"Âdâb-ı Muâşeret" is an important discipline that teaches the rules of courtesy necessary for a person to live as a respectable member of society, establishes the form of moderate and polite behaviour to be followed in human relations, and encompasses the words, deeds, and behaviours that make a person virtuous and worthy of respect within society. The rules of etiquette, which are intertwined with the laws and morals of the Qur'an and also complement them, give meaning to carefully chosen words, adorn measured actions, beautify appearance, and give the individual a special value.
In our religion, the rulings related to commands and prohibitions are fundamental; the rules of social etiquette, however, are secondary values. In other words, even if legal rulings and interpersonal relationships can be maintained without etiquette, it may not be possible to speak of their beauty and perfection.
In Islam, rules and moral principles, in their general sense, are universal and their consequences are certain. Manners (Âdâb-ı Muâşeret), which constitute the practical aspect of morality, or in other words, words, deeds and behaviour, may vary to a greater or lesser extent in different geographical regions, climates and societies, provided that they do not deviate from the basic principles of Islam. For example, Allah says: ‘Giving charity openly is good, but giving it secretly (out of politeness) is better...’ The consequences of not following Âdâb-ı Muâşeret, is not coercive, as in the case of legal rulings and moral principles, but rather the lack of courtesy exhibited in one's behaviour at that moment may cause embarrassment for the believer in the sight of Allah and people; sometimes it may lead to the person being labelled as rude and ill-mannered; and especially in the case of disrespect towards the Prophet Muhammad, it may even cause righteous deeds to be completely erased.
