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.