Etiquette (Adab) Norms In Surah Al-Hujurat

An analysis of the moral and ethical principles governing a Muslim’s conduct before Allah, His Messenger and society, based on the 49th chapter of the Qur'an

Abstract

The article examines the norms of etiquette (adab) set out in Surah al- Hujurat, the 49th chapter of the Qur’an, and analyses them as a unified system of moral and ethical principles. Drawing on the classical exegetical tradition – the commentaries of Ibn Kathir, al-Qurtubi and as-Sa‘di – and on the chapters devoted to manners in the collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, the author first sets out the general characteristics of the surah, its name and the circumstances of its revelation (asbab an-nuzul), and then distinguishes two principal groups of norms: the moral duties of a Muslim before Allah and His Messenger (submission, respect, piety and forgiveness), and the norms governing relations among the members of society (avoiding ill assumptions, refraining from mockery and offensive nicknames, abstaining from spying and backbiting, and upholding brotherhood). The study shows that piety (taqwa) functions as the connecting thread between the personal and the social norms of the surah, and concludes that the principles it establishes are not confined to their historical setting but retain their significance as a source of a culture of mutual trust and respect in contemporary society.