Islamic manners

Praise be to Allah who granted us His Favors, perfected the religion to us, and legislated for us different types of righteous deeds to draw nearer to the Lord of all the Worlds. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger who was chosen from among all Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon him), upon his family, his Companions, and those who follow them righteously until the Day of Recompense.

O believers, fear Allah and know that when a person wakes up in the morning, he has to pay a charity for every organ of his body. That charity is not money to be given but sayings and actions that draw a person nearer to Allah. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "On every joint of man, there is charity on everyday when the sun rises." Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained the type of this charity when he said: To act justly between two people is a charity; and assisting a man to ride upon his beast; or lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity, every step you take to Salah is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is a charity." So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) considered acting justly between people is a charity or acting justly among children or among his wives. Likewise helping a person with his mount or kind words that include every word that draws nearer to Allah such as enjoining good and forbidding evil, glorifying Allah, pronouncing Takbir or saying "No god but Allah," teaching knowledge, starting people with Salam, and saluting back. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) made each step a person walks to Salah is a charity, and whenever the way of Salah is long, charities become bigger; this is one of the greatest virtue of performing Salah in masjids. Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) made the removal of harm from the way is a charity, so whoever removes a stone, a thorn, a bone from people's road will be a charity for him. It was reported in Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A man who passed by a branch of a tree leaning over a road and decided to remove it, saying to himself, `By Allah! I will remove from the way of Muslims so that it would not harm them.' On account of this he was admitted to Paradise". According to the narration in Al Bukhari and Muslim: Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "While a man was walking, he saw a thorny branch on the road, so he removed it and Allah appreciated his action and forgave him."

In another narration: "I saw a man going about in Paradise (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting from the middle of the road, a tree which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims."

In another narration: "While a man was going on a way, he saw a thorny branch and removed it from the way and Allah became pleased by his action and forgave him for that."

Removing harm from the way includes paving difficult roads, so whoever contributes in this by his money or by physical effort has done well. Whoever does that for the sake of Allah shall receive good mention in the world and the great reward in the Hereafter. May Allah guide you and me to hasten to righteous deeds and contribute in useful projects. We supplicate Allah to make our work sincere for His Sake, for He is near to answer invocations.

I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed Satan: "There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allâh's Cause), or Ma'rûf (Islâmic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allâh has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allâh, We shall give him a great reward."

May Allah bless the Glorious Qur'an for you and me!