Considering etiquette as insignificant generally leads to the abandoning of deeds that are Sunnah, which leads to the discarding of a wājib (compulsory) act and so on.
Imam ‘Abdullah Ibn Mubarak (raḥimahullah) said:
“If I leave out a single etiquette of Islam, I fear that Allah will deprive me of all that He has bestowed me with.”
(Kitābu-Tahajjud of Al-Ishbili (raḥimahullah) pg. 132.)
The society we live in is so foreign to the concept of ādāb that many a reader of today may consider the above statement as an exaggeration.
The following two incidents serve as an eye-opener to all in this regard:
- My Esteemed Teacher, Al-Muḥaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect him) cited the following personal experience in his most recent book entitled: ‘Ma’alim Irshadiyyah.”
Before quoting it he writes:
“I feel difficult to quote this episode because of its last portion, but I will do so anyway so that I may draw attention to something important”
“I was once, while studying in Halab (Aleppo), carrying my kitāb in my left hand when my teacher, a great scholar and one with rare capabilities, Shaykh Ahmad Qallash (raḥimahullah) came to me and took the kitāb from my left hand and placed it in my right hand saying: “O Allah grant me my book (i.e. book of deeds in the Ākhirah) in my right hand.”
Several years passed and I had become a student in the Damascus University. It was the last day of the term and we were waiting to have our oral examination taken for the kitāb “Tuhfatul Fuqaha” (a book of Hanafi Fiqh).
One of the students became tired of standing for such a long time and wanted to take a seat on the stairway, but it was dusty. He was wearing black pants and the dust would easily show on them. So he placed the kitāb on the step and sat on top of it!!!
Shaykh (may Allah protect him) continues: “By Allah! I feel hurt even just relating this incident, but my purpose was to draw a lesson…”
(Ma’alim Irshadiyyah, pg. 244-245)
Note:
Look at the difference between the two; one of them felt nothing wrong in committing this act of disrespect and the other excuses himself twice for merely quoting the incident!
This (acquisition of ādāb) is a major benefit of studying under a reliable ‘Ālim, instead of self (or online) study.
Respect for Qur’ān
- The second incident I quote from a very senior ‘Ālim of my country, Shaykh Ebrahim Mia (may Allah protect him). Shaykh Ebrahim is very active in many fields of Dīn, one of them being the spreading of the Qur’ān and its teachings in Africa.
A few years ago, on a visit to him with my beloved father, He told us the following story:
“We generally go to certain parts of Africa for the service of Dīn and we habitually take with us copies of the Holy Qur’ān for distribution. The sad reality is that in many places people haven’t even seen the Qur’ān. They learn from slates etc.
While in a remote part of Africa we handed over a copy of the Qur’ān to a person walking in a jungle. He became ecstatic, kissed it and placed it on his head. In fact, it was like a ceremony in that village, where many people gathered just to see this. We were indeed moved by their respect for the Qur’ān.
That very year, I was blessed with a visit to the Ḥaramayn (The blessed lands of Makkah and Madīnah). While sitting in the Ḥaram (Holy Masjid) after a particular salāh, I noticed the cleaners of the Haram. There were two of them on a ladder cleaning the chandeliers. One of them, despite being on the highest point of the ladder, was unable to reach the top of the fitting. So he casually asked the one below him to hand him a few copies of the Qur’ān, which he placed on the last step of the ladder and then stepped on those Qur’ān so he could reach that part of the chandelier!”
May Allah protect us!
Moral
The reality is that when one begins to compromise on minor practices (if they can be referred to as minor) then there is no stopping. It’s like slippery ice, and slippery ice is no joke!
The following has been reported from the Salaf (pious predecessors) among them Imams ‘Abdullah ibnul Mubarak (raḥimahullah), Ruwaim (raḥimahullah) and Abu ‘Ali Ad-Daqqaq (raḥimahullah):
من تهاون بالآداب عوقب بحرمان السنة ومن تهاون بالسنة عوقب بحرمان الفرائض، ومن ترك الفرائض عوقب بحرمان المعرفة
“Whoever belittles etiquette will be punished by being deprived of the sunnah, and who leaves a sunnah will be deprived of the farḍ (obligatory) deeds and he will eventually be deprived of his recognition of Allah.”
(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 3017, Kitābut- Tahajjud of Ishbili, pg.132 & Mu’idun Ni’am of Subki, pg. 85)
From where to where
During my stay in Madīnah Munawwarah in the year 2000, I frequently visited an elder Scholar; Shaykh Sayyid, ‘Abbas Saqar (raḥimahullah).
He once mentioned that in his childhood, the Qur’āns would not be left on open stands all over the Ḥaram (as is the existing norm in the Haramain). Instead, they were locked in a special cabinet, and the keys would be by a responsible caretaker. He says: “The Qur’ān would not be handed out to children (because of their lack of respect).” After saying this he lamented over the current state of disrespect towards the Holy Book of Allah.
Shaykh ‘Abbās (raḥimahullah) passed away a few years later in ṣalāh during Ramaḍān. May Allah shower his special mercies upon his soul. He was a very warm and passionate scholar.
All who visit the Ḥaramayn will be witness to the sad sight of disrespect shown to the Qur’ān. People carry the Qur’ān like they carry their shoes; i.e. on their sides instead of holding it by the heart. The Qur’ān is found lying on the floor all over. This is where it all started. Then it led to the sad, depressing state that is quoted above.
In our case, it may start from allowing ourselves or our kids to place other books (in some cases un-Islamic magazines) and other items on top of the Qur’ān. Be careful before someone thinks of standing or sitting on it!
So, yes! Ādāb is really that important!
Let’s not underestimate the magnitude of respect and etiquette. If we fail in this regard, one can never imagine what could be the result…
May Allah protect and guide us all. Āmīn.