Thursday, 13 August 2026

List of etiquettes, virtues, and moral conduct taught or exemplified by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, with Qur’an and/or hadith references. Qur’anic teachings and Prophetic teachings.

 

List of etiquettes, virtues, and moral conduct taught or exemplified by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, with Qur’an and/or hadith references. Qur’anic teachings and Prophetic teachings.

 

1. Character and Personal Conduct

  1. Truthfulness — Qur’an 33:70; Sahih al-Bukhari 6094.
  2. Trustworthiness — Qur’an 23:8; 70:32.
  3. Keeping promises — Qur’an 16:91.
  4. Fulfilling trusts — Qur’an 4:58.
  5. Justice — Qur’an 4:135.
  6. Being just even toward enemies — Qur’an 5:8.
  7. Kindness — Qur’an 2:83.
  8. Mercy — Qur’an 21:107.
  9. Forgiveness — Qur’an 24:22.
  10. Patience — Qur’an 3:200.
  11. Humility — Qur’an 25:63.
  12. Avoiding arrogance — Qur’an 31:18.
  13. Modesty — Qur’an 24:30–31.
  14. Sincerity — Qur’an 98:5.
  15. Gratitude — Qur’an 14:7.
  16. Repentance — Qur’an 66:8.
  17. Self-restraint — Qur’an 3:134.
  18. Controlling anger — Qur’an 3:134.
  19. Avoiding envy — Qur’an 4:54.
  20. Avoiding hatred — Qur’an 5:8.

2. Speech and Conversation

  1. Speak good words — Qur’an 2:83.
  2. Speak truthfully — Qur’an 33:70.
  3. Avoid lying — Sahih al-Bukhari 6094.
  4. Avoid false testimony — Qur’an 25:72; Sahih al-Bukhari 2654.
  5. Do not backbite — Qur’an 49:12.
  6. Do not spread rumours — Qur’an 24:15–16.
  7. Do not mock others — Qur’an 49:11.
  8. Do not insult others — Qur’an 49:11.
  9. Do not call people offensive names — Qur’an 49:11.
  10. Avoid excessive suspicion — Qur’an 49:12.
  11. Do not spy on people — Qur’an 49:12.
  12. Do not curse excessively — Sahih Muslim 2599.
  13. Avoid obscene language — Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 1977.
  14. Speak beneficially or remain silent — Sahih al-Bukhari 6018; Sahih Muslim 47.
  15. Do not reveal people's private matters — Sahih Muslim 2589.
  16. Do not lie merely to make people laugh — Sunan Abi Dawud 4990.
  17. Reconcile people rather than spread conflict — Qur’an 49:10.
  18. Use gentle speech — Qur’an 20:44.
  19. Do not shout unnecessarily — Qur’an 31:19.
  20. Lower one's voice — Qur’an 31:19.

3. Family

  1. Honour one's parents — Qur’an 17:23.
  2. Speak respectfully to parents — Qur’an 17:23.
  3. Pray for one's parents — Qur’an 17:24.
  4. Maintain family ties — Qur’an 4:1.
  5. Be good to one's relatives — Qur’an 16:90.
  6. Treat one's spouse well — Qur’an 4:19.
  7. Live with one's spouse honourably — Qur’an 4:19.
  8. Be kind to children — Sahih al-Bukhari 5997.
  9. Show affection toward children — Sahih al-Bukhari 5997.
  10. Care for orphans — Qur’an 4:36.
  11. Do not mistreat orphans — Qur’an 93:9.
  12. Care for widows and the needy — Sahih al-Bukhari 5353.
  13. Support one's family — Sahih Muslim 994.
  14. Be good to one's family — Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 3895.
  15. Do not neglect one's dependants — Sunan Abi Dawud 1692.

4. Neighbours and Community

  1. Treat neighbours well — Qur’an 4:36.
  2. Do not harm your neighbour — Sahih al-Bukhari 6016.
  3. Honour guests — Sahih al-Bukhari 6018.
  4. Visit the sick — Sahih al-Bukhari 1240.
  5. Attend funerals — Sahih al-Bukhari 1239.
  6. Respond to invitations — Sahih al-Bukhari 5175.
  7. Return greetings — Qur’an 4:86.
  8. Spread salam — Sahih Muslim 54.
  9. Help people in difficulty — Sahih Muslim 2699.
  10. Remove harmful objects from roads — Sahih al-Bukhari 2827; Sahih Muslim 1914.
  11. Feed the hungry — Sahih al-Bukhari 12.
  12. Give charity — Qur’an 2:261.
  13. Help the poor — Qur’an 2:177.
  14. Care for travellers in need — Qur’an 2:177.
  15. Reconcile disputing Muslims — Qur’an 49:10.

5. Business and Financial Ethics

  1. Do not cheat — Sahih Muslim 102.
  2. Give full measure — Qur’an 17:35.
  3. Give full weight — Qur’an 83:1–3.
  4. Do not deceive in trade — Sahih Muslim 102.
  5. Be honest in transactions — Sahih al-Bukhari 2079.
  6. Disclose defects in merchandise — Sahih al-Bukhari 2079.
  7. Do not hoard goods to exploit people — Sahih Muslim 1605.
  8. Do not consume people's wealth unjustly — Qur’an 2:188.
  9. Fulfil financial contracts — Qur’an 5:1.
  10. Return deposits and trusts — Qur’an 4:58.
  11. Pay debts — Qur’an 2:282.
  12. Give debtors time when they are in difficulty — Qur’an 2:280.
  13. Do not engage in bribery — Qur’an 2:188.
  14. Do not consume usury (riba) — Qur’an 2:275–279.

6. Eating, Drinking and Household Etiquette

  1. Mention Allah's name before eating — Sahih al-Bukhari 5376.
  2. Eat with the right hand — Sahih Muslim 2020.
  3. Eat from what is in front of you — Sahih al-Bukhari 5376.
  4. Do not criticise food — Sahih al-Bukhari 5409.
  5. Eat moderately — Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 2380.
  6. Avoid extravagance — Qur’an 7:31.
  7. Do not waste food — Qur’an 7:31.
  8. Praise Allah after eating — Sahih Muslim 2734.
  9. Drink with moderation — Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 2380.
  10. Do not breathe into one's drinking vessel — Sahih al-Bukhari 5630.
  11. Use the right hand for eating and drinking — Sahih Muslim 2020.

7. Cleanliness and Personal Hygiene

  1. Maintain cleanliness — Sahih Muslim 223.
  2. Use the siwak/miswak — Sahih al-Bukhari 887.
  3. Keep the mouth clean — Sahih al-Bukhari 887.
  4. Maintain personal hygiene — Sahih Muslim 257.
  5. Trim the moustache — Sahih Muslim 258.
  6. Keep the beard — Sahih Muslim 259.
  7. Trim the nails — Sahih Muslim 258.
  8. Remove unwanted body hair — Sahih Muslim 258.
  9. Wash the hands — Sahih Muslim 278.
  10. Perform wudu — Qur’an 5:6.

8. Privacy and Social Boundaries

  1. Ask permission before entering homes — Qur’an 24:27.
  2. Give salam before entering — Qur’an 24:27.
  3. Do not enter someone else's home without permission — Qur’an 24:27.
  4. Do not spy — Qur’an 49:12.
  5. Respect people's privacy — Qur’an 24:27–29.
  6. Do not look into people's private affairs — Qur’an 49:12.
  7. Do not expose people's faults — Sahih Muslim 2580.
  8. Do not enter a home after permission has been refused — Qur’an 24:28.

9. Mercy Toward Animals

  1. Show mercy to animals — Sahih al-Bukhari 2363.
  2. Provide animals with water — Sahih al-Bukhari 2363.
  3. Do not torture animals — Sahih Muslim 1958.
  4. Do not use animals as targets — Sahih Muslim 1957.
  5. Do not overburden animals — Sunan Abi Dawud 2548.
  6. Do not unnecessarily kill animals — Sahih Muslim 1958.

10. Conduct During Conflict

  1. Do not transgress — Qur’an 2:190.
  2. Do not let hatred lead to injustice — Qur’an 5:8.
  3. Accept peace when the enemy inclines toward peace — Qur’an 8:61.
  4. Do not kill non-combatants — Sahih Muslim 1744.
  5. Do not kill women and children — Sahih al-Bukhari 3015.
  6. Do not betray agreements — Qur’an 8:58.
  7. Fulfil treaties — Qur’an 9:4.
  8. Do not mutilate the dead — Sahih al-Bukhari 3016.
  9. Treat prisoners humanely — Qur’an 76:8.
  10. Do not destroy indiscriminately — Qur’an 2:190.

11. Treatment of the Weak and Vulnerable

  1. Care for orphans — Qur’an 4:10.
  2. Care for widows — Sahih al-Bukhari 5353.
  3. Feed the poor — Qur’an 90:14–16.
  4. Free slaves — Qur’an 90:13.
  5. Treat slaves/servants well — Sahih al-Bukhari 30.
  6. Do not oppress workers — Sahih al-Bukhari 2270.
  7. Give workers their wages — Sunan Ibn Majah 2443.
  8. Help debtors — Qur’an 2:280.
  9. Do not consume the wealth of orphans — Qur’an 4:10.
  10. Stand against oppression — Qur’an 4:75.

12. Spiritual and Moral Excellence

  1. Do good even when no one is watching — Qur’an 67:12.
  2. Control anger — Qur’an 3:134.
  3. Forgive people — Qur’an 3:134.
  4. Repel evil with what is better — Qur’an 41:34.
  5. Do not respond to evil with greater evil — Qur’an 41:34.
  6. Be grateful — Qur’an 14:7.
  7. Be patient during hardship — Qur’an 2:153.
  8. Have hope in Allah's mercy — Qur’an 39:53.
  9. Avoid despair — Qur’an 12:87.
  10. Rely upon Allah — Qur’an 3:159.
  11. Seek forgiveness — Qur’an 3:135.
  12. Remember Allah frequently — Qur’an 33:41.
  13. Pray for others — Qur’an 59:10.
  14. Give charity secretly and openly — Qur’an 2:274.
  15. Do not remind people of your charity in a hurtful manner — Qur’an 2:262.
  16. Give without expecting repayment — Qur’an 76:9.

The overarching principle

The remarkable thing is that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not merely teach these principles theoretically. His companions described his character, and the Qur’an itself says:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ
“And indeed, you possess an عظیم (great) character.”
Qur’an 68:4

And when ʿA’ishah رضي الله عنها was asked about the character of the Prophet ﷺ, she famously said:

“His character was the Qur’an.”
— Sahih Muslim 746

This gives a useful way of understanding his mission: he taught mankind how to worship Allah, but he also taught mankind how to conduct oneself toward other human beings, one's family, one's neighbours, the weak, animals, and even one's enemies.

If you're using this for a debate or written argument about the Prophet ﷺ bringing moral and ethical conduct to humanity, I can also organise these into “20 major moral reforms brought by Muhammad ﷺ”, with the strongest Qur’an/hadith evidence and historical examples for each.

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20 Major Moral Teachings and Reforms of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

1. Truthfulness and rejection of lying

The Prophet ﷺ made truthfulness a defining characteristic of the believer.

“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise…”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6094; Sahih Muslim 2607

The Qur’an likewise commands:

“O you who believe, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.”
— Qur’an 33:70

2. Trustworthiness

The Prophet ﷺ was known even before his prophethood as al-Amīn — “the trustworthy.”

The Qur’an commands:

“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due…”
— Qur’an 4:58

Trustworthiness therefore applies not merely to religious obligations but also to people's property, responsibilities and agreements.

3. Justice—even toward one's enemies

One of the strongest ethical principles in the Qur’an is that hatred does not justify injustice:

“Do not let the hatred of a people cause you to be unjust. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.”
— Qur’an 5:8

This is an exceptionally important principle: justice is not conditional upon liking the person receiving it.

4. Mercy

The Qur’an describes the Prophet ﷺ as:

“a mercy to the worlds.”
— Qur’an 21:107

And the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful.”
— Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 1924

Mercy was extended toward family, children, the elderly, the poor, animals and even enemies.

5. Forgiveness

The Qur’an repeatedly encourages forgiveness:

“Let them pardon and overlook. Would you not love that Allah should forgive you?”
— Qur’an 24:22

And the Prophet ﷺ himself demonstrated forgiveness toward people who had wronged him.

This makes forgiveness a virtue rather than merely a concession.

6. Controlling anger

The Qur’an praises those:

“who restrain anger and pardon the people—and Allah loves the doers of good.”
— Qur’an 3:134

The Prophet ﷺ also taught:

“The strong man is not the one who can overpower others; rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when angry.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6114; Sahih Muslim 2609

This redefines strength as self-mastery rather than physical domination.

7. Kindness toward parents

The Qur’an places extraordinary emphasis on parents:

“And We have enjoined upon man goodness to his parents.”
— Qur’an 29:8

And:

“Do not say to them even ‘uff,’ and do not repel them, but rather speak to them a noble word.”
— Qur’an 17:23

Even the smallest expression of irritation toward one's parents is condemned.

8. Kindness toward wives and women

The Qur’an commands:

“Live with them in kindness.”
— Qur’an 4:19

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The best of you are the best of you to their wives.”
— Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 3895

His teaching therefore made good treatment of one's wife a measure of one's own character.

9. Care for orphans

The Qur’an strongly condemns exploitation of orphans:

“Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire.”
— Qur’an 4:10

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

“I and the one who cares for an orphan will be like this in Paradise,”

and he indicated his index and middle fingers.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 5304

10. Care for widows and the poor

The Prophet ﷺ placed enormous value upon helping vulnerable people.

“The one who strives to help the widow and the poor is like the one who strives in the cause of Allah…”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 5353; Sahih Muslim 2982

This turns social welfare into a religious virtue, not merely a social preference.

11. Protection of the weak

Islam repeatedly commands the protection of people who are vulnerable to exploitation.

For example:

“Worship Allah… and do good to parents, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the distant neighbour…”
— Qur’an 4:36

The moral community envisioned by the Prophet ﷺ was therefore not based solely upon the powerful protecting themselves.

12. Honesty in business

The Prophet ﷺ explicitly condemned commercial deception:

“Whoever cheats us is not one of us.”
— Sahih Muslim 102

The Qur’an also condemns those who cheat in weights and measurements:

“Woe to those who give less than due…”
— Qur’an 83:1–3

Thus commercial ethics became a religious obligation.

13. Fair treatment of workers

The Prophet ﷺ strongly emphasised the rights of workers.

A famous hadith states:

“Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.”
— Sunan Ibn Majah 2443

The principle is straightforward: a person's labour creates an obligation upon the employer.

14. Kindness toward slaves and servants

Islam strongly encouraged humane treatment of those under one's authority.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Your servants are your brothers whom Allah has placed under your authority…”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 30; Sahih Muslim 1661

He commanded masters to feed and clothe them appropriately and not burden them beyond their capacity.

Islam simultaneously established manumission of slaves as a major act of righteousness and expiation (Qur’an 90:13; 4:92; 5:89).

15. Kindness toward children

The Prophet ﷺ openly demonstrated affection toward children.

He kissed his grandson al-Hasan, and when someone expressed surprise at this, the Prophet ﷺ responded:

“Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 5997; Sahih Muslim 2318

Affection was therefore not regarded as weakness but as mercy and good character.

16. Respect and protection of neighbours

The Prophet ﷺ repeatedly emphasised the rights of neighbours.

He said:

“Jibril kept recommending me to treat my neighbour well until I thought that he would make him my heir.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6014; Sahih Muslim 2624

And:

“By Allah, he does not believe… whose neighbour is not safe from his harm.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 6016; Sahih Muslim 46

Notice the strength of the language: the neighbour must be safe from you.

17. Respect for human life during warfare

The Prophet ﷺ prohibited the killing of non-combatants.

Among the Prophetic instructions concerning warfare was the prohibition of killing women and children.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 3015; Sahih Muslim 1744

He also prohibited treachery and mutilation.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 3015–3016

Thus even warfare was subjected to moral restrictions.

18. Mercy toward animals

The Prophet ﷺ taught that animals were not simply objects without moral consideration.

He told of a person who was forgiven by Allah because they gave water to a thirsty dog.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 2363; Sahih Muslim 2244

Conversely, a woman was condemned because she imprisoned a cat and allowed it to die.

— Sahih al-Bukhari 2365; Sahih Muslim 2242

The principle is powerful:

Cruelty toward an animal can itself become a matter of moral accountability before God.

19. Cleanliness and personal hygiene

The Prophet ﷺ made cleanliness an important component of religious life.

He taught practices including:

·         washing

·         purification through wudu

·         brushing the teeth with siwak

·         trimming the nails

·         removing unwanted body hair

·         maintaining personal cleanliness

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Purification is half of faith.”
— Sahih Muslim 223

And the Qur’an commands purification:

“Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.”
— Qur’an 2:222

20. The Golden Principle of Good Character

Perhaps the most comprehensive principle is found in the Prophet's statement:

“I was sent to perfect good character.”

This report is transmitted in al-Adab al-Mufrad and Musnad Ahmad with supporting chains.

And the Qur’an describes the Prophet ﷺ:

“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.”
— Qur’an 68:4

This gives us an important framework for understanding the Prophetic mission.

A Strong Summary for a Debate

If you are presenting this argument to a Christian, atheist, or general audience, I would avoid claiming that Muhammad ﷺ invented every individual moral principle. Someone could easily object that truthfulness, kindness, justice, or care for the poor existed before Islam.

The stronger argument is:

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not claim to have invented morality. Rather, he brought a comprehensive revelation that commanded, regulated, and reinforced moral conduct across every dimension of human life: personal character, family, commerce, treatment of the poor, treatment of neighbours, warfare, treatment of animals, speech, cleanliness, justice and mercy.

That is much harder to refute because it is actually what the Qur’an and Sunnah demonstrate.

And there is another particularly strong point: the Prophet ﷺ was not merely preaching these virtues to others; his own life was presented as the practical model.

The Qur’an says:

“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example…”
— Qur’an 33:21

So the Islamic model is:

Revelation → moral command → Prophetic example → practical implementation.

 

 

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List of etiquettes, virtues, and moral conduct taught or exemplified by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, with Qur’an and/or hadith references. Qur’anic teachings and Prophetic teachings.

  List of etiquettes, virtues, and moral conduct taught or exemplified by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , with Qur’an and/or hadith references. Qur’ani...