20 Islamic Manners (Adab) Every Muslim Should Follow
"The best among you are those who have the best manners and character."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6035)
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1. Greeting with Salam (السلام عليكم):
Always initiate greetings with "As-Salamu Alaykum" and respond fully ("Wa Alaykum as-Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh"). (Quran 4:86, Sahih Muslim 2162) -
2. Smiling is Charity (Sadaqah):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Your smile for your brother is charity." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1956) -
3. Lowering the Gaze:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their modesty." (Quran 24:30) -
4. Speaking Kindly or Remaining Silent:
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6475) -
5. Honoring Parents:
"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents." (Quran 17:23) -
6. Eating with the Right Hand:
The Prophet (ﷺ) commanded: "Eat with your right hand!" (Sahih Muslim 2020) -
7. Saying "Bismillah" Before Eating:
"Mention Allah's Name (Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearest to you." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376) -
8. Thanking People:
"Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah." (Sunan Abu Dawud 4811) -
9. Visiting the Sick:
"Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captive." (Sahih al-Bukhari 3046) -
10. Keeping Promises:
"Fulfill the covenant of Allah when you make a pledge." (Quran 16:91) -
11. Avoiding Backbiting (Ghibah):
"Do not spy or backbite one another." (Quran 49:12) -
12. Seeking Permission Before Entering:
"Do not enter houses other than your own until you ask permission." (Quran 24:27) -
13. Covering Sneezes:
The Prophet (ﷺ) would cover his mouth when sneezing. (Sunan Abu Dawud 5029) -
14. Respecting Neighbors:
"Jibril kept recommending neighbors to me until I thought he would make them heirs!" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6014) -
15. Being Honest in Trade:
"The truthful merchant will be with the prophets and martyrs." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1209) -
16. Avoiding Anger:
"The strong is not the one who overcomes people, but the one who controls himself in anger." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6114) -
17. Cleaning Teeth with Miswak:
"Were it not for burdening my Ummah, I would have ordered them to use Miswak before every prayer." (Sahih al-Bukhari 887) -
18. Dressing Modestly:
"O children of Adam! Wear your adornment at every masjid." (Quran 7:31) -
19. Avoiding Wastefulness:
"Eat and drink, but do not waste. Indeed, He does not like the wasteful." (Quran 7:31) -
20. Making Dua for Others:
"No Muslim makes supplication for his brother in his absence except that an angel says: 'And for you the same.'" (Sahih Muslim 2732)
🔍 Verification of Authenticity
All Hadith are sourced from:
- Sahih al-Bukhari
- Sahih Muslim
- Sunan Abu Dawud (Sahih graded)
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hasan/Sahih graded)
- Sunan Ibn Majah (Sahih graded)
Every Quranic reference is directly quoted from the Mushaf (Arabic text).
May Allah help us follow the Prophet’s (ﷺ) perfect example. Ameen. 🤲