“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are designated angels, dreadfully stern and severe. They do not disobey God in whatever He commands them. Indeed, they do whatever they are commanded.” Qur’an 66 V6.

Brethren, the import of this Quranic verse is self-explanatory. The Muslim family has the obligation to ensure that every member of the household is encouraged to work in the obedience of Allah (SWT) and avoid His disobedience. This obedience starts from the proper understanding that the essence of human existence is worship and the sole object of worship is Allah. The corollary to worship is the maintenance of good conduct among all the creatures of Allah, particularly humankind.

Islam attaches great importance to the issue of raising the young ones upon lofty etiquettes and beautiful characteristics as such etiquettes help to bring up the Muslim community upon high morals, enhance their behavior and direct them to all that is exalted in words, actions and morals.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the inimitable model for Muslims explained the etiquettes of everything: even that of warfare, where he forbade from killing women, children and the elderly who do not fight; just as he forbade killing monks in their temples and farmers in their fields, and from mutilating dead bodies, as well as many other matters.

The Prophet (SAW) also explained the etiquettes of eating, drinking, dressing, sleeping, marital relations, and how spouses should treat one another. Indeed, nothing is left out concerning affairs of human that the Prophet did not touch and provide guideline. This is the reason Islam is not only regarded as the complete way of life that organizes all the affairs, but also as a divine system which takes its adherents to prosperity and tranquility in this life, as well as gaining them Paradise and its eternal bliss on the Day of resurrection.

These prophetic etiquettes have had a great impact on reforming souls and cultivating them; they brought about a generation which history had never seen anything similar to in terms of truthfulness, chastity, piety, bashfulness, generosity, strength, braveness, helping the needy and supporting the oppressed.

The weakness which has afflicted the Muslim Ummah globally today is due to neglecting these etiquettes and morals. Muslims can also regain the lost glory, might, honour and dignity when they free themselves from the slavery of imitating others and return to their identity and Islamic etiquette.

Henceforth, attention will be focused on some of these etiquettes that should serve as Compass for Muslim to navigate this world successfully and transit strongly to the life after death:

•Etiquettes of intention: A Muslim knows that his intention holds a very high rank; indeed, the acceptance or otherwise of one’s deed is a function of whether the intention is genuine or otherwise. The intention is the will to perform a deed, and if this is purely for the sake of pleasing Allah (SWT) and adhering to His commands, then the intention is sound and will result in a good and accepted deed. However, if the intention was for the sake of a worldly gain, such as to win people’s praise and administration, or to become known and famous, or for any other evil aims, then the intention is corrupt, and will result in a ruined deed which will be rejected. It is in light of this that the Prophet was reported to have said: “Deeds are based on intentions, and each will be rewarded according to his intention.”

• Etiquettes with Allah: A Muslim knows that Allah (SWT) is his Creator and Sustainer; He has granted him many different favours; He has kept evil away from him and therefore, he should practice the best etiquettes with his Lord. This includes abiding by all his Lord’s legislations, by performing all obligations and refraining from all prohibitions. Also, a Muslim must not object to any of Allah’s commandments in line with the instruction in the following verse: “Thus it is not ever befitting for a believing man or a believing woman, when God and His messenger have decreed a matter, to have for themselves a contrary choice in their affairs. For whoever disobeys God and His Messenger has truly strayed into clear misguidance.” Q33V36. Also relevant to this discourse is Q24V51 where Allah (SWT) says, “Indeed, the only word of the true believers when they are called to God and His Messenger to judge between them is but to say: We hear and we obey! Thus it is these who are the truly successful.”

Another form of etiquette with Allah is showing gratitude for all His favours and bounties, constant remembering of Allah, continuously seeking His help, fearing His punishment, hoping for His reward, reciting His Book frequently and watching one’s self in every minor and major thing one does.

•Etiquettes with the Qur’an: A Muslim should behalf respectfully when dealing with the Book of Allah, glorify it, and give it precedence over all other words; a Muslim should also apply all of the commands within it and should adhere to the following when reciting it: He should recite it whilst in a state of ritual purity, facing the direction of the Qiblah, and sit with respect and dignity. He should ponder over its verses. He should recite it with the intention of performing an act of worship, and with the intention to act according to it, and not only for the knowledge it contains. He should recite it calmly and hastily. He should learn the rules of reciting it, and recite it according to these rules. He should beautify his voice and accompany that with humbling himself to this great Book.

•Etiquettes with the Prophet (SAW): A Muslim should maintain certain etiquettes with Prophet Muhammad (SAW). This is because he is the Prophet of Allah by whom He sealed prophecy, and He snet him to take humanity out of darkness into light. Some of the etiquettes are as follows: To obey him in all that he commanded and refrain from all what he prohibited. To love him. To follow his Sunnah, and imitate his etiquettes and manners. To apply his judgments, or rulings, in all areas of life, and especially at times of dispute, for Allah (SWT) says, “By your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you the judge of whatever disputes break out among them, finding, then, no sense of constraint within themselves as to complying with what you have decided – submitting to it willingly with a pure submission.