what is adab_ _ adab in islām
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1/6/2015 What is Adab? | Adab In Islām
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Adab In Islām
Lessons for everyday living
What is Adab?
The word adab is not fully translatable from Arabic to English. It encompasses all the good thingsa Muslim must do. Adab linguistically means to invite people for food. The Arabic word Ma’dubais a word derived from the word Adab, and means to invite all or many people for all types offood, or a gathering around a table. Adab hence includes all that is good; every noblecharacteristic, habit, or trait that is included within the scope of adab.
Adab is natural, it isn’t really taught, or learnt, but it is naturally developed. Children acquireadab from their parents, students from their teachers, the young from the elders. We may havemuch knowledge but lack adab and we may have much adab but lack knowledge; but it is adabthat holds the greater value and importance. In today’s society, where parents, teachers, andelders are no longer given their correct honours, respect or rights; basic manners have made aswift exit, whilst we compete for glory, knowledge, or worldly gain.
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The Importance of Adab
Ibn Al‑Mubarak said, “Mukhlid Ibn al‑Husayn once said to me,‘We are more in need of acquiring adab than learning Hadith’.
This highlights that knowledge alone is insufficient to build a sound and balanced Islamicpersonality. Imam Zakariya al‑Anbari once said:
‘Knowledge without Adab is like fire without wood, and Adab without knowledge is like aspirit without a body’.
So, vast amounts of knowledge and severe lack in adab, means a person is little more than a
1/6/2015 What is Adab? | Adab In Islām
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So, vast amounts of knowledge and severe lack in adab, means a person is little more than adonkey laden with books. What use are the books to that donkey without being able to read?Similarly, what use is knowledge to a Muslim, without the practical mannerisms and etiquettesthat really define us as Muslims?
Traditionally, adab was not taught but acquired and embodied between interactions betweenpeople. It has been narrated that Imam Ahmed (رحمة هللا عليه) would have had up to 5000 attendeesat his gatherings, maybe 500 would write and learn; the rest (4500) would simply learn from hisactions, his adab. This has such importance that we learn by what we see, whether that is good orbad, hence it is essential and somewhat detrimental that we teach only that which is good, as thebad habits are perhaps the easier to acquire.
Looking at other classical examples from our pious Ulema; the mother of Imam Malik (رحمة هللا عليه)would place an imama on his head and send him to his teacher Rabi’ah ibn Abdurrahman(nicknamed: Rabi’ah Ar‑Rai’), to learn first from his manners, his adab and then his knowledge.Indeed the deen of Islam is itself manners, where anyone that surpasses you in manners, is betterthan you in deen (Ibn al‑Qayyim). Abu Huraira (رضى هللا عنه) narrated, that the Prophet (صلى هللا عليه:said (وسلم
“I have not been sent as a Messenger, except to perfect character (Akhlaaq)”He also said that:
“The nearest of you to me on the Day of Judgement will be the one who is best in character.”(Bukhari)
All the books of Hadith have chapters on Adab. For example:1. Muwatta’, Imam Malik: The book of good behaviour2. Sahih al‑Bukhari: The book of manners3. Sahih Muslim: The book of dutifulness, ties of kinship and manners.4. Sunan Abi Dawud: The book of manners5. Sunan at Tirmidhi: The book of manners, and the book of dutifulness and ties of kinship.6. Sunan Ibn Majah: Chapters on Manners.
The book Al Adab Al Mufrad was separated by Imam Bukhari (رحمة هللا عليه) because he was awareof its great importance in everyday living. When we talk about Adab we must first begin with ourAdab with Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) in terms of akhlaaq, sincerity, actions, avoiding shirk etc. We mustqualify our respect for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and His attributes, His signs, His Symbols (the Quran,the Masãjid and everything connected to Him). Then we must purify and qualify our Adab withthe Prophet (صلى هللا عليه وسلم). In quantifying, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) tells us in the Quran that in His:was a perfect example (صلى هللا عليه وسلم) manners and style, the Prophet (صلى هللا عليه وسلم)
وإنك لعلى خلق عظيم“Truly, you have the best of manners”
(Quran Al Qalam: verse 4)
1/6/2015 What is Adab? | Adab In Islām
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Comments»
1. shamim ‑ May 24, 2007Mashallah Love wt uv done wid the quotes…luks gr8…keep up da gud 1 n May Allah rewardu 4 ur effort Ameen
Reply2. farah ‑ May 26, 2007asalamu ‘alaykum. Like the new look, jazakumallahu khayrun ahsanul jazaa. May Allah grantus tawfiq to implement such beautiful adaab, ameen.
Reply3. soulscripture ‑ May 26, 2007Jazakhum’Allah Khair sisters…Ameen to your dua’asFi Aman Allaah.SS
Reply4. Mustafa ‑ December 15, 2008As Salaam ‘alaykum.
In my quest of Islamic knowledge for last several years the concept of Adab was missing. Sincereading about adab and I am trying to practice it and I realize that the simile of donkey givenis very true. Even with little knowledge but with adab a person can lead life but all theknowledge with no Abad makes life miserable.
I wish and pray more Muslims read about adab and implement it in their lives.
Amen
Reply5. MysticSaint ‑ December 21, 2008Mashallah! beautiful post.
Reply6. Ameena ‑ April 23, 2009Alhamdulillah we have such great Muslims like you! May Allah bless you!
Reply7. rwasjuneja ‑ July 15, 2009
Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say
1/6/2015 What is Adab? | Adab In Islām
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Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to saythat I have really liked reading your blog posts. AnywayI’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon!
Reply8. Miles ‑ July 23, 2009The best information i have found exactly here. Keep going Thank you
Reply9. Abdullaah ‑ October 10, 2009as‑salaamu alaikum.
This is such an important topic‑ subhanAllaah the number of brothers that I have come acrosswho “think” they are following the sunnah in their conduct with others are simply deludingthemselves. I’ve never seen a circle where adab is described in detailed (and I’ve been to a fairfew talks, circles and gatherings of knowledge).
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