islamic etiquette & ceremonies
Jul 14, 2008
Image via Wikipedia
the ways & mores of life from the islamic viewpoint
Question:
What is meant by Islamic etiquette?
Answer:
Islamic etiquette are matters relating to the different concerns of man, whose commission or omission has been desired by Islam, but the seal of law has not been set on them.
Islamic etiquette are matters that impel the individual and society towards perfection and ideality.
Question:
If these matters are the cause of perfection of man, why hasn’t Islam made them obligatory?
Answer:
Because Islam has kept the weakness and frailty of man in mind, and has not wanted to put him to trouble or hardship. Therefore, the essential matters for the religion or the living of man has been made obligatory, and the non-essential matters have been left to his own choices and will. If he wants he can perform them, and if he does not want he may do nothing. Thereafter, Islam has pointed towards those matters which it approves or disapproves, and has introduced them to its followers, so that people who have a strong will and want more and greater progress, elevation and welfare for themselves and their society, should act upon them and present a model for others.
Question:
Please bring an example or model for Islamic etiquette.
Answer:
Islamic etiquette and ceremonies are many – we shall include here a short list of Islamic rules of conduct:
1-The mores and conditions of a woman whom a man wants to bring into his wedlock, and similarly the mores and conditions of a man whom a woman wants to accept as a husband. These mores and conditions relate to religion, behaviour, accomplishments and maturity.
2-Etiquette and ceremonies of the marriage contract, marriage portion, sleeping together, attitude with one another and a group.
3-The mores of pregnancy, breast feeding and training of children.
4-Ground rules of behaviour between man and wife, within the house and outside.
5-Dress code in relation to fabric, colour, cut and number of dresses.
6-Manners of hair, beard, eyebrows and the hair on the rest of the body, as regards combing, oiling, cutting and beautifying, and looking after them or applying tonics to the hair etc.
7-The rules of caring and looking after the body as regards oiling, rubbing with a flannel or glove, and exercising.
8-Manners of eating and drinking.
9-Manners of waking, sleeping, lying down and stretching of muscles.
10-Rules of applying kohl, brushing teeth, using a toothpick, aromatizing the mouth and perfuming the whole body.
11-Manners of taking a bath in relation to entering and leaving, how to wash with water, cleansing of grime and wearing a bathing cloth.
12-Associating with one another e.g. being the first to greet another, opening up space for others in gatherings, and minding of tongue, eyes and ears from matters opposing religious laws and manners like whispering in someone’s ear, empty or vain talk, way of sitting as regards respect and consideration of others etc.
13-Etiquette of eating and manners of participating in eating with others like washing hands before eating, eating only when hungry, to stop eating before being satiated, table manners, to first partake of salt when starting to partake food, remembering the name of God when starting to take food, thanking him for his blessings.
14-Manners of drinking as regards whether to drink while standing or sitting, drinking in sips and the suitable time for it.
15-Mores of occupation and business.
16-Mores of farming.
17-Rules of conduct for protecting and taking care of health and hygiene as regards prevention and cure.
18-Etiquette of teaching and learning, duties of teachers and student, lesson and taking care of book, manners of editing, writing and discussing etc.
19-The mores of a deal to buy and sell, rent, mortgage etc.
20-Etiquette of taking care of birds and domestic animals.
21-Rules of conduct for cleansing of the house and its outside environment, and how to build a house, arrangement of its rooms etc.
22-Mores of taking care of four-footed and other animals and the manners in which to give them water, feed them, pulling of weight and looking after them.
23-Mores for making cities habitable.
24-The rules of conduct for laying out roads, digging wells, opening up of canals and aqueducts.
25-The manners of profiting from the hidden wealths of the world from mines, treasure hoards, sea and land.
26-Mores of travelling and sojourning.
27-Prescribed way for sacrificing an animal.
28-The rules of conduct for adjudication and redress of grievances from the point of view of the judge, witnesses and writer of the charge sheet, way of sitting in the court, talking to the authorities etc.
29-The ways of adorning, wearing gold and jewellery and looking in the mirror.
30-The manners for going to the lavatory as regards sitting, what to do when entering, washing etc.
31-The mores of socializing with family and near ones or ordinary people, and the way of shaking hands, welcoming etc.
32-Etiquette of reconciliation and making peace treaty, war and attacking the enemy.
33-Manners of mounting or boarding and dismounting or alighting, finding a lodging half-way, choosing a travelling companion etc.
34-The ways of conduct when in a state of dying, and relating to the deceased, funeral rites, grave, mourning etc.
35-Mores of being sick and rules of conduct for the patient and the healthy.
36-Etiquette of being rich and poor.
37-The mores of trying to convert non-Muslims to Islam and spiritual guidance.
38-The prescribed way of behaviour for the ruler, the scholar, the preacher, leaders of the congregation and other spiritual leaders.
39-The mores for making a will, spiritual guidance, carrying out of legal limits and providing recompense.
40-The prescribed ways of invoking God, offering prayers and doing other acts of worship, visiting holy shrines etc.
There are many other etiquette which exist about all aspects of life and their detail required the writing of several books. We desired here only to point out briefly toward some major themes.
Written by: Ayatollah al-Odhmaa Shirazi
