Anas bin Malik narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Tuba (which is a tree in paradise) will be for he who is too occupied with his own defects to mention the defects of other people’[Al-Bazzar[i]] The Prophet (peace be upon him) here again is addressing the social context and etiquettes, which we…
Tamim ad-Dari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said three times “The religion is nasiha (sincerity).” The people said, ‘To whom should it be directed?’ He replied, “To Allah, His Book, His Messenger (peace be upon him), to the leaders of the Muslims and to…
Can Muslims take a joke? Imam Ghazali’s book, Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, ‘The Forty Principles of the Religion,’ which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life’s works and thoughts. In his chapter entitled Tazkiya al Qulub, ‘The Purification of the Heart’, he pinpoints blameworthy characteristics which we…
Excessive laughter The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Do not laugh too much, for verily excessive laughter kills the heart.” (Bukhari, Adab al-Mufrad; Sunan Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Maja; Musnad Ahmad) And in some narrations, there is an addition, “For verily excessive laughter kills the heart and removes the light of one’s face,” or in…
To go or not to go It is the right of a Muslim that his invitation should be accepted. This means that if he invites you to his son’s walima, you have to accept his invitation. Accepting wedding invitations is compulsory, while accepting other invitations is advisable but not obligatory. This is based on the hadith…
The Islamic etiquettes of sneezing Cover your mouth The prophetic way is to cover your mouth with your arm or a handkerchief when you sneeze. The Prophet (peace be on him) used to do this and he taught his companions to do the same. It is the right of the Muslim to have dua made…
Islam teaches us not to throw words without weighing them. The Prophet (peace be on him) taught us about major sins (Kaba’ir), including shirk, killing and zina (fornication/adultery). Each one of these comes with a set of punishments. These punishments have to meted out according to rules which restrict who can apply them and under…
Why husbands and wives need to keep their private lives private It is quite common in our community, among our neighbours, friends, and colleagues to get together and discuss others in gossip sessions. This behaviour is so disgusting and forbidden, that in the Quran, Allah Almighty says: O you who believe! Avoid most suspicion—some…