Musnad Shihab

Explanation:
In these ahadith, three very important matters regarding social etiquette have been stated:

① Hospitality to Guests: It is said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest.” This means that whoever has complete faith and conviction in Allah and the Hereafter, it is also necessary for him to treat his guest well and honor him, i.e., to show hospitality to the guest. Because for the one who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, this act is not difficult. According to the Shariah, hospitality is that when a guest arrives, he should be received with a cheerful face, good character, and a smiling countenance; he should be spoken to kindly, gently, and with affection. On the first day, according to one’s means, a sumptuous meal should be served, and then for the next three days, the guest should be fed and given drink according to one’s means, without undue formality. After this, if the guest wishes to stay longer, the host has the choice to either continue hosting or to refuse; but if he continues to host, it will be considered charity (sadaqah) and he will receive reward from Allah. Similarly, assisting the guest with provisions for the journey at the time of departure is also part of hospitality, and giving the guest a gift according to one’s ability is also included in hospitality. In this, the guest is also advised not to stay too many days with the host, as this will cause the host discomfort, lead to suspicion about the guest, and may result in backbiting and other evils.

② Honoring the Neighbor: It is said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his neighbor and not harm him.” This means that one should also treat the neighbor well, honor him, and avoid any words or actions that may cause the neighbor harm. Whether the neighbor is a relative or not, Muslim or non-Muslim, one should maintain good neighborliness with all types of neighbors. The noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Jibril continued to advise me regarding the neighbor until I thought he would make him an heir.” [بخاري : 2014]

On one occasion, he said: “By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer!” It was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, who (is not a believer)?” He said: “The one whose neighbor is not safe from his mischief.” [بخاري : 2012]

In another hadith: “That person will not enter Paradise whose neighbor is not safe from his evil.” [مسلم : 45]

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam also said: “The best companion in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his companion, and the best neighbor in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to his neighbor.” [ترمذي : 1944 ، إسناده صحيح]

Once, a man asked: “O Messenger of Allah! How will I know whether I am good or bad?” He replied: “When you hear your neighbor say that you are good, then you are good; and when you hear them say that you are bad, then you are bad.” [ابن ماجه : 4223 ، إسناده صحيح]

Similarly, once a man said: “O Messenger of Allah! Such-and-such woman is famous for her abundance of prayers, fasting, and charity, but she harms her neighbor with her tongue.” He said: “She is in Hellfire.” The man said: “O Messenger of Allah! Such-and-such woman is famous for her lack of prayers, fasting, and charity, and she gives only a few pieces of cheese in charity, but she does not harm her neighbor with her tongue.” He said: “She is in Paradise.” [أحمد : 2/ 440 ، إسناده صحيح]

In one hadith: “On the Day of Judgment, the first case to be judged will be between two neighbors.” [أحمد : 151/4 ، إسناده حسن]

③ Good Speech or Silence: It is said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.” This means that a believer should keep his tongue silent as much as possible; when intending to speak, and it is known that the speech is good and will bring reward, then it should be uttered. But if the goodness of the speech is not apparent, or it is known that it is disliked by Allah, then it should not be uttered, because along with a person’s actions, every word he utters is being recorded in the presence of Allah. Allah the Exalted says:

﴿مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ﴾ (Qaf: 18)
“A person does not utter a single word except that with him is an observer ready (to record).”

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever guarantees for me what is between his jaws (his tongue) and what is between his legs (his private parts), I guarantee him Paradise.” [بخاري : 6474]

On one occasion, he said: “Do you know what thing will cause most people to enter Paradise?” (Then he said:) “The fear of Allah and good character.” “Do you know what thing will cause most people to enter Hellfire?” (Then he said:) “Two things: the mouth and the private parts.” [ترمذي : 2004 ابن ماجه : 4446 ، صحیح ]

In a hadith it is mentioned: “Indeed, a servant utters a word that pleases Allah, to which he pays no attention, but because of it Allah raises him in degrees; and indeed, a servant utters a word that displeases Allah, to which he pays no attention, but because of it he falls into Hellfire.” [بخاري : 6474]

In a marfu’ hadith: “When the son of Adam wakes up in the morning, all his limbs humble themselves before the tongue and say: ‘Fear Allah regarding us, for we are dependent on you; if you are upright, we will be upright, and if you are crooked, we will be crooked.’” [ترمذي : 247 ، حسن]

Once, a companion asked: “O Messenger of Allah! What do you fear most for me?” He took hold of his tongue and said: “This.” [ترمذي : 2410]