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Prophetic adab (proper conduct)

الأدب النبوي

The body of proper conduct the believer is commanded in his words, deeds and relations with God and His servants; from the formula 'whoever believes in God and the Last Day' in Abu Hurayra's hadith Ibn Rajab derives that these traits are of the traits of iman and that deeds enter into iman, dividing the hadith's three commands into what belongs to God's rights — speaking good or keeping silent — and what belongs to His servants' rights — honouring the neighbour, withholding harm from him and honouring the guest; he transmits Aswad ibn Asram's report of the Prophet's counsel 'do not say with your tongue except what is good and do not extend your hand except to good', and that the tongue's uprightness is of the traits of iman; Abu Amr ibn al-Salah reports from Abu Muhammad ibn Abi Zayd, the Maliki imam of his time, that the conduct of goodness and all its reins branch from four hadiths: speaking good or keeping silent, leaving what does not concern one, 'do not become angry', and loving for one's brother what one loves for oneself.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
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Spirituality and SufismHospitality

The long-form text for this entry has not been written yet. The facts and connections below come from the museum's data.

Connections

Based on
Arba'un 15 — speak good or keep silentGoodness of Islam — leaving what does not concern one
Part of
Iman (faith)
Has part
Ghadab (anger)Haya' (modesty and shame)Husn al-khuluq (good character)Sabr (patience and steadfast endurance)

People and things also explored

Ihsan (excellence in worship)Righteousness (birr)Love for one's brotherIstiqama (steadfast uprightness)Taqwa (God-consciousness)Ghadab (anger)Haya' (modesty and shame)Goodness of Islam — leaving what does not concern one

Sources

  • Jami' al-Ulum wal-Hikam — Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Prophetic adab (proper conduct)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/adab/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.

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Wing

Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words.
Related

Ihsan (excellence in worship)

The third level named in the hadith of Jibril after islam and iman, defined by the Prophet as worshipping God as though you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you. In his commentary on Shaddad ibn Aws's hadith 'God has prescribed ihsan upon everything' Ibn Rajab extends it from the station of watchful worship to a ruling written upon all things — reaching excellence even in execution and slaughter — noting that the wording of 'writing' entails obligation for most jurists and usul scholars.