The Adab (Manners) of Listening in Islam

The Art of Listening...

Many of us talk much and listen little. Of the manners in Islam is the art of listening when a person starts to tell you something whether in private or in the company of others. If what that person is talking about is something you already know very well, you should not hasten to let everyone know, but you should pretend as if you do not know it. One major issue amongst Muslims today is that we rush in to reveal our knowledge or to interfere in speech, not considering the person who is speaking or the severity of illness in our ettiquettes. One should show attention and concentration no matter what.

One of the Tabi'i Imam Ata ibn Abi Rabah (رضى الله عنه) said:

"A young man would tell me something that I may have heard before he was borm. Nevertheless, I listen to him as if I had never heard it before."

Khalid ibn Safwan al-Tamimi, who frequented the courts of the two Khalif'as Umar ibn And' al-Aziz (رضى الله عنه) and Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik (رضى الله عنه) said:

"If a person tells you something you have heard before, or news that you already learnt, do not interrupt him to exhibit your knowledge to those present. This is rude and ill mannered."

A wise man said to his son:
" Learn the art of listening as you learn the art of speaking"


Listening well means to maintain eye contact (when appropriate), allowing the speaker to finish their speech and restraining your urge to interrupt his speech.

"Never interrupt a talk, though you know it inside out".

- Al Hafiz al-Khatib al-Baghdadi

So one must try to be an attentive listener, giving the speaker respect while they talk, not harming them physically or mentally. We should think before we speak. Whether we agree or disagree with what is being said, we should always follow the correct ettiquette as Muslims.

(-Taken from a blog on Mufti Mohammed bin Adam's commentary on Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda's 'min Adab il Islam')

GOOD CHARACTER

Good character is an attribute of the Master of the Messengers (SAWS)
and the best of the works of the veracious [Siddīqīn], and is in
reality half of religion. It is from the fruits of the spiritual struggles of

the God-fearing, and the efforts of the worshippers. Base (bad) character is

a lethal poison, a fatal destroyer, and a humiliating debaser—manifest

vileness, and filth that distances one from the sanctuary of the

Lord of the worlds. It makes the one characterized by it of the devils,

and it is the open door to the burning fire of Allāh, that “Leaps up

over the hearts (of men),” (Qur’ān 104:7). Good character, on the

other hand, is the open door to the bounties of the Gardens and

proximity to the Merciful. Base character is a sickness of the heart

and a disease of the lower self. It is a sickness that endangers the

ever-lasting life. Therefore, it is necessary to pay utmost attention

to it, even more than outward sickness.

Character traits are attributes of the self by which it leans to

either beauty or ugliness. Complete outward beauty is not possible

through the beauty of the eyes alone, without the nose, mouth, and

cheeks. Rather, it is necessary that all these be beautiful. Similarly,

inward beauty requires four essential elements. And good character

is completed through an appropriate balance and temperance of

these elements. These elements are: knowledge, anger, passion, and

justice between the other three elements.

-Shaykh Zafar Usmani