الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين.

The Quran did not leave any important subject that promotes harmonious and moral society, but it addressed it.  And it links success in the Hereafter to implementing this moral code of conduct. This moral code is summarized for us in Surat Al-Hujurat. 

The Surat starts with establishing for mankind the moral conduct towards the commands of Allah and His messenger (PBUH):

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُقَدِّمُواْ بَيۡنَ يَدَىِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ‌ۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ۬ (١)

 “O you who have believe, do not set yourself ahead of Allah and His Messenger, and have Taqwa of Allah, surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Al-Hujurat 49:1).

How a person sets himself ahead of Allah and His messenger? It is by making decisions based on his own opinion that conflict with the rules of Allah and His messenger.  Applying this ayah in our daily life requires submission to Allah’s (SWT) decree and following the sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH).  Therefore. Muslims should be careful when deciding to reject the totality Hadeath as unnecessary.   

Second, the Surat moves to establish the moral conduct towards the Prophet (PBUH).  First, by identifying how to speak to him (PBUH), Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَرۡفَعُوٓاْ أَصۡوَٲتَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ صَوۡتِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَلَا تَجۡهَرُواْ لَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ كَجَهۡرِ بَعۡضِڪُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ أَن تَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَـٰلُكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ (٢(

O you who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet and do not be loud when speaking to him as you are loud when speaking to one another, lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you are not aware. (Al-Hujjurat 49:2)

Second, How to protect the Prophet’s privacy, Allah says:  

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِن وَرَآءِ ٱلۡحُجُرَٲتِ أَڪۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ (٤) وَلَوۡ أَنَّہُمۡ صَبَرُواْ حَتَّىٰ تَخۡرُجَ إِلَيۡہِمۡ لَكَانَ خَيۡرً۬ا لَّهُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٥)

“Verily, those who call you from behind the chambers, most of them have no sense. (4) Had they remained patient until you come out for them, it would have been better for them. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”. (Al-Hujjurat 80:4-5)

 Reflecting on this verse and in others that teach the companions the proper manner is acting with the Prophet (PBUH) give us a clue about the culture at that time and as important the level of shyness and degree of tolerance of the Prophet (PBUH).  This verse suggest that the companions used to come to the Prophet (PBUH) and shout his name to come to him, saying O Mohammad come out for us (يا محمد اخرج إلينا).    

In Surat Al-Azab, (33:53) Allah has also taught the companions several elements of good manners regarding not entering the Prophet’s house unless invited and when invited for a meal, not to arrive very early or stay too long after the meal, and also to respect the privacy of his wives when speaking to them.  Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَدۡخُلُواْ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤۡذَنَ لَكُمۡ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيۡرَ نَـٰظِرِينَ إِنَٮٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنۡ إِذَا دُعِيتُمۡ فَٱدۡخُلُواْ فَإِذَا طَعِمۡتُمۡ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ وَلَا مُسۡتَـٔۡنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكُمۡ ڪَانَ يُؤۡذِى ٱلنَّبِىَّ فَيَسۡتَحۡىِۦ مِنڪُمۡۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسۡتَحۡىِۦ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلۡتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَـٰعً۬ا فَسۡـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍ۬ۚ ذَٲلِڪُمۡ أَطۡهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمۡ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّۚ

O you who believe! Do not enter the Prophet’s houses unless you are permitted for a meal and not so early to wait for its preparation: but when you are invited, enter; and when you had your meal, disperse, and do not stay long for a chat. This conduct of yours hurts the Prophet: but he feels shy of you to tell you about it, but Allah is not shy (to tell you) the truth. And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a curtain that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs. (Al-Ahzab 33:53)

 These verses illustrate the crude culture that existed and how Allah provided revelation to purify it but not holding the companions accountable for following it prior to the revelation. This teaches us not to get angry and reprimand a person for doing something that you consider rude, but it is acceptable in his culture, your approach should be to advise him.   Another example of the crude culture is the case is of the Prophet (PBUH) and Abdullah Ibn um-Maktum (عبد الله بن أم مكتوم‎) who was blind from birth. The revelation regarding this account is in Surat Abas (80) but the revelation is amazing because it reprimanded the Prophet (PBUH) for doing something that we consider very appropriate.

The account in this case is that the Prophet, (PBUH) was meeting with the chiefs of Mecca inviting them to Islam and this was unique opportunity because it is a rare occasion when they were willing to listen to the Prophet (PBUH) instead of insulting and ridiculing him as they often did.  Obviously, the Prophet (PBUH) was very keen for this meeting and had hopes that they may become Muslims.  

While the Prophet (PBUH) was is this meeting, (عبد الله بن أم مكتوم‎) Abdullah Ibn um-Maktum came rushing to the Prophet (PBUH) and saying to him in a loud voice “O Mohammad teach him from Allah has taught you (: يا محمد ; علمني مما علمك الله).  The Prophet (PBUH) asked him to wait and continued talking to the chiefs of Mecca.  But Abdullah Ibn um-Maktum (عبد الله بن أم مكتوم‎) was insistent and repeated the same request by telling the Prophet: O Mohammad teach him from Allah has taught you ( يا محمد ; علمني مما علمك الله ), so it appears that the Prophet (PBUH) got annoyed with the insistence of Abdullah Ibn um-Maktum and his displeasure showed on his face by a frown. Obviously, Abdullah Ibn um-Maktum did not see the face of the Prophet (PBUH) because he was blind.

If you are talking to a non-Muslim about Islam and a Muslim came to interrupt and ask you a question about Islam and you told him to wait but he insisted on you answering him first, you will surely feel annoyed from him. 

Therefore, we would put the blame on Abdullah Ibn um-Maktum because he was interrupting, and he should have waited.  But making this assessment ignores the culture of the society at that time and whether this act is considered normal.  Therefore, many times we make mistakes by interpreting certain actions from the view of our own culture and not from the view of the culture that existed.   Allah revealed several verses to correct the practices of the companions that was improper though it was something that they considered normal before Islam.

The third moral conduct that is addressed in Surat Al-Hujurat is the importance of verifying the information that we receive.

This command is very critical these days with the advent of social media and the ease of transmitting information that one hears or receives to many people.  We are commanded not to react, circulate or repeat any information before verifying the accuracy of the information, Allah (SWT) says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقُۢ بِنَبَإٍ۬ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْ أَن تُصِيبُواْ قَوۡمَۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ۬ فَتُصۡبِحُواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نَـٰدِمِينَ (٦)

“O you who believe! If a Fasiq (an evil/sinful/wicked person) comes to you with a report, verify its correctness, lest you should harm people out of ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done.” (Al-Hugurat 49:6)

 Reacting to information that you receive or forwarding e-mails, social media posting without verifying them is violation of Islamic moral code.   Allah wanted the believers to be extremely careful and always verify the information they receive before transmitting or acting upon it.

Before you make any decision based on information that made you angry, stop and verify it because any decision you will make without verification will be dangerous and wrong. 

How many divorces happened because of false information, how many partnerships were dissolved based on false information, how many companies were bankrupted based on false information and even how many wars started based on false information.

When the Hoopoe (ٱلۡهُدۡهُدَ) came to Prophet Suleiman (سيدنا سليمان) with the news about the queen of Sheba and her people.  Did he accept the information and made decision based on it?  No, he wanted to verify it first and this he said:

قَالَ سَنَنْظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ (سورة النمل(

“He said (to the Hoopoe “ٱلۡهُدۡهُدَ”): We shall wait to see whether you spoke the truth, or you are (one) of the liars” (Al-Naml 27:27)

This command from Allah takes particular importance these days because of all the false information that are being propagated in their internet.  It is sad that many good Muslims don’t heed this command from Allah and forward this false information to their contacts without spending even couple of minutes to verify the truthfulness of the information.  

While the internet can be a mean for propagating false information, it is also a mean for easily validating the accuracy of the information.  All is needed is to ensure that you verify before your forward any information particularly if what you are forwarding is a slander against someone or it is a claimed hadeath of the Prophet (PBUH).

Please note that forwarding information is a form of speech and the more you forward the more false the information you will forward.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

مَنْ كَثُرَ كَلامُهُ كَثُرَ سَقْطُهُ ، وَمَنْ كَثُرَ سَقْطُهُ كَثُرَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ ، وَمَنْ كَثُرَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ كَانَتِ النَّارُ أَوْلَى بِهِ ، أَلا فَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ

“Whoever speaks much will have many slips and whoever has many slips will have many sins and whoever has many sins, the Hellfire fully deserves him.   Whoever believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment should say only what is good and keep silent.

So, make this a new resolution as we near the end of  Ramadan is to let our tongue and our fingers abstain from saying or forwarding any information without first verifying it.

The fourth moral conduct is how to address conflicts among groups of believers.

 Believers are not immune form having conflicts between them, whether this is on the level of individuals, organizations or even countries. So, what would be the role of those who are not part of the conflict.  They cannot be passive in this case. They should first investigate the situation and try to make peace between the conflicting parties.  If this does not work, they should stand against the aggressors until they refrain from their transgression. Allah (SWT) says

وَإِن طَآٮِٕفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَہُمَا‌ۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتۡ إِحۡدَٮٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ فَقَـٰتِلُواْ ٱلَّتِى تَبۡغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِن فَآءَتۡ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَہُمَا بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَأَقۡسِطُوٓاْ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ (٩)

“And if two parties among the believers fight each other, make peace between them. But, if one of them transgresses against the other, fight against the one that transgresses until it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable.” (Al-Hugurat 49:9)

Keep in mind that you are acting as brother of both groups and these group should be reminded of their brotherhood bond as Allah followed this verse by saying:

إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٌ۬ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ (١٠

“The believers are but brothers. So, make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy”. (Al-Hujurat 49:10)

Brotherhood in belief strengthens the relations between Muslims and it strengthens their belief.  Weakening true brotherhood by disagreements weakens the belief of Muslims.

 The fifth moral conduct is related to our social relationships with one another. This command prohibits a Muslim form engaging in any of the following verbal acts: ridicule, slander, name calling, suspension and backbiting. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا يَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٌ۬ مِّن قَوۡمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُواْ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡہُمۡ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ۬ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡہُنَّ‌

O you who believe! No men should ever ridicule other men who may be better than them, nor should women ridicule other women who may be better than them.

وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُم

Nor shall you defame (slander) each other,

وَلَا تَنَابَزُواْ بِٱلۡأَلۡقَـٰبِ‌ۖ بِئۡسَ ٱلِٱسۡمُ ٱلۡفُسُوقُ بَعۡدَ ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ‌ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَتُبۡ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ (١١)

Nor shall you insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the ungodly name after you have believed. And those who do not repent are the wrongdoers. (Al-Hijurat 49:11)

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱجۡتَنِبُواْ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمٌ۬‌ۖ

O you who believe! Shun much suspicion; for indeed some suspicion is a sin.

وَلَا تَجَسَّسُواْ

And you shall not spy on each other,

وَلَا يَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًا‌ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُڪُمۡ أَن يَأۡڪُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِيهِ مَيۡتً۬ا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (١٢)

nor shall you backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would most surely abhor that. So, fear Allah, Allah is Most-Relenting, and Most Merciful.” (Al-Hujuraat 49:12)

 These series of commands start with the moral conduct that you should never laugh at or make fun of another Muslim. If you want to draw a laugh, draw it about yourself.  You may justify to yourself laughing at someone because of appearance, dress, accent, or way of living, but you do not know anything about the hearts and deeds.  Such a person may be better than you in the sight of Allah and this is all what really count.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

إن الله تعالى لا ينظر إلى صوركم وأموالكم، ولكن إنما ينظر إلى قلوبكم وأعمالكم  .[ أخرجه مسلم وابن ماجة عن أبي هريرة ]

“Indeed, Allah does not look at your figure or appearance, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.” 

You should never seek to find fault in others.  A Muslim should pay more attention to his own faults and try to amend his own mistakes. There is no need to probe and find the faults or mistakes of others.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

طوبى لمن شغله عيبه عن عيوب الناس ]]رواه البزار عن أنس بن مالك]

“Glad tiding to the one whose occupation with his own faults makes him unaware of the faults of others.”

Also, a believer should never call another person by insulting nicknames. Every Muslim has a good name; call people by their proper name or by a nickname which they use for themselves.

 A Muslim should avoid any suspicious thoughts about other Muslims.  Allah states that suspicion in most cases is a sin.  Allah wants you to always think positively about your Muslim brother and sister and always give them the benefits of doubt.  Al-Bayhaqi reported: Ja’far ibn Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

عن البيهقي قَالَ قَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رحمه الله إِذَا بَلَغَكَ عَنْ أَخِيكَ الشَّيْءُ تُنْكِرُهُ فَالْتَمِسْ لَهُ عُذْرًا وَاحِدًا إِلَى سَبْعِينَ عُذْرًا فَإِنْ أَصَبْتَهُ وَإِلا قُلْ لَعَلَّ لَهُ عُذْرًا لا أَعْرِفُهُ

 “If you hear something from your brother that you reject, make an excuse for him up to seventy excuses. If you cannot do it, then say: Perhaps he has an excuse I do not know.”

 Allah also prohibits Muslims from engaging in suspicious thought of others and to never spy on others to know their secrets and find out their weaknesses.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

من حسن إسلام المرء تركه ما لا يعنيه  [ أخرجه الترمذي عن أبي هريرة]

“From the signs of being a good Muslim is to leaving what does not concern him.”

The last prohibition in this series of commands is to refrain form any backbiting.  A Muslim should never backbite others and should leave any meeting when others are engaging in backbiting. “Backbiting” is talking about a hidden defect or a secret or an inappropriate behavior of someone in his absence, i.e. behind his/her back. 

The prophet (PBUH) defined, backbiting as mentioning something about a person who hates others to know about it, even if the thing you mentioned is totally true.  Abu Dharr (r) asked the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

يا رسول الله ما الغيبة ؟ قال : ذِكْرك أخاك بما يكره فقال رجل : أرأيتَ إن كان في أخي ما أقول ؟ قال : إِن كان فيه ما تقول فقد اغتبته ، وإن لم يكن فيه ما تقول فقد بَهتَّه ) أخرجه أبو داود عن أبي هريرة]

البهتان أي الافتراء ، تهمة ليس لها أساس من الصحة ، فهذا بهتان وإفك

“O Messenger of Allah, what is backbiting?”

The Prophet (PBUH): “It is to mention about your brother that which he detests.”

Abu Dharr (r) said: “O Messenger of Allah, what if that which is mentioned of him should actually be in him.”

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Know that when you mention that which is in him, you have committed his backbiting, and if you mention that which is not in him, then you have slandered him.”[

 Because Allah give the similitude of backbiting with eating the flesh of his dead brother, Sayeda Aisha and several scholars said:  

ذهبت عائشة رضي الله عنها والأوزاعي والظاهرية وعدد من فقهاء السلف إلى أن الغيبة والنميمة والكذب والمعاصي كلها تفطر الصائم ومن فعل شيئا من ذلك فعليه أن يقضي يوما بدل ذاك اليوم. وقال سائر الصحابة والفقهاء وجمهور العلماء إنها لا تفطر الصائم ولكنها تذهب بثوابه لا بل وأجره عند الله.

Backbiting during the fast spoils the fast and the person who committed it during fasting will need to fast another day as a replacement. However, some other scholars said those acts do not spoil the fast, but it takes away its rewards.

The Prophet (PBUH) gave us a great advice in one of his sayings that has been reported by many, He (PBUH) said:  

جاء رجل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله أوصني, قال: عليك بالإياس مما في أيدي الناس، وإياك والطمع فإنه الفقر الحاضر، وصل صلاتك وأنت مودع، وإياك وما يعتذر منه. ورواه الطبراني من حديث ابن عمر.

والنبي الكريم أشار إلى هذا المعنى بقوله الكريم : (( إياك وما يعتذر منه (( وكل موقف وتصرُّف سوف تضطر بعده أن تقول : لا مؤاخذة ، عفواً ، فهذا الشيء الذي تضطر أن تعتذر منه لا تفعله

Beware of what you need apologize about. 

This means that you should not do or say anything that you will need to apologize about later.

 The sixth moral conduct is towards all people humanity through promoting brotherhood, cooperation and righteousness-based respect; Allah (SWT) :

(يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ۬).

“O you mankind, indeed We created you of a male and a female, and We have made you nations and tribes that you may get mutually acquainted. Surely the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah, is the best in righteousness.  Verily, Allah is all-Knowing, and is well-Aware.” (Al-Hujirat 49:13)

Allah reminds us that all people have the same father and mother (Adam and Eve, Hawa) and thus we should honor each other, cooperate with one another and judge people only based on their level of awareness of Allah.

The seventh moral conduct is towards the religion of Islam by recognizing that you are doing it a favor by being a Muslim but rather you should know that Islam is the favor that you have been granted. 

يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيۡكَ أَنۡ أَسۡلَمُواْ‌ۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّواْ عَلَىَّ إِسۡلَـٰمَكُم‌ۖ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَنۡ هَدَٮٰكُمۡ لِلۡإِيمَـٰنِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (١٧)

“They consider that they have done you a favor by accepting Islam, Say, “do not deem accepting Islam a favor to me, rather Allah has done you a favor by guiding you to the belief if you are truthful.” (Al-Hujurat 49:17)

Being a Muslim is the greatest blessing that Allah granted to anyone, so never take Islam for granted. If you are truly sincere, you show your appreciation of this favor by your committing to follow the commands of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) and by serving as true representative of Islam by following its moral code of manners.

May Allah grants us the wisdom and commitment for follow all elements of His decreed code of conduct.

DUA