Book of Manners
Ihsan and the related commandments
① Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ثلاث من كن فيه نشر اللہ عليه كنفه وأدخله الجنة: رفق بالضعيف، والشفقة على الوالدين، والإحسان إلى المملوك
“Whoever has three qualities, Allah will spread His mercy upon him and admit him into Paradise: kindness to the weak and helpless, compassion towards parents, and benevolence towards servants.”
② Sayyiduna Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لا يكن أحدكم إمعة، يقول: أنا مع الناس، إن أحسن الناس أحسنت، وإن أساءوا أساءت، ولٰكن وطنوا أنفسكم، إن أحسن الناس أن تحسنوا، وإن أساءوا أن لا تظلموا
“None of you should be such that he has no personal opinion and says: I am with the people; if they do good, I will do good, and if they do evil, I will do evil. Rather, accustom yourselves to this: if people do good, then you do good, and if they do evil, then you do not commit injustice.”
Instructions Regarding Honoring and Respecting Guests
① Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, who said:
من كان يؤمن باللہ واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه، ومن كان يؤمن باللہ واليوم الآخر فليصل رحمه، ومن كان يؤمن باللہ واليوم الآخر فليقل خيرا أو ليصمت
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest; whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain ties of kinship; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.”
② Sayyiduna Abu Shuraih Khuwailid bin Amr رضي الله عنه reports, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
من كان يؤمن باللہ واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه جائزته
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor the rights of his guest.”
The Companions رضي الله عنهم asked: “O Messenger of Allah! What are his rights?” He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم replied:
يومه وليلته، والضيافة ثلاثة أيام، فما كان وراء ذٰلك فهو صدقة
“One day and one night is sufficient hospitality, and three days is the limit for hospitality, and what comes after that is charity.”
Helping the Oppressed
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara bin Azib رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم passed by some people of the Ansar who were sitting by the roadside. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إن كنتم لا بد فاعلين فردوا السلام، وأعينوا المظلوم، واهدوا السبيل
“If you must sit, then respond to the greeting, help the oppressed, and guide the way.”
Helping and Being Benevolent to a Muslim Brother
① Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates from the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, who said:
من نفس عن مؤمن كربة من كرب الدنيا نفس اللہ عنه كربة من كرب يوم القيامة، ومن يسر على معسر يسر اللہ عليه فى الدنيا والآخرة، ومن ستر مسلما ستره اللہ فى الدنيا والآخرة، واللہ فى عون العبد ما كان العبد فى عون أخيه، ومن سلك طريقا يلتمس فيه علما سهل اللہ له طريقا إلى الجنة
“Whoever relieves a believer from a worldly hardship, Allah will relieve him from a hardship on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for one who is in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. As long as a person is engaged in helping his brother, Allah continues to help him. And whoever sets out in search of knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him.”
