The Kinds of Manners in Islam and Its Verses

In Islam, there are some manners or rules that we must obey so that our lives become more calm and peaceful. To more easily to understand it, the following are the kinds of manners in Islam and its verses that we need to apply in the life:

The Manners of Eating and Drinking

First, we are forbidden to denounce food. If we do not really like the food, then we should leave it instead of eating it, but denouncing it.

From Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu:

مَا عَابَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَعاَماً قَطُّ إِنِ اشْتَهَاهُ أَكَلَهُ وَ إِنْ كَرِهَهُ تَرَكَهُ.

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam never denounced food, if he shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam had appetite (liked the food that had been served), he ate it, meanwhile if he did not like (had no appetite), then he left it.”

Second, always read bismillah before eating as it had been taught by the Prophet,

إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللهِ تَعَالَى، فَإِذَا نَسِيَ أَنْ يَذْكُرَ اسْمَ اللهِ فِيْ أَوَّلِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ: بِسْمِ اللهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ.

“If one of you wants to eat, then say: ‘Bismillah’, and if he forgets to say bismillah in the beginning of eating, then he should say: ‘Bismillah awwaalahu wa aakhirahu’ (in the name of Allah at the beginning and the end).” (Shahih: Narrated by Abu Dawud (no. 3767), at-Tirmidzi (no. 1858), Ahmad (VI/143), ad-Darimi (no. 2026) and an-Nasa-i in ‘Amalul Yaum wal Lailah (no. 281). Validated by Syaikh al-Albani in Irwaa-ul Ghaliil (no. 1965))

Third, eat from the edge of the plate. We should not eat from the middle directly, but eat the food that is on the edge of the plate first. He shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

الْبَرَكَةُ تَنْزِلُ وَسَطَ الطَّعَامِ فَكُلُوْا مِنْ حَافَتَيْهِ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوْا مِنْ وَسَطِهِ.

“The blessing goes down in the middle of the food, then eat from the edge of the plate and do not start from the middle part.” (Shahih: Narrated by Muslim (no. 2031 (129)), Abu Dawud (no. 3772) and Ibn Majah (no. 3269). Validated by Syaikh al-Albani rahimahullah in Shahiihul Jaami’ (no. 379))

The Manners of Visiting

First, fulfill the invitation if invited. This is in accordance with the words of the Prophet,

مَنْ دُعِىَ فَلْيُجِبْ

“Whoever is invited then come!” (Hadith Abu Dawud and Ahmad)

وَمَنْ تَرَكَ الدَّعْـوَةَ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ

“Whoever does not fulfill the invitation then he has disobeyed Allah and His Prophet.” (Hadith Bukhari)

Second, do not get in before permitted. Even though it is our close friend’s house. We should always ask for permission first before we get in to someone’s house.

يَاأََيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا لاَ تَدْخُـلُوْا بُيُـوْتَ النَّبِي ِّإِلاَّ أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَى طَـعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَاظِـرِيْنَ إِنهُ وَلِكنْ إِذَا دُعِيْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوْا فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانْتَشِـرُوْا وَلاَ مُسْتَئْنِسِيْنَ لِحَدِيْثٍ إَنَّ ذلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى النَّبِيَّ فَيَسْتَحِي مِنْكُمْ وَاللهُ لاَ يَسْتَحِي مِنَ اْلحَقِّ

“O believers, do not get in to Prophet’s houses unless you are permitted to eat without waiting for the food to cook! However, if you are invited, come in! And if you are done eating, leave without extending the conversation! Indeed, that would disturb the Prophet. Then, the Prophet is shy of you to ask you to leave. And Allah is not shy to explain the truth.” (QS. Al-Ahzab: 53)

The Manners of Defecation

First, defecate in a closed place. As a Muslim that has shame, then we should defecate in a closed place.

From Jabir bin ‘Abdillah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, he said,

خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى سَفَرٍ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لاَ يَأْتِى الْبَرَازَ حَتَّى يَتَغَيَّبَ فَلاَ يُرَى

“We once went out with the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when safar, he did not defecate in an open area, however he went to a distant place until it was not visible and seen.”

Second, pray before entering the defecation place to get a protection from the disturbance of invisible jinn.

From Anas bin Malik, he said,

كَانَ النَّبِىُّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – إِذَا دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ قَالَ « اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ »

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when he entered the bathroom, he said: Allahumma inni a’udzu bika minal khubutsi wal khobaits (O Allah, I seek protection to You from the male satan and female satan).”

The Manners of Sleeping

First, do not sleep before doing Isha prayer. We should do Isha prayer first before going to sleep and do not chat after Isha.

From Abu Barzah radhiyallahu ‘anhu:

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَ (صَلاَةِ) الْعِشَاءِ وَالْحَدِيْثَ بَعْدَهَا.

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam hated to sleep at night before (Isha prayer) and talk (that is not useful) afterwards.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari no. 568 and Muslim no. 647 (235). This lafaz belongs to al-Bukhari and the word صَلاَة is not found in the lafaz of al-Bukhari in no. 568.-penj)

Second, take wudu’ before going to sleep. People who perform wudu’ before going to sleep will get a protection from the angel in their sleep.

إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوْءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ.

“If you want to go to bed (sleep), then you should wudu’ first as your wudu’ for the prayer.” [Hadith Al-Bukhari no. 247 and Muslim no. 2710]

Third, pray before going to sleep. There are also some prayers that are read which are the verses of the Qur’an as it was taught by the Prophet.

From ‘Aisyah, she radhiyallahu ‘anha said,

كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا ( قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ) وَ ( قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ) وَ ( قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ) ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ

“The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when he was in the bed every night, he collected his palms, then the palms were blown and read ‘Qul huwallahu ahad’ (Surah Al-Ikhlas), ‘Qul a’udzu birobbil falaq’ (Surah Al-Falaq) and ‘Qul a’udzu birobbin naas’ (Surah An-Naas). Then he rubbed the palms on the parts of the body that could be reached, starting from the head, face, and the front body. He did it three times.” (Hadith Bukhari no. 5017).

Those were the kinds of manners in Islam and its verses that need to know and practice in the daily life. That is all for this brief article. Hopefully it can improve our insight and enhance our faith and piety. Aamiin.