The Manners of the Prophet (SAW)

All praise is due to Allah who sent the messengers and revealed the Divine Laws that contain people’s interests during their lives and after their death. And in it, He taught them the best etiquette and the most beautiful manners.

Al Baqarah (2) 138: [This is] the religion of Allah. And who is better than Allah in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him.”

Allah Almighty revealed the Quran to the Prophet ﷺ who acted in accordance with it. For his ﷺ character was the Quran. For his Lord cultivated him ﷺ and perfected his manners. So love the Prophet ﷺ and follow him. For there is no salvation or success expect through loving the Prophet ﷺ and following him.

Al Imran (3) 31: Say, “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

And the Prophet ﷺ said:
None of you has believed until I am dearer to him than his son, his father and all the people. [alBukhari 15, Muslim 44]

Good manners are an attribute of perfection. And that is why Allah – the Most High – perfected His Prophet ﷺ with it. He was the best mannered person as Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) related. And he spent ten years in his ﷺ service, and he is the most knowledgeable of people about him ﷺ.

And from the pleasant companionship and good character is etiquette with the people. If dutifulness is given to parents, and the kinship is joined, and pleasant companionship is given to the spouse and children. For the people value good behavior towards them in speech and deed. And those who are polite in their speech and actions are loved, revered and respected by the people. Because people respect those who respect them. And they disdain those who disdain them. And the Prophet ﷺ was the best example of good manners and respecting people. And his ﷺ ummah (nation) must learn manners from him. Because his manners are from Allah Almighty. And learning manners from him is following him and implementing his sunnah.

And the Prophet’s ﷺ etiquette with the people is very abundant. And his sunnah recorded his etiquette with men, women and children. And in different areas and many occasions.

And from the Prophet’s ﷺ etiquette in seeking permission is what was related by Abdallah bin Busr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to some people’s door, he did not face it squarely, but faced the right or left corner, and said: Peace be upon you! peace be upon you! [Sahih Abu Dawood 5186]

And in another narration:
If he was given permission, he went in. Otherwise he went away.

And from the Prophet’s etiquette in handshaking is what was narrated by Abdallah bin Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
When the Prophet ﷺ would bid farewell to a man, he would take his hand, and not let it go until the man let go of the hand, of the Prophet, and he would say: ‘I entrust to Allah your religion, your trusts, and the last of your deeds [Tirmithi 3442]

And from his ﷺ etiquette in sitting with the people is that he treated each person according to his condition. So he was easy going with whoever was easy going with him. And he was modest with whoever was modest towards him. As was related in the Hadith of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet was lying down in my room with his thigh uncovered when Abu Bakr asked for permission to enter. He gave him permission to enter, remaining as he was. Then ‘Umar asked for permission to come in and he gave him permission, remaining as he was. Then ‘Uthman asked for permission to enter and the Prophet ﷺ sat up and adjusted his garment, and then he came in and spoke. When he left, I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr came in and you did not exert yourself nor concern yourself with him. Then ‘Umar came in and you did not exert yourself nor concern yourself with him. Then ‘Uthman came in and you sat up and adjusted your garment.’ He said, ‘Should I not be modest in front of a man before whom the angels are bashful?'” [Muslim 2401]

And from his ﷺ etiquette with the one offering food is that if he did not like it, he did not criticize as was related in the Hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never criticized any food. if he liked it, he would eat it, and if not, he would leave it.” [alBukhari 3563, Muslim 2064]

And from his ﷺ etiquette with children is that that he would not forsake their rights in the presence of adults as narrated in the Hadith of Sahl bin Saad (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
A drink was brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he drank some of it. On his right was a boy and on his left were elderly people. He said to the boy, “Would you permit me to give the drink to these on my left?” The boy said, “No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I would not give preference to anyone in regards to my share from you” He said, “So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed it in his hand.” [alBukhari 2064, Muslim 2030]

And from his ﷺ etiquette in returning the gift is that he would explain the reason for returning it so that the person who gave it would not have any ill feelings. As was related in the Hadith of AsSa3b bin Jathaamah ( الصَّعْبِ بْنِ جَثَّامَةَ ) (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that:
He gave the Messenger of Allah an onager when he was in Al-Abwa or in Waddan, but the Messenger of Allah gave it back to him. “And when the Messenger of Allah saw the expression on his face he said: “We only gave it back to you because we are in Ihram.'” [alBukhari1825, Muslim 1193]

And from his ﷺ etiquette in correcting mistakes is that he would not unnecessarily confront the person making the mistake knowing that it was hated. As was related by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ saw yellow on a man and hated it. He said: If you had commanded this man to wash off this yellow. He said: And he would hardly ever confront anyone with something he disliked. [Ahmad 12367]

That is why he often said:
What is the matter with people who do such and such? [Sahih Abu Dawood 4788]

These were situations from the Prophet’s ﷺ manners with the people. And they are situations that prove his ﷺ etiquette with everyone. And he is a role model for us. So let us follow his example in dealing with people. And implement his etiquette. And adhere to his guidance. For in that is goodness in this world and goodness in the hereafter.

Al Ahzab (33) 21: There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.

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