Islamic Etiquette

(List compiled by Islamicity Staff.)

Human nature desires a society based on morals and manners which provides a stable and secure life leading to liberty and happiness for all people.

Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad had a character as a model for all humanity to follow. The Quran describes the Prophet as:

By an act of mercy from God, you O’ Prophet were gentle in your dealings with them – had you been harsh, or hard-hearted, they would have dispersed and left you – so pardon them and ask forgiveness for them. Consult with them about matters, then, when you have decided on a course of action, put your trust in God: God loves those who put their trust in Him? Quran 3:159

Following is list of 75 good manners that we can learn from the Glorious Quran, the Numbers in brackets refers to Sura or Chapter and Verse Numbers :

1. Don’t lie (22:30)

2. Don’t spy (49:12)

3. Don’t exult (28:76)

4. Don’t insult (49:11)

5. Don’t waste (17:26)

6. Feed the poor (22:36)

7. Don’t backbite (49:12)

8. Keep your oaths (5:89)

9. Don’t take bribes (27:36)

10. Honour your treaties (9:4)

11. Restrain your anger (3:134)

12. Don’t spread gossip (24:15)

13. Think good of others (24:12)

14. Be good to guests (51:24-27)

15. Don’t harm believers (33:58)

16. Don’t be rude to parents (17:23)

17. Turn away from ill speech (23:3)

18. Don’t make fun of others (49:11)

19. Walk in a humble manner (25:63)

20. Respond to evil with good (41:34)

21. Don’t say what you don’t do (62:2)

22. Keep your trusts & promises (23:8)

23. Don’t insult others’ false gods (6:108)

24. Don’t deceive people in trade (6:152)

25. Don’t take items without right (3:162)

26. Don’t ask unnecessary questions (5:101)

27. Don’t be miserly nor extravagant (25:67)

28. Don’t call others with bad names (49:11)

29. Don’t claim yourselves to be pure (53:32)

30. Speak nicely, even to the ignorant (25:63)

31. Don’t ask for repayment for favours (76:9)

32. Make room for others at gatherings (58:11)

33. If enemy wants peace, then accept it (8:61)

34. Return a greeting in a better manner (4:86)

35. Don’t remind others of your favours (2:264)

36. Make peace between fighting groups (49:9)

37. Lower your voice and talk moderately (31:19)

38. Don’t let hatred cause you to be unjust (6:108)

39. Don’t ask too many favours from people (2:273)

40. Greet people when entering their home (24:27)

41. Be just, even against yourself & relatives (4:135)

42. Speak gently, even to leaders of disbelief (20:44)

43. Don’t criticize small contributions of others (9:79)

44. Don’t call the Prophet how you call others’ (24:63)

45. Try to make peace between husband & wife (4:128)

46. Don’t call the Prophet from outside his rooms (49:4)

47. Oppression/corruption is worse than killing (2:217)

48. Preach to others in a good and wise manner (16:125)

49. Don’t accuse others of immorality without proof (24:4)

50. Consider wives of the Prophet like your mothers (33:6)

51. Don’t raise your voice above that of the Prophet’s (49:2)

52. Don’t call someone a disbeliever without knowing (4:94)

53. Seek permission before entering someone’s room (24:59)

54. Know your enemies can become your close friends (41:34)

55. Don’t wrongly consume the wealth of the vulnerable (4:29)

56. Don’t turn your cheek away from people in arrogance (31:18)

57. Forgive others, as you would like Allah to forgive you (24:22)

58. Seek Prophet’s permission when leaving his gathering (24:62)

59. Don’t hold secret meetings for sin, rather do so for piety (58:9)

60. Don’t order others to do good while forgetting it yourself (2:44)

61. Be patient with your teacher & follow his instructions (18:67-69)

62. Don’t frown, turn away or neglect those who come to you (80:10)

63. If unable to help a needy person, at least speak nice words (17:28)

64. Be lenient to those under you, and consult them in matters (3:159)

65. Verify information from a dubious source before acting upon it (49:6)

66. Don’t remain in the Prophet’s home unnecessarily after a meal (33:53)

67. Those who can should continue to spend on those less fortunate (24:22)

68. Don’t enter homes without permission & return if refused entry (24:27-28)

69. Don’t sit with those who mock religion until they change the subject (4:140)

70. Say it’s not appropriate to talk of slander when it’s mentioned to you (24:16)

71. If required to ask the Prophet’s wives, then do so from behind a screen (33:53)

72. Divorce in an amicable manner instead of keeping & harming your wife (2:231)

73. Punish in an equivalent manner to how you were harmed or be patient (16:126)

74. Differences in color & language are signs of Allah, not means of superiority (49:13)

75. Don’t take women by force, nor take back bridal gift without a valid reason & live with them in kindness (4:19)