Duties in Respect of Manners; Religious Manners

This topic, Religious Manners, talks about 17 practical religious acts that a Muslim should do on a daily basis or otherwise:
1. To say at the beginning of every action:

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.” (1:1)

2. In respect of Praise to God, a Muslim should say:
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
“Praise be to Allah”. (1:2)
3. In respect of affirming the Glory of God, a Muslim should say:

سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ

“Glory to Allah”. (12:108)

4. In respect of affirming the Greatness of God, a Muslim should say:

اَللهُ اَكْبَرُ

“Allah is Possessor of all Greatness.”

5. In respect of affirming God’s excellence as Creator, a Muslim should say:

فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقِينَ

“So blessed be Allah, the Best to Create!”

6. In respect of God’s Forgiveness and Mercy, a Muslim should say:

اَسۡتَغۡفِرُ ٱللَّهَ

“I ask the forgiveness of Allah.”

7. In respect of guarding against evil in general, a Muslim should say:

مَعَاذَ ٱللَّهِ

“I seek refuge in Allah.”

8. In respect of guarding against the Satan, a Muslim should say:

أًعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطًانِ الرُّجِيم

“I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Devil”

9. In respect of guarding serenity in afflictions, a Muslim should say:

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ

“To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return”. (2:156)

10. In respect of thoughts of elation and pride, a Muslim should say:

مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ

“Allah’s Will (be done)! There is no powr but with Allah!” (18:39)

11. In respect of making a promise, a Muslim should say:

إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ

“If Allah wills.” (48:27)

12. In respect of recalling something forgotten, a Muslim should say:

عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهۡدِيَنِ رَبِّى لِأَقۡرَبَ مِنۡ هَـٰذَا رَشَدً۬ا

“… ‘I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road’.” (18:24)

13. In respect of safeguarding devotion to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him), Allah said in the Qur’an:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا

“Lo! Allah and His angels shower Blessings (always) on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation (i.e., with all respect).” (33:56)

A shorter expression that a Muslim should say every time he hears the Prophet’s name:

صَلًّی اللهُ عَلَیْهِ وَ سَلَّم

“Allah has bestowed upon him His Blessings and Peace.”

14. In respect of revering the Holy Prophet’s memory, and hence, his grave at Medina, Allah has said:

لِّتُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ

“… in order that ye (O mankind) may believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) and may assist and honour him…” (48:9)

Therefore, a Muslim should treat the Holy Prophet’s grave with deep and unstinted admiration while paying homage to him and seeking God’s Blessings for himself.

15. In respect of revering the holy Ka’bah at Mecca:

وَمَن يُعَظِّمۡ شَعَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقۡوَى ٱلۡقُلُوبِ

“… whoever holds in honour the Symbols of Allah, it surely is from piety of the hearts”. (22:32)

16. In respect of revering the Holy Qur’an, Allah said:

لَّا يَمَسُّهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ

“which none shall touch but those who are clean.” (56:79)

A Muslim should handle the Qur’an only when he is in a state of formal purity with wudhu’ and his total personality is in a state of closeness with God.

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ فَٱسۡتَمِعُواْ لَهُ ۥ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ

“When the Qur’an is read, listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy.” (7:204)

When the Qur’an is being recited loudly, a Muslim should not only concentrate his mind on it but should also adopt the attitude of reverence.

17. In respect of venerating the mosque:

يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِدٍ

“Oh Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel (adornment) at every (time and) place of prayer: …” (7:31)

When a Muslim visits the mosque, he should go there properly dressed and with respectful attitude.