[9:04 AM, 6/2/2017] Afraz Bhai. Wellington: Is Adab (respect) really so important?

Passing on etiquette as insignificant generally leads to the abandoning of deeds that are sunnah, which
leads to the discarding of a wajib (compulsory) act and so on.

Imam Abdullah Ibn Mubarak said:

If I leave out a single etiquette of Islam, I fear that Allah I will deprive me of all that He has bestowed
me with.

(Kitabu-Tahajjud of Al-Ishbili (rahimahullah) pg. 132.)

The society we live in is so foreign to the concept of adab that many a reader of today may consider the
above statement as exaggerate.

The following two incidents serve as an eye-opener to all in this regard:

My Esteemed Teacher, Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad Awwamah (may Allah protect him) cited the
following personal experience in his most recent book entitled: Maalim 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 kitab in my left hand when my teacher, a great
scholar and one with rare capabilities, Shaykh Ahmad Qallash (rahimahullah) came to me and took the
kitab 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 Akhirah) 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 kitab 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 a black pants and the dust would easily show on it. So he
placed the kitab 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

(Maalim 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 adab) is a major benefit of studying under a reliable Alim, instead of self (or even
online) study.

Respect for Quran

The second incident I quote from a very senior Alim of my country, Shaykh Ebrahim Mia (may Allah
protect him). Shaykh Ebrahim is very active in many fields of deen, one of them being the spreading of
the Quran and its teachings in Africa. (he has now passed on - Rahimahullah)

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 deen and we habitually take with us copies
of the Holy Quran for distribution. The sad reality is that in many places people havent even seen the
Quran. They learn from slates etc.

While in a remote part of Africa we handed over a copy of the Quran 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 Quran.

That very year, I was blessed with a visit to the Haramain (The blessed lands of Makkah and Madinah).
While sitting in the Haram (Holy Masjid) after a particular salah, 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 Quran, which he placed on the last step of the ladder and then stepped on
those Qurans so he could reach that part of the chandelier!!!

May Allah protect us!

Moral

The reality is that when one begins to compromise on the minor practices (if they could be referred to
as minor) then there is no stopping. Its like slippery ice, and slippery ice no joke!

The following has been reported from the Salaf (pious predecessors) among them Imams Ruwaim
(rahimahullah) and Abu Ali Ad-Daqqaq (rahimahullah):

Whoever belittles etiquette will be punished by being deprived of the sunnah, and who leaves a
sunnah will be deprived of the fardh (obligatory) deeds and he will eventually be deprived of his
recognition of Allah

(Kitabut- Tahajjud of Ishbili, pg.132 & Mueedun Niam of Subki, pg. 85)
From where to where

During my stay in Madinah Munawwarah in the year 2000, I would frequently visit an elder Scholar;
Shaykh Sayyid, Abbas Saqar (rahimahullah).

He once mentioned that in his childhood, the Qurans would not be left on open stands all over the
Haram (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 Quran 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 Abbas (rahimahullah) passed away a few years later in Salah during Ramadhan. May Allah
shower his special mercies upon his soul. He was a very warm and passionate Scholar.

All who visit the Haramain, will be witness to the sad sight of disrespect shown to the Quran. People
carry the Quran like they carry their shoes; i.e. on their sides instead of holding it by the heart. The
Quran 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
unislamic magazines) and other items on top of the Quran. Be careful before someone thinks of
standing or sitting on it!

So, Yes! Adab is really that important!

Lets 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.

Ameen.

Courtesy: Mufti Yusuf Ragie SA

Program QURAN URDU hosted by Dr Ali Imran aired at 1:25 night on ARY DIGITAL and 5:30 morning on
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