Dear brothers! In today’s khutbah, we will focus on three segments reflecting religious culture or etiquette, i.e., rules of behavior in the mosque, on the road, and within the family. Although fully illuminating this topic requires much time and space, we will touch only on the most important and necessary points and notes that are inevitable and present among us.

Good morals and good behavior are very valuable and effective deeds. Allah’s Messenger s.a.w.s. indicates this: “Faith is not just desire, but that which is implanted in the heart and confirmed by deeds.” (Dailami) When asked what faith is, the Prophet replied: “Good character.” When asked what is the worst, he replied: “Bad character.” (Ahmad) So, faith is a code of conduct in everyday life. Even the greatest praise of the Prophet a.s. is that which the Exalted Allah emphasizes in the Quranic verse:

وَ إِنَكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ "Indeed, you are of a great moral character." (Al-Qalam, 4)

Regarding the commentary on this verse, Islamic scholars have expressed various opinions. Ibn Abbas and Mujahid say that the phrase 'great moral character' means ‘with the highest faith, there is no dearer faith with which Allah is pleased than Islam.’

Concerning behavior related to religious culture or ways of conduct in the mosque, we must heed some rules:

• Avoid passing over the backs of those praying and separating them Many latecomers pass over the backs of those praying and often separate two people to secure a spot for themselves in the row. This should certainly be avoided. One should arrive on time at the mosque and fill empty places in the rows so that later there is no need to pass over the backs or separate two praying people in the row. There is a prohibition from Rasulullah a.s. regarding someone walking in the mosque passing over the shoulders of people to reach the front rows:

عبد الله بن بسر قال كنت جالسا إلى جانبه يوم الجمعة فقال جاء رجل يتخطى رقاب الناس فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أي اجلس فقد آذيت Abdullah ibn Busr reports: “I was sitting beside him on Friday in the mosque, then a man came passing over people’s shoulders. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him: ‘Hey, sit down, you have disturbed [them].’” (Nesai)

If you want to be in the first rows, then come early to the mosque. Moreover, you will earn great reward promised by the Prophet a.s.: “If people knew the reward in the adhan and the first row, and found no other competition except that, they would compete... and if they knew the reward in the Isha and Fajr prayers, they would come even crawling.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

• Unadvisable to pass in front of those praying Be careful not to pass in front of those praying to avoid disrupting their concentration. This practice is often present among those who come late and try to push through to the front rows. Do not pass in front of praying people and interrupt their prayer, as this is forbidden. Allah’s Messenger s.a.w.s. said: “If the one passing in front of the praying person knew what a sin it is to cut off his prayer, he would stand and wait for forty... Waiting is better than passing in front.” Abu Nadr said: “I don’t know whether he said: forty days, or forty months, or years.” Also, Allah’s Messenger s.a.w.s. said: “It is better for him to stand and wait one hundred years than to pass in front of his brother in prayer.” (Tirmidhi) Islamic scholars generally consider passing in front of praying people as disliked (makruh). However, Imam an-Nawawi and some others regard passing without sutrah as forbidden (haram).

• It is preferable to maintain religious hygiene, cleanliness, and proper grooming when going to the mosque A Muslim is obliged to perform ablution, or bathe, wear the best clothes, and use perfume. The Exalted Allah says: “O children of Adam, dress beautifully when you intend to perform prayer.” This is especially emphasized for attending the Friday and Eid prayers. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, as narrated by Abdullah b. Umar, r.a.: “When any of you wants to go to Friday prayer, let him bathe beforehand!” In the narration of Sa’id al-Hudri, r.a., it is emphasized that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Bathing on Friday is obligatory on every adult, to wash the teeth and apply perfume if there is smell.”

• It is forbidden for one who has eaten onion or garlic to be present in the mosque. One who has eaten garlic or onion should not attend the mosque because the unpleasant smell disturbs those praying. Allah’s Messenger s.a.w.s. said: “Whoever has eaten garlic or onion, let him not come to the mosque but stay in his house.” (Bukhari) In another narration it is stated: “Whoever eats this smelly plant, let him not approach our mosque, إِنَّ الْمَلائِكَةَ تَتَأَذَّى مِمَّا يَتَأَذَّى مِنْهُ بَنُو آدَمَ because the angels are harmed by that which harms the children of Adam.” (Bukhari, Muslim) Note: Any other unpleasant or foul smell from which the praying people are disturbed (like cigarettes) or other smells emanating from the body or clothing are treated similarly. Therefore, the Muslim should dress well and be mindful not to disturb others.

• Raising voice in the mosque is discouraged. Sa’ib ibn Yazid says: “I was in a mosque. I was with a man. ‘Umar r.a., who was present, said to me: ‘Go and bring me those two.’ I brought them, and he asked: ‘Who are you two? Where are you from?’ They said: ‘From Taif.’ He said: ‘If you were from the inhabitants of Medina, I would have struck you for raising your voices in the Prophet’s mosque.’” (Bukhari)

• It is allowed to converse in the mosque about worldly matters that do not contradict the faith. It is reported that Allah’s Messenger s.a.w.s. and his companions used to do this. Jabir ibn Samurah r.a. said: “The companions talked in the mosque about pre-Islamic period matters and laughed, and the Messenger s.a.w.s. would smile.” (Muslim, Ahmad)

The second segment of cultured behavior we want to mention today is the rules of conduct on the road. Someone might ask whether religious rules exist for this as well. Our answer is: “Yes.” Listen to the hadith of Rasulullah a.s.: The Prophet forbids unnecessary sitting beside the road because that is considered a waste of time. However, if it happens as a public matter, obligations toward the road must be respected: lowering the gaze, returning greetings, refraining from bad deeds, commanding good and forbidding evil! Here is the hadith emphasizing these rules:

إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْجُلُوسَ بِالطُّرُقَاتِ». قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ مَا لَنَا بُدٌّ مِنْ مَجَالِسِنَا نَتَحَدَّثُ فِيهَا. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ : «إِذَا أَبَيْتُمْ إِلا الْمَجْلِسَ، فَأَعْطُوا الطَّرِيقَ حَقَّهُ». قَالُوا: وَمَا حَقُّهُ؟ قَالَ: «غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ، وَكَفُّ الأَذَىٰ، وَرَدُّ السَّلاَمِ، وَالأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ “Beware of sitting by the roads!” The companions said: “O Messenger of Allah, we must take our seats there and talk.” The Messenger said: “If you insist on sitting by the roads, then give the road its rights!” They said: “What are the rights of the road?” He said: “Lowering the gaze, refraining from harm, returning greetings, commanding good and forbidding evil.” (Bukhari) Some narrations also state "guiding the traveler."

Do we fulfill these when we find ourselves on the road or in the market? Attention must be paid to the fact that when we command, do we ourselves apply it? From here begins the true struggle against our passions, illusions, prejudices that lead man to sin. Jesus a.s. advised: “First admonish yourself, then others!”

And the last segment we will talk about today is the culture of behavior within the family: Applying the rules mentioned in the hadiths of Allah's Messenger s.a.w.s., such as constant remembrance of Allah, exchanging smiles, using miswak, asking permission to enter, giving salam, joking within permissible limits, respecting elders… Asking permission before entering mother, sister, and close relatives for the safety of the glance not to see something shameful or wrong. Al-Kalmi relates that a man asked Ibn Mas’ud: “Should I seek permission from my mother?” He said: “Certainly, she does not want you to see her in all circumstances.” Huzayfah said: “If you do not seek permission from your mother, you will see something you dislike in her.”

Muslim narrates in his authentic collection of hadiths that Muhammad a.s. said: “When a person mentions the name of Allah before entering the house or before eating, the devil says: There is no place or supper for us here; but if the person enters and does not mention the name of Allah, the devil says: You have deserved a stay and supper; if he does not mention the name of Allah when eating, the devil says: You have secured a place and an evening meal.” (Ahmad)

It is transmitted from Aisha r.a. that Muhammad a.s., when entering home, would begin cleaning his teeth with miswak (a tree twig used for cleaning teeth). (Muslim)

General etiquette of behavior with gentleness, kindness, cheerfulness in the face, good speech, and respect. All this falls under polite behavior that Allah the Exalted commands with the words: “Be kind to them.” (An-Nisa, 19) This is also the message of Allah's Messenger s.a.w.s. in his farewell speech at Arafat: “I enjoin you to treat women well.” (Muslim)

Here is how Allah's Messenger s.a.w.s. teaches us to be toward our wives. Unfortunately, this etiquette greatly lacks among us, listen:

إن أعظم الصدقة لقمة يضعها الرجل في فم زوجته “The greatest charity is a morsel that a man puts into the mouth of his wife.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

Allahu Akbar! The most valuable acts of kindness and good deeds are considered playing, gentleness, and romance with one's wife. It is a small act, but with great significance; it is an expression of respect that sensible women deeply appreciate. Playing and embracing the wife. If we look at the biography of Allah’s Messenger s.a.w.s., we see how he played and had fun with his wives. It is narrated that he raced with Aisha r.a. The Prophet a.s. said: “Every recreation of a person is valueless except archery, horse breeding, and playing with one’s wife; these are true activities.” (Tirmidhi)