Islamic Rules of Conduct – Basic 1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

What are Islamic rules of conduct?

Islamic rules of conduct are good manners and behaviours that Islam teaches us to follow in our daily lives. These are called “Adāb” in Arabic. Islam teaches us how to behave properly in every situation: when eating, drinking, sneezing, greeting people, and many other activities.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had the best manners, and we should try to follow his example.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what “Adāb” means and why good manners are important in Islam
• say the right words before and after eating and drinking, and after sneezing
• use the Islamic greeting and its reply
• describe good manners for the bathroom, sleeping, dressing, speaking, playing, visiting and going to the mosque
• list the benefits of following Islamic rules of conduct

Why are good manners important in Islam?

Good manners are very important because:

• They show we are good Muslims
• They make people respect us
• They make Allah happy with us
• They show our Islamic identity
• They help us live peacefully with others
• The Prophet said: “The best among you are those with the best manners”
• Good manners will be heavy on our scale on the Day of Judgment

Table manners: eating and drinking

Before eating

• Wash your hands with soap and water
• Say “Bismillāh” (In the name of Allah)
• Sit properly; don’t stand while eating
• If eating with others, wait for everyone to start together

While eating

• Eat with your right hand (never with the left hand)
• Eat from the side of the plate nearest to you
• Take small bites and chew properly
• Don’t talk with food in your mouth
• Don’t blow on hot food; wait for it to cool
• Don’t criticise or complain about the food
• Don’t eat too fast or too slowly
• Don’t fill your mouth completely
• If food falls, pick it up, clean it, and eat it

After eating

• Say “Alhamdulillāh” (All praise is due to Allah)
• Say the complete du’ā: “Alhamdulillāhil-ladhī at’amanā wa saqānā wa ja’alanā muslimīn” (All praise is to Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims)
• Wash your hands and mouth
• Thank the person who prepared or served the food

Drinking manners

• Say “Bismillāh” before drinking
• Sit down while drinking (don’t stand)
• Drink with your right hand
• Drink in three sips (not all at once)
• Don’t drink directly from the water jug or bottle shared by others
• Don’t breathe into the cup while drinking
• Say “Alhamdulillāh” after drinking
• Don’t drink very hot or very cold water quickly

Sneezing and yawning manners

When you sneeze

• Cover your nose and mouth with your hand or tissue
• Say “Alhamdulillāh” (All praise is due to Allah) after sneezing
• Lower your voice when sneezing; don’t sneeze loudly
• Turn your face away from people

When someone else sneezes

• If they say “Alhamdulillāh,” you should say “Yarhamukallāh” (May Allah have mercy on you)
• The person who sneezed should reply “Yahdīkumullāhu wa yuslih bālakum” (May Allah guide you and set your affairs right)

When you yawn

• Try to stop the yawn if you can
• If you must yawn, cover your mouth with your hand
• Don’t make loud sounds when yawning
• The Prophet said yawning is from Shaytan

Greeting manners

Islamic greeting

• Always greet other Muslims with “As-salāmu Alaikum” (Peace be upon you)
• Reply with “Wa Alaikum Salām” (And peace be upon you too)
• The younger person should greet the older person first
• The person walking should greet the person sitting
• The smaller group should greet the larger group
• Smile when greeting
• Shake hands if appropriate (boys with boys, girls with girls)

Meeting and leaving

• Greet when you enter a house or classroom
• Say goodbye when leaving: “As-salāmu Alaikum”
• Ask permission before entering someone’s room
• Knock on the door three times and wait for permission

Bathroom manners

Before entering

• Enter with your left foot first
• Say: “Allāhumma innī a’ūdhu bika minal-khubthi wal-khabā’ith” (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from male and female evil spirits)
• Take off your shoes at the entrance if needed

Inside the bathroom

• Don’t talk unnecessarily
• Don’t take anything with Allah’s name written on it inside
• Use water to clean yourself (Istinjā)
• Use your left hand for cleaning
• Don’t waste water
• Keep the bathroom clean

After leaving

• Come out with your right foot first
• Say: “Ghufranaka” (I seek Your forgiveness, O Allah)
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap

Sleeping manners

Before sleeping

• Perform ablution (Wudū) before going to bed
• Brush your teeth or use Miswāk
• Sleep on your right side
• Place your right hand under your right cheek
• Face the direction of Qibla (Makkah) if possible
• Recite Āyatul-Kursī (Qur’an 2:255)
• Recite Sūratul-Ikhlās, Sūratul-Falaq, and Sūratun-Nās three times each
• Say: “Bismika Allāhumma amūtu wa ahyā” (In Your name, O Allah, I die and live)
• Make du’ā for yourself, your parents, and all Muslims
• Don’t sleep on your stomach (the Prophet forbade this)

When waking up

• Say: “Alhamdulillāhil-ladhī ahyānā ba’da mā amātanā wa ilayhin-nushūr” (All praise is to Allah who gave us life after death and to Him is the resurrection)
• Wipe your face gently
• Thank Allah for waking you up

Dress and appearance manners

Dressing

• Wear clean clothes
• Cover your body properly (‘Awrah)
• Boys should cover from navel to knees at minimum
• Girls should cover their whole body except face and hands
• Say “Bismillāh” when dressing
• Put on the right shoe first, take off the left shoe first
• Keep your clothes neat and tidy
• Don’t wear clothes that are too tight or see-through
• Avoid pride and showing off in dress

Personal hygiene

• Take a bath regularly
• Keep your hair clean and combed
• Cut your nails regularly (don’t let them grow too long)
• Brush your teeth twice daily
• Keep your body clean and smelling nice
• Wear clean socks and underwear

Talking and speaking manners

Good speech

• Speak the truth always
• Don’t lie or make up stories
• Speak clearly and politely
• Don’t shout or raise your voice unnecessarily
• Don’t use bad words or curse
• Don’t backbite (talk badly about someone who is not present)
• Don’t gossip or spread rumours
• Say good things or remain silent
• Listen when others are speaking
• Don’t interrupt when someone is talking

With elders

• Speak respectfully to parents, teachers, and elders
• Don’t argue with them
• Say “Yes, Sir” or “Yes, Ma” when called
• Lower your voice when speaking to them
• Don’t walk in front of them; walk beside or behind them

Playing and recreation manners

When playing

• Play fair and don’t cheat
• Share your toys with others
• Don’t fight or quarrel
• If you win, don’t boast; if you lose, don’t complain
• Don’t play during prayer time
• Stop playing when called for prayer or meals
• Don’t play in dangerous places
• Keep the play area clean
• Be kind to friends

Visiting manners

When visiting someone

• Get permission before visiting
• Don’t visit too early or too late
• Knock gently on the door (not loudly)
• Wait for permission to enter
• Greet everyone when you enter
• Sit where you are told to sit
• Don’t touch things without permission
• Don’t stay too long
• Thank the host when leaving
• Pray for the household: “BārakAllāhu fikum” (May Allah bless you)

Mosque manners

When going to the mosque

• Perform ablution before going
• Wear clean clothes
• Walk calmly (don’t run)
• Enter with the right foot first
• Say: “Allāhumma iftah lī abwāba rahmatika” (O Allah, open for me the doors of Your mercy)
• Pray two Rak’ah (Tahiyyatul-Masjid) when entering
• Sit quietly and don’t disturb others
• Don’t play or talk loudly
• Don’t eat or drink inside
• Keep the mosque clean
• Leave with the left foot first

Benefits of Islamic rules of conduct

Following Islamic manners brings many benefits:

1. Pleases Allah: Allah loves those with good manners
2. Respect from others: People respect and love well-mannered children
3. Success in life: Good manners help us succeed in school and life
4. Good health: Cleanliness and hygiene keep us healthy
5. Strong relationships: Good manners help us make and keep friends
6. Islamic identity: Our good behaviour shows we are good Muslims
7. Following the Prophet: We follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
8. Peaceful society: When everyone has good manners, society is peaceful
9. Rewards in Paradise: The Prophet said good manners lead to Paradise
10. Protection from evil: Good manners protect us from bad behaviour and sin

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer from the options given:

1. Before eating, we should say ______
   • A) Alhamdulillah
   • B) Bismillah
   • C) SubhanAllah
   • D) Allahu Akbar
2. We should eat with our ______ hand
   • A) Left
   • B) Right
   • C) Both
   • D) Any
3. After sneezing, we should say ______
   • A) Bismillah
   • B) Alhamdulillah
   • C) As-salamu Alaikum
   • D) Insha Allah
4. The Islamic greeting is ______
   • A) Hello
   • B) Good morning
   • C) As-salamu Alaikum
   • D) How are you
5. When entering the bathroom, we enter with our ______ foot first
   • A) Right
   • B) Left
   • C) Both
   • D) Any
6. When going to sleep, we should lie on our ______ side
   • A) Left
   • B) Right
   • C) Back
   • D) Stomach
7. We should put on our ______ shoe first
   • A) Left
   • B) Right
   • C) Both together
   • D) Any
8. When drinking water, we should drink in ______ sips
   • A) One
   • B) Two
   • C) Three
   • D) Four
9. Good manners in Arabic is called ______
   • A) Salah
   • B) Zakah
   • C) Adab
   • D) Hajj
10. When someone sneezes and says “Alhamdulillah,” we should say ______
    • A) Bismillah
    • B) Yarhamukallah
    • C) As-salamu Alaikum
    • D) Wa Alaikum Salaam

Assignment

Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. List three table manners Islam teaches us.
2. What should you say before eating?
3. What should you say after sneezing?
4. Which hand should you eat with?
5. Write three benefits of having good Islamic manners.
6. Practise Islamic manners at home for one week and ask your parents to write a comment.