Categories : Muslim Reflections

Before examining the ethics of decent behavior (adab al-muasharat) in depth, the concepts of adab and muasharat first should be examined separately.  THE WORD ADAB The Arabic root “adb” means “feast or invitation”7; the word “adab,” which is derived from this root, carries the meaning

The basis of acquiring knowledge is reading and studying. The first revelation of God’s Word to Muhammad (peace and  blessings  be  upon  him),  the  first  command  of  his Prophethood, began with the command, “Read!” This announced a fundamental principle. Let us revisit these verse

Good character is not only taught but can also be caught. Being a person of good character can best be achieved by learning what is good and bad, observing the limits set by God in the Scripture, witnessing good conduct in daily life, and emulating personal examples. To this end, mode

We will now examine the Qur’anic teachings on the ad- ab toward parents. In the Qur’an God commands, “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him alone, and treat parents with the best of kindness…” (Isra 17:23). It is notable that two of the central themes of the Qur’an are  

The Islamic term used for the care of kin is sila al-rahm which encompasses visiting one’s parents and relatives, asking after their welfare, and making them happy. Islamgives importance to relationships with people, particularly the mother and father and then other close relatives. V

Quarreling among siblings may often be a result of their ages or stages of development. For example, the endless “why?” questions of a three-year-old may be intolerable for a ten-year-old sister or brother. Or, a small child who likes to sit quietly and play with their toys alone may

Members of the family should respect the sanctity  of each other’s privacy in the family. The adab of asking for permission before entering a room is especially important for privacy in home life, and this adab can be gained and developed with practice. According to the Qur’an, mother

Regular sleep is necessary for the purpose of rest and rejuvenation. On average, we spend one third of our day sleeping. Such a large part of daily life should be examined to make sure that this time is spent in the right way and not carelessly. When the fruitful lives of productive p

The Prophet said that “cleanliness is half of faith.” Therefore, we should  recognize the importance of both inward and outward cleanliness, and keep our living quarters and environment clean. In Islam there is a great emphasis on cleanliness, both physi- cal and spiritual. After the

Wearing clean and tidy clothes is the Sunna of the Prophet. It should be kept in mind that dressing in such a way is not a display of vanity or arrogance for a person who has the means to dress well. In fact, God has made it clear that a person has the right to wear clothing that is b