The Secret of Etiquette/Adab in Speech for Muslim Business Success!

Redha Sindarotama27 October 2024

0 9 6 minutes read

What is Adab?

Adab is an Arabic term that encompasses a broad range of meanings related to etiquette, manners, and moral conduct. In the context of Islamic teachings, adab can be understood as follows:

Manners and Etiquette: Adab refers to the proper behavior, conduct, and manners that a Muslim should exhibit in various situations, whether in social interactions, religious practices, or daily life. This includes how to speak, act, and treat others with respect and kindness.

Moral Character: It emphasizes the importance of developing good character traits, such as honesty, humility, patience, and respect for others. Adab encourages Muslims to embody virtues that reflect the teachings of Islam.

Cultural Context: Adab also has cultural implications, as it can vary across different societies and traditions within the Muslim world. It encompasses the customs and practices that align with Islamic principles while respecting local norms.

Education and Learning: In the context of education, adab involves not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the proper demeanor and respect towards teachers, scholars, and the learning process itself. It emphasizes the importance of humility and the recognition of the value of knowledge.

Spiritual Dimension: Adab is not just about outward behavior; it also reflects an inner state of being that aligns with spiritual and ethical values in Islam. It encourages self-awareness and consciousness of one’s actions in relation to Allah and others.

In summary, adab is a multifaceted concept that encompasses good manners, moral character, cultural norms, educational conduct, and a spiritual approach to life, all grounded in Islamic principles.

Adab in Speech Business

Adab in speech within business is extremely important, as this virtue not only plays a role in daily life rooted in faith but is also highly relevant in the world of business. In Islam, business is not merely a means of seeking worldly profit but is also a form of worship. Therefore, how a Muslim conducts their business is deeply influenced by Islamic principles, including the adab of speech. A well-guarded tongue ultimately brings blessings to one’s business because good words not only reflect the character of the businessperson but also influence the relationships built with customers, business partners, and the community. This demonstrates that a Muslim’s taqwa (piety) plays a significant role in conducting business activities.

Shaykh Salih al-‘Usaymi emphasized the importance of adab in learning, saying:

“By paying attention to adab, knowledge becomes easier to attain. But when adab is neglected, knowledge is wasted.”

Even Ibn al-Mubarak stated:

“We spent thirty years learning adab and twenty years learning knowledge.”

Ibn Sirin also said:

“They (the scholars) used to learn adab just as they learned knowledge.”

In this context, guarding the tongue is not only about avoiding harm but also about building trust, integrity, and financial blessings. It is a manifestation of a Muslim’s adab and taqwa in obeying Allah’s commands and avoiding His prohibitions.

1. The Importance of Adab in Speech for Business

Adab in speech within business includes communicating truthfully, maintaining politeness, and providing accurate information. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of truthfulness and honesty in all aspects of life, including business.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The truthful, trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful ones, and the martyrs.” (Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1209)

Additionally, Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an:

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:70)

A business built on honesty in speech is considered an act of taqwa, a virtue that Allah ﷻ commands. This virtue will naturally be recognized by people and foster trust with business partners. In the long run, this trust is more valuable than material profit. Moreover, polite and respectful communication will create a harmonious business atmosphere, which ultimately invites blessings.

2. Guarding the Tongue from Lies and Deception

One of the major sins in business is lying. In the Qur’an, Allah ﷻ warns against approaching falsehood, as lying removes blessings from one’s sustenance.

Allah ﷻ says:

“… .Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.” (Qur’an, Surah Ghafir, 40:28)

Abdullah reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Truth leads one to Paradise and virtue leads one to Paradise and the person tells the truth until he is recorded as truthful, and lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell, and the person tells a lie until he is recorded as a liar. (Sahih Muslim No. 2607)

In business, lying can include giving false information about a product, hiding defects, or making false promises to customers. On the contrary, a Muslim businessperson must always prioritize honesty, even if it may reduce short-term profits.

3. Avoiding Ghibah (Backbiting) and Fitnah (Slander) in Business Competition

In business competition, it is not uncommon to find practices of ghibah (backbiting) and fitnah (slander) used to undermine competitors. Islam strictly forbids these actions. Ghibah and fitnah not only damage relationships between people but also represent a failure to guard one’s tongue.

Allah ﷻ says:

“…And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is Accepting of Repentance and Merciful..” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:12)

The Prophet ﷺ also reminded us:

Abu Hurairah reported that someone asked the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah, what is ghibah?” He replied, “It is mentioning something about your brother that he dislikes.” He asked again, “What if what I say is true?” The Prophet replied, “If what you say is true, you have backbitten him, but if it is not true, you have slandered him.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2589)

A Muslim adhering to Islamic adab in business must avoid ghibah and fitnah. Competing in a clean and ethical manner brings blessings, while engaging in unethical practices leads to harm both in this world and the Hereafter.

4. Speaking Kindly and with Wisdom When Dealing with Customers

Good customer service begins with how we communicate. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was an exemplary model in speaking gently and compassionately. Even when faced with angry or dissatisfied customers, a Muslim is encouraged to respond with kind words, not retaliating with anger.

The Qur’an reminds us:

“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. …” (Qur’an, Surah An-Nahl, 16:125)

A’isha, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ), reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:

Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective. (Sahih Muslim No. 2594)

By speaking kindly and with patience, we naturally maintain good relationships with customers and foster their respect and loyalty.

5. The Impact of Good Speech on Financial Blessings

In Islam, the blessings of sustenance are not only measured by material wealth but also by broader benefits, such as the ease of fulfilling other acts of worship and benefiting those around us.

Allah ﷻ says:

“And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (Qur’an, Surah At-Talaq, 65:2-3)

The Prophet ﷺ also said about the importance of honesty in bringing blessings, Narrated Hakim bin Hizam:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The seller and the buyer have the right to keep or return goods as long as they have not parted or till they part; and if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities (of the goods), then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost.”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari 2079)

A businessperson who upholds adab in their speech is more likely to build positive relationships with those around them—customers, partners, and employees. As a result, these positive relationships foster a healthy and sustainable business ecosystem.

Conclusion

Adab in speech is essential in Islam, as a well-guarded tongue brings blessings. Muslim business people who observe adab in their speech tend to build strong relationships with customers, partners, and employees, creating a positive business environment. Moreover, conducting business with proper adab in speech not only results in material profit but also brings blessings in both this world and the Hereafter, along with the pleasure of Allah ﷻ.