Adab: More Than Manners - Tawheed, Akhlaq, and Ihsan

Adab: Reviving Subtle Islamic Etiquettes of Daily Living (Part 1) | Shaykh Amir Abdelzaher In this first part of Adab – Reviving Subtle Islamic Etiquettes of Daily Living, Shaykh Amir Abdelzaher explores the sacred meaning of adab in Islam and why it is far more than manners or etiquette. We reflect on adab as a lived expression of tawheed, akhlaq, and ihsan—how inner faith manifests outwardly in how we speak, act, and relate to Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and creation. From adab with Allah and Rasulullah ﷺ to adab in daily moments, this session reframes character as a spiritual pursuit rooted in worship. This applied learning seminar invites us to refine not only what we do, but how and why we do it—seeking what is most beloved to Allah in every moment. May Allah grant us beautiful adab outwardly and inwardly. 🤲🏽 Chapter 0:00 – Opening du‘a and salawat 1:52 – Purpose of applied learning & introduction to adab 2:28 – What is adab? Linguistic and conceptual meaning 3:30 – Adab, akhlaq, and praiseworthy custom (ʿurf) 6:10 – Adab as a sacred, not secular, pursuit 7:17 – Acting upon what is most beloved to Allah 8:06 – Adab as a product of the Shari‘ah 9:22 – Adab, hikmah, and justice (ʿadl) 11:00 – Haya’ and its relationship to adab 11:38 – Adab across Islamic sciences 12:16 – Historical examples of lived adab 13:30 – Tawheed, akhlaq, and adab: the tree analogy 17:21 – Inside-out vs. outside-in transformation 20:11 – External discipline shaping the heart 22:17 – Fields of adab: with Allah, Rasulullah ﷺ, and creation 26:12 – Adab as a continuous, lifelong practice 27:34 – Levels of adab: wajib, mustahabb, and ihsan 29:11 – Ihsan as the highest expression of adab 32:27 – Allah has prescribed ihsan in all things 34:39 – Adab in extreme circumstances: lessons from the Sahaba 38:06 – Muraqabah and cultivating adab 39:03 – Fruits of adab in personal and communal life 41:32 – Adab as discipline of the nafs 45:28 – Adab with people as a path to adab with Rasulullah ﷺ 47:52 – Adab as da‘wah through lived example 50:39 – Responding to trials with adab and trust in Allah 52:33 – Transition and continuation announcement