Question:
salam alaykum,
When Mawlana says ‘adab‘ what does he mean?
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam, Eid Kareem!
Adab means the best of manners. The most important manner with Allah swt is to avoid what He and His Prophet (s) have prohibited and to do what He and His Prophet Muhammad (s) have commanded. For that reason as Mawlana Shaykh Hisham has explained that Grandshaykh said there is a secret in reciting the verse:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً
O you who have attained to faith! Pay heed unto God, and pay heed unto the Apostle and unto those from among you who have been entrusted with authority; and if you are at variance over any matter, refer it unto God and the Apostle, if you [truly] believe in God and the Last Day. This is the best [for you], and best in the end. (Surat an-Nisa, 4:59)
Taher Siddiqui
