The 5 courses of Exploring Islam textbooks review various aspects of Islamic guided conduct and manners.  The chapters listed below tackle numerous subjects of proper Islamic manners and guides students towards the path Allah I has chosen for us in this life.  All of the issues addressed in these chapters are based upon Quran and Sunna of the Prophet r and composed to be effective in helping children who live in a predominantly non-Islamic communities in the West.

Hmaza being kind to his parents: Love, obey and respect parents. 

aya 23 of surat Alisra’

Your Lord has ordered that he should be worshiped and no one else, and ordered that we should be kind and merciful to our parents

وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا

Help: Help and cooperation, amongst Muslims

Hadith:

“Believers take care of each other and are kind and merciful to each other. Like a person’s body, when one part hurts, all the body hurts.”

" قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و سلم):  مثل المؤمنين في توادهم و تراحمهم و تعاطفهم مثل الجسد إذا إشتكى منه عضوٌ تداعى لهُ سائر الجسد بالسَّهرِ و الحُمّى".

Muslims are like one body:  Helping each other

Alhujurat الحجرات,  aya 10 

Believers are brothers and sisters to each other

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ

Surat Al-Imran آل عمران, aya 103

Hold on to each other, be one and do not separate and remember the things which Allah has given you and how he made you close together like brothers, when you were enemies before.  As if you were at the edge of a pit in the ground with fire in it and you were about to fall into it, but Allah made you brothers and saved you from falling into the pit.  Allah shows you his signs so that you would find the right path

وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاء فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىَ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

The mean old lion:  The strong should help the weak

Helping each other, the strong should help the weak and never go back on a promise.

The Rich Mr. Porcupine:  Giving to the poor (sadaqa)

Surat Al-baqarah البقره , aya 261

Those who spend their money for the sake of Allah are like those who plant a seed.  Each seed will give a plant with seven ears.  Each ear carries one hundred seeds.  Allah may even give back many more times more than that.  He is vast and all knowing.

 مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

Maryem and friends: Friendship in Islam

AlMumtahina الممتحنه , aya 9

Allah only forbids you from being friends with those who fight your faith and drive you out of your homes and support your enemies.  Those who become friends with such people will make Allah angry.

 إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَى إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

Scruffy and Scratchy:  Being Trustworthy

Prophet Muhammad r  said:

“There are three sign of a hypocrite:

If they say something, they lie. If they promise, they do not keep their promise. And if they are trusted with something, they betray the trust.”

The Truth!:  Telling the truth

Altawbah, التوبه aya 119,

 Oh you who believe, fear Allah and be amongst those who are truthful.  Oh you who believe, fear Allah and be amongst those who are truthful.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ

A Great Job To Complete: Reading Quran

Alnaml, النمل aya 92,

 Recite the Quran.  Those who follow the right path are only doing themselves a favor.  And tell those who stray away from the right path that you were sent to warn them.           

وَأَنْ أَتْلُوَ الْقُرْآنَ فَمَنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ

The Race: Good intentions

Prophet Muhammad r said, “What counts most when doing things are the intentions.”

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم:

إنما الأعمال بالنيات.

Muslim Competition:  Treating others with mercy and kindness

The Tree and The Lamp Post: Wrong doing

Think of 70 Excuses: Trust in others and trust others to have good intentions.

A man asked the Prophet r, “Give me an advice.”  The Prophet said: “Do not get angry.”  The man repeated his question many times, and every single time, the Prophet r would answer the same way, “Do not get angry.”

سأل رجل الرسول صلى الله عليه و سلم:

أوصني.  قال: " لا تغضب".

  فردد مراراً، قال "لا تغضب".

Stopping Wrong:  Stopping wrong through action, talk or at least wish it to be stopped.

Prophet Muhammad r said, “Whoever sees evil being done, they should try to stop it.  But if they cannot do so, then they should try to talk whoever is committing evil to stop.  And if they cannot do so then they should just wish that whoever is doing evil would stop.  And to just wish is the weakest of faith. 

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم:" مـَن رآى مـِنكـُم مـُنكراً فليغيرهُ بيده. فإن لم يستطع فبـلسانه. فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه.  و ذلِك أضعف الايمان"

Samy is Upset: Being kind to your mother

 Related through Abu Huraira t, a man asked Prophet Muhammad r, “Who of all people deserve my friendship and companionship?”  The Prophet replied, “Your mother.”  The man asked again, “Who should be next?”  The Prophet again said, “Your mother.”  The man asked a third time, “Then whom?”  And the Prophet again said, “Your mother.”  The man asked one more time, “Then whom?”  The Prophet answered

عن ابي هريره رضي الله عنه : (إنَّ رجلا ً قال: يا رسول الله ، من أحق الناس بحسن صحابتي ؟ قال: أمكَ. قال: ثـُم من؟ قال: أمك. قال: ثـُم من؟ قال: أمكَ . قال: ثـُم من؟ قال: أبوك.)

Too Much of a Good Thing: Etiquettes in visiting the sick

Kindness to Parents

Alisraa’, الإسراء  aya 23

            Your Lord ordered that you do not worship but him and to be kind to parents.  Once your parents, one of them or both reach an old age then you should treat them kindly and be humble and never say a word to them which shows your impatience or say a harsh word which would hurt them.  Instead say to them only kind words.

وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلاهُمَا فَلاَ تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلاَ تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلاً كَرِيمًا

Squirrels Stay Quiet: Talking too much is hurtful

Prophet Muhammad r said, “Those of you who believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment should be kind to their neighbor, generous to their guests and when they talk say kind words or keep quiet.”

Relatives: Treat relatives with kindness and support them when in need

Being Fair: Cheating, lying or any other acts which are haram should not be committed by Muslims even if it brings them benefits as it hurts others

The prophet r said: “Those who cheat are not one of us.”  This means that people who cheat are no longer Muslims.  Also, the prophet said:  “Only the sinner commits monopoly.”

A white lie:  Importance of being truthful

The prophet r said:

Truth leads to goodness, which in turn leads to paradise.  A person keeps telling the truth until Allah knows them as truthful.  On the other hand, lies lead to wickedness, which in turn leads to Hell Fire.  A person keeps lying until Allah knows them as liars.

إن الصدق يهدي الى البر وان البر يهدي الى الجنه وان الرجل يصدق حتى يكون صديقا   وان الكذب يهدي الى الفجور وان الفجور يهدي الى النار وان الرجل ليكذب حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا

I hate television:  Following the right path

And they are guided in to say what is good and they are guided to the Path of Allah, who is worthy of all praise

 وَهُدُوا إِلَى الطَّيِّبِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَهُدُوا إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْحَمِيدِ

All different:  Getting along with different people

Family comes first:  Giving charity starts at home

 Surat Al-An’aam, aya 151

Say: Come, I will tell you what Allah has prohibited you from": Do not worship anyone but Him; be good to your parents.

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلاقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

All different:  Getting along with different people

Family comes first:  Giving charity starts at home

Surat Al-An’aam, aya 151

Say: Come, I will tell you what Allah has prohibited you from": Do not worship anyone but Him; be good to your parents.

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلاقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

The golden bracelet:  Proper Islamic attire

Surat An-Nur, aya 31

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily be apparent; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. O’ believers! Turn all towards Allah, that you may attain bliss.”

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء وَلا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Kindness to Neighbors:  Being kind to neighbors

The Prophet said, “For people to believe in Allah they must want for their brothers and neighbors what they desire for themselves.”

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ أَوْ قَالَ لِجَارِهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ

The Prophet said, “Those who believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment must be kind to their neighbors, show hospitality to their guests and say what is good or keep quiet.”

قَالَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُحْسِنْ إِلَى جَارِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَسْكُتْ

Kindness to animals:  Being kind to animals

a man who was walking one day when he felt thirsty.  He found a well and drank from it.  Then he noticed a dog by the well who was unable to reach the water to drink.  The man realized that the dog was as thirsty as he was just before quenching his thirst, so he took off his shoe and filled it with water for the dog to drink from.  Allah was pleased with this man’s kindness.  The prophet’s companions were surprised for what the Prophet said.

قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَطَشُ فَوَجَدَ بِئْرًا فَنَزَلَ فِيهَا فَشَرِبَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا كَلْبٌ يَلْهَثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا الْكَلْبَ مِنَ الْعَطَشِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ بَلَغَ مِنِّي فَنَزَلَ الْبِئْرَ فَمَلَأَ خُفَّهُ مَاءً ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ حَتَّى رَقِيَ فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي هَذِهِ الْبَهَائِمِ لَأَجْرًا فَقَالَ فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ

Kindness to animals:  Being kind to animals

a man who was walking one day when he felt thirsty.  He found a well and drank from it.  Then he noticed a dog by the well who was unable to reach the water to drink.  The man realized that the dog was as thirsty as he was just before quenching his thirst, so he took off his shoe and filled it with water for the dog to drink from.  Allah was pleased with this man’s kindness.  The prophet’s companions were surprised for what the Prophet said.

قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَطَشُ فَوَجَدَ بِئْرًا فَنَزَلَ فِيهَا فَشَرِبَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَإِذَا كَلْبٌ يَلْهَثُ يَأْكُلُ الثَّرَى مِنَ الْعَطَشِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَقَدْ بَلَغَ هَذَا الْكَلْبَ مِنَ الْعَطَشِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي كَانَ بَلَغَ مِنِّي فَنَزَلَ الْبِئْرَ فَمَلَأَ خُفَّهُ مَاءً ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَهُ بِفِيهِ حَتَّى رَقِيَ فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّ لَنَا فِي هَذِهِ الْبَهَائِمِ لَأَجْرًا فَقَالَ فِي كُلِّ كَبِدٍ رَطْبَةٍ أَجْرٌ

Hypocrites:  Hypocrisy

The Prophet said, “Hypocrites can be known by three signs.  If they talk, they lie.  If they promise, they do not keep their word. And if they are trusted, they betray the trust.”

قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلاثٌ إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ

Neighbors:  Helping neighbors

Angel Jibreel kept telling the Prophet how important it is to take care of one’s neighbors.  Angel Jibreel repeated this to the Prophet so much that the Prophet thought people and their neighbors were so close that they must be like relatives who inherit each other after death.”