From those manners are the following:
1) Truthfulness
2) Trustworthiness
3) Chastity
4) Modesty or shyness
5) Bravery
6) Generosity
7) Fulfilling one’s word
8) Staying away from all that Allâh has forbidden
9) Being good to one’s neighbor
10) Helping those in need, as much as one is able. And all other manners that the Qur’an and Sunnah legislate.
Allâh Almighty described the Prophet, saying:وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ”And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on exalted standard of character.”
When ‘Aishah, may Allâh be pleased with her, was asked about the Prophet’s manners, she said, “His manners were the Qur’an.”
(Recorded by Muslim).
The Messenger of Allâh would ask his Lord to guide him to righteous manners, to keep him far away from bad ones. In a Hadith, he said:اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَخَطَايَايَ كُلَّهَا ، اللَّهُمَّ انْعَشْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي، اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لِصَالِحِ الأَعْمَالِ وَالْأَخْلَاقِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي لِصَالِحِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَلَايَصْرِفُ سَيْنَهَا إِلَّا أَنْت
The following Hadith clearly shows the superiority of good manners: أَعْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا “The most complete of believers in terms of faith is the best of them in manners.”(Recorded by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Good manners can also bring about Allâh’s love for His worshipper, for the Prophet said:أَحَبُّ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقاً “The most beloved of Allah’s worshippers to Him are the ones with the best manners.” (Recorded by At-Tabarani with a Sahih chain).
1) Truthfulness:
The Shaykh began a list of good manners with truthfulness, a characteristic that Allâh ordered us to apply: يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّدِقِينَ “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allâh, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Taubah 9:119)
Narrated ‘Abdullah: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.”(Sahih Bukhari 6094)
2) Trustworthiness:
“Truly, We (Allah) did offer Al-Amânah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allâh has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allâh’s Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).”(Al-Ahzab 33:72)
You fulfill your trust by performing deeds as Allâh Almighty ordered you to perform them. Then at another level, you have been entrusted with your wife and children; it is your responsibility to give those children a righteous upbringing. You have been entrusted with both a body and senses: therefore you must use them only in the obedience of Allâh.
Allah says: “Verily! Allâh commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allâh) gives you! Truly, Allâh is Ever All-Hearer, All- Seer.” (Surah An-Nisa’ 4:58)
We should try to fulfill all trusts that are given to us because, since not doing so is an indication of hypocrisy. Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet ﷺ said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three:
1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise).
3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)”(Sahih Bukhari 33)
3) Chastity:
In one context, the Arabic word for chastity means to protect oneself from sexual wrongdoing, a characteristic that is a must for a muslim:Allah says,وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ “And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allâh enriches them of His Bounty.”(Surah An Nur 24:33)
A muslim protects himself from perpetraing vile and evil deeds, hoping to receive reward from Allah.
When the Prophet ﷺ was describing the seven categories of people who will be in Allah’s Shade, one of the categories he mentioned was: And a man whom a woman possesses both status and beauty (to herself), and he says, “Indeed, I fear Allah.”(Sahih Al Bukhari 660)
In another context, the Arabic word that generally means chastity takes on the meaning of modesty and self-respect. Allah says, “(Charity is) for Fuqarâ (the poor), who in Allâh’s Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at all. And whatever you spend in good, surely, Allâh knows it well.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:273)
4) Modesty Or Shyness:
Modesty and shyness helps prevent one from perpetrating evil deeds, acting as a barrier between man and sin. Furthermore, it prevents one from being negligent with Allah’s rights and the rights of His creatures.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “One of the sayings of the prophets which the people have got, is. ‘If you do not feel ashamed, then do whatever you like.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3483)
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah (alone), and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.” (Sahih Muslim 35b)
The Prophet said: “Modesty brings forth nothing but goodness.” (Sahih Muslim 37)
5) Bravery:
Bravery is one of the noble characteristics of the Muslim. You should know, however, that bravery lies in the heart while strength lies in the body. The Muslim is one who says the word of truth for Allah, without fearing the blame of anyone.
6) Generosity:
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: “The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Jibreel عليه السلام met him Jibreel عليه السلام used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Qur’an with him. Allah’s Messenger then used to be more generous than the fast wind.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3554)
Allah gave glad tidings to those believers who are generous: الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَلَهُم بِالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ “Those who spend their wealth (in Allâh’s Cause) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.”(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:274)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not hurt his neighbor and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his guest generously and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should speak what is good or keep silent.”(Sahih al-Bukhari 6136)
7) Fulfilling one’s promise:
To fulfill one’s word or promise is one of the greatest characteristics of a Muslim; Allah Ta’ala says: يَأْيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ “O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:1)
To not fulfilling promises is from one of the characteristics of a hypocrite: The Prophet ﷺ said, “…Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous..”(Sahih Bukhari 34)
Allah says: “And fulfil the Covenant of Allâh (Bai’ah: pledge for Islâm) when you have covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them – and indeed you have appointed Allâh your surety. Verily! Allâh knows what you do.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:91)
8) Staying away from all that Allah had forbidden:
It is the responsibility of every Muslim to seek out lawful sustenance, while leaving anything that Allah has declared to be unlawful. Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ as saying: O people, Allah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: “O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do” (xxiii. 51). And He said: “O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you” (ii. 172). He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): “O Lord, O Lord,” whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted? (Sahih Muslim 1015)
9) Being good to one’s neighbour:
Allah says, “Worship Allâh and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masâkîn (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allâh does not like such as are proud and boastful.” (Surah An-Nisa’ 4:36)
Narrated ‘Aisha:The Prophet ﷺ said “Jibreel continued to recommend me about treating the neighbors Kindly and politely so much so that I thought he would order me to make them as my heirs.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6014)
10. Helping those in need as much as one is able to:
This is one of the noblest of deeds.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ as saying: “He who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection, and he who finds relief for one who is hard-pressed, Allah would make things easy for him in the Hereafter, and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the Hereafter. Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother…”(Sahih Muslim 2699a)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet ﷺ said, “The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah’s Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day.”(Sahih al-Bukhari 5353)