clean afterward.
• Saying the adhkar — morning and evening remembrances of Allah.