A Glimpse at some Islamic Etiquettes | Part 4

The Etiquettes of Sleeping When one wishes to sleep, he should mention the Name of Allah and lie down on his right side, making sure that there is nothing present which might harm him. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When one of your retreats to his bed, let him take the side of his garment and dust off his bed with it and mention Allah’s Name, for indeed he does not know what entered it after he left. If he wishes to lie down, let him lie down on his right side and say:

Subhaanak-Allahumma Rabbi bika wada’tu janbi, wa bika arfa`uhu. In amsakta nafsi, faghfir lahaa. Wa in arsaltahaa, fahfadh-haa bimaa tahfadhu bihi ‘lbaudak as-saaliheen.

(How perfect You are O Allah. My Rabb I lie down and with Your name I rise, so if You should take my soul then have mercy upon it, and if You should return my soul then protect it in the manner You do so with Your righteous slaves`.)” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Upon rising, one should recite the supplications made by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Hudhaifah (RA) said: “When the Prophet (ﷺ) would go to his bed, he would say:

`Bismika amootu wa ahyaa.

(`With your Name I die, and I live.’)

 Upon rising, he would say:

‘Alhamdulillaah-illadhi ahyaanaa ba’da maa amaatanaa wa ilayh-in-nushoor.’

(‘All praise and thanks be to the One who brought us to life after having caused us to die, and to Him will we be resurrected’)”

 One should try to retire to bed early at night, except in cases of necessity.

The Prophet (ﷺ) hated to sleep before the Night (‘ Ishaa) Prayer and to speak after it.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

It is disliked to sleep on one’s stomach. Abu Hurairah (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by a person lying on his stomach and kicked him hard. He said to him

“Indeed Allah dislikes this way of lying.” [al-Tirmidhi]

One should be careful and take precautions from things which might bring harm. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Indeed this fire is an enemy to you, so when you sleep, extinguish it.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Manner of Approaching One’s Spouse Before having marital relations with your spouse, one should mention the Name of Allah in the manner the Prophet (ﷺ) described. He said:

“If someone says (before sexual intercourse) when he approached his wife, ‘With the Name of Allah; O Allah, keep Satan away from us, and keep Satan away from what you grant us [from offspring],’ then, if Allah grants them a child, he (Satan) will not harm him.” [al-Bukhari]

 One should sport with his spouse. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to Jaabir:

“Did you get married O Jaabir?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “To a virgin or a previously married woman? Jaabir answered: ‘To a previously married woman.’ He said: ‘Why didn’t you get married to a virgin, so that you sport with her, and make her laugh and she makes you laugh.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

A’ishah (RA) said:

 “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would kiss me while he was fasting.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

They may enjoy each other in any way they like, with the condition the Prophet (ﷺ) explained to ‘I ‘mar when he came to his saying: “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) I am destroyed!” He said: “And what has destroyed you?” He replied, “I changed [the position] of my mount (wife) in the night!” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not answer him. lie (‘Umar) said: “Then this verse was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):

Your wives are a tilth for you, so go in unto your filth as how and when you wish. [2:223]

Go to them front or behind but avoid the anus and menstruation.” (Al-Tirmidhi & ibn Maajah]

 One should not withdraw after ejaculation until she has fulfilled her desire. One should keep whatever takes place between them and their partner private. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “Indeed, from the worst stations of people on the Day of Resurrection is one who has marital relations with his wife and then spreads her private matters.” (Muslim)

Etiquettes of Traveling Before one sets out on a journey, he should make sure that he returns all trusts to their owners, settles any debts, and leaves his family sufficient provisions. He should also return anything he has taken unjustly to its rightful owner. The Prophet (ﷺ) said

“Whoever has something which he took unjustly from his brother, let him free himself from it, for indeed there is no Dinar nor Dirham [that someone takes without right] except that it will be taken from his good deeds and given to his brother, and if he had no good deeds, bad deeds will be taken from his brother and thrown upon him.” [al-Bukhari]

 It is disliked that one travels alone, except in cases of necessity in which he cannot find anyone to accompany him, The Prophet (ﷺ) said to a person who arrived from a journey:

 “Who accompanied you?” He replied, “No one accompanied me.” Upon that, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said “A lone traveler is a devil, two are two devils, and three is a traveling group.” [al-Haakim]

 One should choose good company and there should be one person as leader among them. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “If three people set out on a journey, one of them should me made a leader.” [Abu Dawood]

 Before returning from a journey, one should inform his spouse of his expected arrival. The Prophet (ﷺ) would say this, and he would enter upon them at night, The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“If one of you is absent for a long while, let hint not enter upon his spouse (upon his return) at night.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

One should bid his friends and family farewell One should not delay returning to his family after he has finished his business The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Travel is a portion of punishment such that a person would he prevented from eating, drinking, and sleeping. If one of you finishes his business, let him hum) to his family.” [al-Bukhari & Muslim]

The Manners of Dealing with Public Property There are certain manners which should be observed when one deals with public property. The Prophet (ﷺ) stated the way one should act when traversing roads or walkways. He said

O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly. [ 14:29]

 Islam has deemed the profits made from trade of the purest and best means of earning a living. The Prophet (tic) was asked about which earning was best and most pure, and he replied:

 “Work done by a person using his own hands [i.e. manual labor] and every truthful And sincere trade.” [Ahmad]

 Islam has enjoined that the individual be truthful while conducting business. The Prophet (ﷺ) said

 “A Muslim merchant who is truthful and trustworthy will be with the martyrs on the Day of Requital.” [al-Haakim]

One should explain any faults which may not be apparent in the product. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 “It is impermissible for anyone to sell anything except if he clarifies any fault that may be found in it, and anyone who knows of it should (also) clarify it.” [Ahmad]

 One should not cheat. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a pile of food. He put his hands inside it and felt water on his fingers. He said “What is this, o seller of (this) food?” He said: ‘It was left out in the rain, O Messenger of Allah!” He said,

“Could you not have put it on top of the food so that people could see it? Whoever deceives (people) is not from us.” [Muslim)

 A person should be truthful in his dealings and not lie. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The two parties (involved in the trade) have an option (to cancel the trade) as long as they have not parted. If they have both told the truth and clarified all aspects their trade will be blessed for them. lint if they conceal faults and other aspects) and lie, the blessings of the trade will be wiped out.” [al-Bukhari Muslim]

 One should be easygoing while buying and selling, for it is a to form and strengthen relations between the buyer and be easy going Seller and does away with the causes of materialism which destroy human and brotherly relationships. The Prophet said:

 May Allah have mercy on a person who is easygoing when he buys, sells, or asks the repayment of a loan.”  [al-Bukhari]

 One should not swear oaths when he trades. The Prophet (ﷺ) said

 “Be careful and stay away from swearing many oaths when trading, for [if he does so falsely] the buyer will buy. but then its blessing will be wiped out.” [Muslim]

 It encourages that one takes back the sale if a person is regretful of the purchase. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: –

Whoever takes back the sale of his brother, Allah will take back [the punishment] of his slips on the Day of Resurrection.” [Abu Dawood & ibn Maajah]

 These are some of the manners and etiquettes which Islam has prescribed. There are many others, but due to brevity, we cannot mention them here. It is sufficient to know that there is no matter in life, except that there is a Qur’anic verse, or Prophetic tradition which addresses it the reason for this is that a Muslim’s entire life would become an act of worship, and a means to increase his good deeds.