Majed Mahmoud – Introduction Class – Art of Manners

			Assalamu alaikum everyone this is your brother imagine Muhammad and sha Allah we will be studying
together the art of manners, the Islamic code of ethics. Now, what are some of the class
expectations and what benefits will we both inshallah reap by the end of this class? First of all,
let me remind you of something very important. When we talk about the topic of manners or character
or Allah. There are so many things to talk about, which character will we focus on? Is it high out
modesty? Or is it cut on generosity? Or is it a wild or humbleness? There's so many different
characters and of the things that inshallah we'll focus on very much on this in this class our four
		

			main characters by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala they're not just any for all positive
characters are great this for they'll put so much focus on let me share with you the Hadith the
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said there are four
things if you have them, then don't worry about anything in the world which you do not have an A one
more time, he said are four things if you have them, then don't worry about anything in the world
which you do not have Bismillah air check with me which do you have in which you do not? Number one
cidco Hadith truthful speech? You have that may Allah make it at high levels for you and I citko how
		

			you say the truth you don't lie, you don't break your promises your you fulfill your oath fantastic.
We're headed to America and you are a trustworthy person. Someone says please watch my stuff I'm
going to this other room to pray and come back you know, you safeguard your eyes. So when you visit
someone's house and for example, the person of the opposite gender is walking you show respect to
that you safeguard with your eyes have a manner so you got the first two inshallah truthful speech
and trustworthiness. Excellent. Number three, and good character was no joke. Rasul Allah salami
gives you the general part having good character. Good brother have quick question. What is it? The
		

			first two were good were part of the character. So why did the process lm say truthfulness,
trustworthiness and he says generally good character. This comes to highlight the first two
truthfulness and trust. And these are two different chapters we discuss in Sharla in the class, then
the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam he says the last one, and he says, and basically Hillel
sustenance, if you have these four, then don't worry about anything in the world, which you have
missed on, because you have not missed much. So one time we go to this training session with top
managers in it. I'm not a top manager, but I was requested to go there because I deal with top
		

			managers. And this class was all about communications. And something I learned and I'd like to share
with you. The higher up a person goes in an organization, the more communication based it is then
technical. So when we took this class, the instructor teaches people how to stand for example, you
know, the way you stand like, this means something if you do this, it means something else. So one
of the participants, she raised her hand, and she told the instructor, listen, you're telling us to
change some of our behavior and character. And she said, I've been doing what I've been doing for so
many years. I am who I am. I don't see myself changing. So the instructor, he said, that was a good
		

			question. He said, Let me think about it. And I'll get back to you. I was honestly a little bit
surprised that he seemed maybe hesitant or so which is fine. But during the break, I went to the
instructor, and I told them, you know, the lady that asked you that question, I am who I am, I don't
see myself changing.
		

			I told him, You told us that you've been teaching this seminar for over 10 years, not 10 times 10
years. So I told the instructor you must have throughout your years have seen people changing due to
your class, because of your class and the changes taking place you have been hired to continue
teaching the class. So if you have not seen changes, you would have never taught this class. It's
like Yeah, yeah, you're right. Why would I teach a class if I don't see any positive results and
changing people? So the next session came? And he says, For the one who asked me about, will I be
able to change or not? I'm gonna ask you a question. I've been teaching this class for over 10
		

			years. Do you think I will still teach it if I don't believe and I have not seen that people did
actually change. Now, the great part is Alhamdulillah we believe that change is possible. So why am
I sharing this with you because some people may say, a class about manners, bro. I've been like that
for
		

			plus years 20 I'm 60 plus years old, it doesn't matter change can take place. Allah says it the
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, and we'll see inshallah, throughout the class. And one of
the things that come up is that how will this class for example, have a positive effect from a
sustenance aspect from a financial angle? And one of the things to realize is that Islam is very
much applied into the real world. It's not just theory. And as you learn throughout the class,
inshallah, you will see a direct effect on how you feel when you get that paycheck on how will you
behave, to seek to improve your financial income in sha Allah. For example, when we talk about the
		

			chapter about patience, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam teaches us how to handle bad news.
Yes, bad news, tough situations. For example, now I'm recording this during the COVID situation, may
Allah make it easy for all of us and lift the hardship. But I mean, typically this class is taught
live, and will travel here and there. Now how do we cope with that? Think of Rosaura lice asylum, he
said, never does Allah subhanho wa Taala ever had a believer face a hardship while the believer is
patient, except that it is good for them. So just having this concept, if I get this letter that you
know what you've been laid off from work, or I get this letter that you have, you know what that
		

			many hours cut off your pain, and that's actually a true story. From my end, we've got a pay cut,
but we have to realize, you know what, I will do my best I will accept it, inshallah, we'll be able,
it will be fine, but nilla will work hard to improve. And that's when the gratitude comes in. So,
when it comes to gratitude, I don't just want to compare to myself to those who are doing such a
great amount of income, for example, there are a lot healthier, they have better, quote unquote,
lives, not I compare myself to those who have less, I compare myself to those who have lost their
jobs, and so on and so forth. So I pray to Allah subhana wa tada that I will have the ability to be
		

			able to explain this to you in a way to make it as real as possible. And as practical that literally
after a session, you can do changes right away and have an email that you send of a hadith because
you heard and so on and so forth. May Allah bless you all, when it comes to this class, a major
integral part of it is dealing with the creation. And obviously the other part is dealing with the
Creator. When it comes to the creation. Let me pick for you a quick example from chapter about
trustworthiness. Our family is a trust, it's an Amana, our spouse, our children. All these things
are we have to pay close attention to something that Allah has entrusted us with. And when you see
		

			the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam teaching a step by step, you realize how things have such
content. Some people may say, Oh, it's so basic. Well, did we perfect the basics, so we can go to
that which is advanced, all these things to be having close attention to. Let me give you a quick
example. What was the first thing the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Don't forget to say so a
lot of Salah. What was the first thing he would do when he enters his house? I shadow the Allahu
anhu. She spoke about this. She said the first thing he does once he walks in home, he brushes his
teeth. Yep, that busywork. So when we learn this, why because the prophets have a long line, he was
		

			MCs that my spouse is an Amana is a trust and I have to fulfill that Amana till my last breath, may
Allah protect us and allow us to fulfill our trust, especially ones that deal with our family. I
mean, I pray to Allah subhana wa tada that by the time we're done with this class, we will have this
energy that we just started a journey to learn more and more about unlock the rest of the characters
and traits that we have not discussed. And also, we take the six major tools that we will teach in
this seminar in sha Allah, which you can literally take and work on step by step to be able to
improve your o'clock. And by the way, anytime we say improve your o'clock, this means improve your
		

			Eman because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, the greatest of the believers are the
ones with the greatest of character. So if I improve my character, then I'm able to improve my Eman
And I pray to Allah subhanho wa Taala to beautify our character, the way he beautified or physical
features. I mean, one of the main things as well that you'll be able to take from this class, and I
personally even while preparing the content is now you'll be more aware of each action that you will
take. You'll be more conscious that I say thank you or not. Did I really fulfill my task at work
properly or not? Was I really
		

			truthful with my sentence and the way I forwarded the message to my friend, or did I add my two
cents to it or not? So one of the things that we take out of this is, every time we do an action,
we'll think more about it and now until until it becomes part of your nature. So what this class
does is nurture until it becomes part of your nature, may Allah Subhana time make us among those who
are truthful, trustworthy, patient, and grateful. And so in this class, we will cover five chapters
in Sharla. Chapter One is an introductory chapter, it teaches us What does a HELOC mean? What's the
nature of people? And is it possible to change the nurture part of it. And also in that chapter,
		

			we'll talk about the six tools and inshallah I can guarantee by the will of Allah subhanaw taala.
Any genuine person, whether you or I inshallah, I really want to improve in any specific character.
If you use these six tools, by the will of Allah, we will improve. That's what we'll take. Now, what
I will do for the next four chapters, truthfulness, trust, patience and gratitude, I will show you
how I use the six tools throughout the chapters. And inshallah we'll be able, as I said, to make it
even more unique inshallah possible is to be as relatable as practical. Keeping in mind we are in
the 21st century, giving your relevant examples and benefiting from the past without a doubt, and
		

			merging them together for the best results and shower. So at the end of this program, you would be
able to look at things differently. For example, your job, your job will now be seen not as a task
that you have to fulfill, then go back home, no, it's a religious duty that you have upon you, it's
much more than just getting your job done and getting that paycheck, you will now when you get a
text from your spouse and asking for something, no, you will actually not just respond, I'm on my
way home. But maybe with an added emoji as a flower or a kiss that can go a very long when next time
you speak and you narrate a hadith or a story from your friend, you will not be just so random and
		

			not put much thought into it and hope that you were accurate. No, you will choose the right
keywords. I think that's what they said, let me go verify. Next time you want to go praise someone,
yes, you will not exaggerate in that praise. Rather, you'll be moderate and understanding of what to
say and say I don't praise and allows behalf and Allah knows best. And many more of these things
throughout day by day, actually even multiple tasks within one main action, you will see how
inshallah, by the end of this program, you'll be very cautious and sometimes to be honest with you,
it might hurt of how many years have passed. And I never paid attention to that one little detail
		

			that could have improved my life significantly with my spouse, children, family colleagues, and of
course with a loss of pana. With that, now what I need from you, and it's a requirement upon all of
us for this class to have the maximum benefit is to truly believe that the greatest example of
someone who perfected all characters is the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, because we in the
point of reference, when I speak about modesty, and someone else speaks about modesty, it will be
from two different perspectives depending Who are you referring to? What's your point of reference?
So as we when we teach this class, you know what it says here? It says out of manners, Islamic code
		

			of ethics. Alhamdulillah manners, for the most part is universal will agree on many things. But we
need to go back to the origin to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the one who Allah subhanho
wa Taala said about what Allah Allah who looking after him, you have the greatest of character, may
Allah panatela put Baraka, our time, and our speech. This might be one of the most classes where you
have a hadith and ayat because we need it more than ever, especially when we speak about character
and no worries, we will touch upon culture, and how Islam takes culture into consideration to
improve our lives. nilla to know, if this class has an impact on you, or that content in general,
		

			you may not specifically notice it as much as others. So as a prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
says, men marry men, the believer is the mirror of the believer. And that is actually one of the six
tools that we'll take from this class and sha Allah to improve our character. So to be able to see
if you've improved in your communication in the choice of words that you make in your behavior,
check with those who are close to you, and let them be honest with you and tell them Did you notice
something? Did you notice any positive change on my end and that's one of the ways
		

			To realize that also for example, if you were to go to your job and to go to your work, the co
workers will eventually say something verbalize that, you know what I noticed? You've recently been
coming on time, I've noticed that you actually now apologize whenever you make a mistake, you're not
really like brushing it off and trying to make up excuses for it. So these are some of the ways to
actually measure your improvement and May Allah subhanaw taala allow us to improve in a way that is
pleasing to Me. So throughout this class, inshallah, we'll be focusing on Quran and Sunnah. And
anytime we reference a Hadith, it will be only from authentic narrations. Once again, there's
		

			nothing against weak narrations by just for the sense of more comfort and confidence. And also,
there's a wide range of authentic narratives out there already about character and that's only what
we will be using insha Allah. Also when we prepare this class, we've used a lot of knowledge from
our teachers such as Sam hemmati, may Allah bless him, he actually taught the class of rules of
engagement, to go with him a few times, a wonderful instructor who may Allah make him better than
what we think of him. And may Allah subhanho wa Taala, bless him wherever he does, in whatever he
does, and wherever he goes. Also, when it comes to this content being put together, I strongly
		

			encourage you to perhaps look at one of the encyclopedias it's a large one large and actually bought
it when I was watching him hammered in California. It's called not rotten nine. It's a large
encyclopedia, full of Hadith at poetry, definitions and what is it? What is it? What does it
include? It includes literally no exaggeration, every single positive and negative trait you can
think of anything you name it, whatever you can think about humanity, it's their arrogance, it's
their any selfishness, it's their selflessness. It's there. So this encyclopedia is one of the major
references we had when we put this class together. May Allah put Baraka in it was a lot of
		

			blessings. And we think Allah subhanho wa Taala for his assistance and help. This class was taught
over 20 times. And throughout the teaching, you see people with their testimonials, and it's not
self praise, but I'm just sharing this with you just for encouragement and the sense of comfort and
confidence in what you will learn in sha Allah. Based on the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet sallahu
wa sallam. You see that people are like, you know what, I'm actually looking forward to take the
next unmodded class or next Haleakala in the masjid, you have someone I actually had this which I
will share in detail inshallah, in the last chapter about gratitude. There were actually a couple
		

			going through a divorce they were the men was in my class, divorce papers were there, everything is
set, and everything was done. When what in what sense no more divorce the families back I get a
phone call from that brother two weeks after the class saying 100 law, divorce papers are gone.
There are ups and downs that anytime they're down to use one of the content that we discussed in
chapter five about gratitude to help us improve our relationship. So hamdulillah the change has been
seen and they'll accept from all of us and mela keep our brothers and sisters steadfast and I pray
to Allah subhanho wa Taala you will see the positive change in you which you always wished and
		

			prayed a lot for. Perhaps this is the answer of your dog. So to recap in sha Allah, five chapters in
this class, the four main qualities will focus on or characters patience, truthfulness, trust and
gratitude, in hopes inshallah, that you will see the positive impact and how you talk to people, how
you perform your job, you shall see change and so a lot even in the sila that you perform Salah yes
is the direct relationship, you will see that in Sharla as well, from the way you deal with money,
how you spend it, from where you earn it, and dealing with your spouse, children and family and of
course our parents and above all, our relationship with Allah subhanho wa Taala and I pray to Allah
		

			subhana wa Taala to accept from you and I my teaching and you're listening and May Allah allow you
an AI to apply the good that we learn and may it to be an excuse for us to earn the highest levels
in gender and not an excuse against us. Me number alanine is akmola head once again for enrolling to
the art of manners. May Allah accept from all of us.