Words are sharper than a knife

Good manners

Good manners are important in the life of a human being, it helps to live amongst people in harmony and peace. Being good mannered makes people to remember you for the good you have done, if you were famous or wealthy but did not have manners do you think when you die that people will remember your money or your fame? Or would they look at you and start judging you for who you are?

People do not look at the fame or the money but look at the one who had these things because remember, wealth and fame will leave you when you die or sometimes these things are lost while we are still alive, but who you are and what you are made of cannot be lost for it will always be with you even if you die. As a Muslim one is encouraged to be mannered at all times, a believer watches what he says, does and thinks of knowing he or she will be held accountable for what they do. Allah has promised the highest ranks of paradise to those of good character, the prophet (s.a.w) said:

( The believers with the highest faith are those who have good manners)

He (s.a.w) also said:

(And treat the people with good manners)

One may ask, why is the highest ranks of paradise given to those of good character? what about those who pray, fast and charity? well many do these deeds but when it comes to good manners they have nothing to do with it, it ranks the highest because rare people can adhere to it. When the prophet (s.a.w) came to Medina a group of people came to him and said: O messenger of Allah we have a neighbour who prays at night, fasts extra fasts and pays extra charity but she is does not respect her neighbour”, the prophet (s.a.w) replied,” she is of the people of hell. Then they said,” We have a neighbour who does not do the extra deeds that the other lady does but she treats her neighbours with good manners”, so the prophet (s.a.w) said,” she is the people of paradise”. In Islam if one makes repentance to Allah, Allah will forgive him but if one backbites, insults someone or harms another in anyway then he must ask that person for forgiveness because Allah does not forgive what one does to another person until that harmed person gets his justice. 

The prophet (s.a.w) said:

 ( Let he who believes in Allah and the last day should say what is good or keep silent, And let he who believes in Allah and the last day should honour his neighbour and let he who believes in Allah and the last day honour his guest)

When you have beautiful manners people will desire to be with you just as they love to be at beautiful places

These are morals and manners that Islam teaches but hard to be implement, we prefer to treat people the way we think is right but not the we think they wold want to be treated, you would not like to be treated as an animal even animals have rights in Islam, the companions had asked if there was a reward in taking care of animals so the prophet (s.a.w) said: “Yes, in every living”. The prophet (s.a.w) said that a lady entered the fire because of a cat and a lady entered paradise because of a dog, if that was the case with animals then what about your fellow human companion, the punishment would be more severe. The prophet (s.a.w) was the most kind hearted person and well-mannered person known to mankind, he forgave those who killed his beloved uncle and chewed on his liver, he forgave those who kicked him out of the town he had born and grew up in and called him a madman, magician, soothsayer and liar, he said to them after opening Makkah, “Go, you are freed ones”. The prophet (s.a.w) said:

(I have been raised to complete the good manner)

The prophet (s.a.w) repelled bad with good and never got angry for himself and because of his good deeds people had accepted his message, once a man came to the prophet (s.a.w) while he was tending to his sheep and asked for something, the prophet (s.a.w) gave him all the sheep he had, the man ran back to his people and said,” O people accept Islam for Muhammad gives without fearing poverty”. Another beautiful story was that the prophet (s.a.w) had a Jew neighbour who did not like him, this man would throw rubbish in front of the house of the prophet (s.a.w), in return the prophet (s.a.w) would say or do nothing. One day the prophet (s.a.w) did not hear of the Jew man so the prophet went in search of him, the prophet (s.a.w) found out that he was ill and went to visit him, the man was amazed and asked why the prophet came to visit him, the prophet replied to him,” I did not find your garbage”, the man was amazed with this character and accepted Islam. 

This is whose example we were commanded to follow when Allah said:

(Verily the prophet (s.a.w) is an example for those who believe in Allah and the last day and remember Allah a lot.)

If you believe in Allah and the last day and you love Allah and his messenger and the treat people the way they told you to treat them, even if it is by giving a smile because a smile is considered as a charity or a good word for it is easy to buy one an expensive gift but how easy is it to say thank you, sorry or any kind word while it sets easier in the hearts of those it was said to, and always remember to:

Treat the people the way you want to be treated.