Adab Distinguishes Mankind from Animals

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

Ṭarīqah and Islām are based upon adab,

“أَدَّبَنِي رَبِّي فَأَحْسَنَ تَأدِيبِي”

“Addabani Rabbi fa ahsana ta’dibi”

“Allāh ﷻ gave me good behavior and He ﷻ perfected it”, says our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam.

Adab is the most important thing in Islām. And adab is the most important thing for mankind. What distinguishes humans from animals is adab. With the animal, just as its name means, no adab is required. It can do anything wherever it goes. It has no responsibility. It is not mukallaf. Mukallaf means it is responsible for worship, responsible for cleanliness, responsible for things to do. An animal can do anything. It has an excuse. Allāh ﷻ did not give it mind. There is no responsibility upon it.

The same goes for the crazy. A crazy person who has no mind is not mukallaf either. “إِذَا أَخَذَ مَا أَوْهَبَ أَسْقَطَ مَا أَوْجَبَ”, “If He took what He has granted, He drops what He has obligated.” This is a rule of Islām Fiqh. The mind is the thing that makes you worship. If Allāh ﷻ has given you a mind, you must use that mind. The most important thing is adab. Adab encompasses all kinds of things. Adab encompasses not just decency, but all kinds of goodness, beauty and humanity.

Who was teaching adab? The Islamic State. The last one was the Ottoman Empire. After that, as we see, there’s no adab left in the world, no respect left, no reverence left. Everyone is walking around irresponsibly, doing what they want. They don’t listen to others. They don’t respect others. They just try to do what their ego wants. They are also doing things on the opposite side to teach them more. People are also getting away from humanity.

The core of this matter, humanity in summary, is that only by using the mind given by Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla, do they become humans. And it happens with adab; with adab and with respect. By showing respect not only to one’s ego, but also to others, will a good life be lived. But this is what the shayṭān does not want. That’s why dunyā is boiling from every side, evil is flowing from every side. May Allāh ﷻ protect us.

But of course everything has an end. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla will surely save us. He ﷻ will send the person whom our Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam gave good tidings about. In shā’a Llāh when Mahdī ‘alayhi s-salām comes, all problems will end with Allāh’s ﷻ permission. Otherwise, with what these people have learned, it will become worse, it will become more bad. May Allāh ﷻ help us. There is no hopelessness for anyone.

Our hope – there are many people who are hopeless, they are sad, they are anxious. But Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla says, don’t despair. Surely, the day will come. What Allāh ﷻ says always happens and what He ﷻ promises will come true, in shā’a Llāh. Soon, in shā’a Llāh, for the sake of this Friday. Because dunyā has really nothing going well. May Allāh ﷻ protect us. May we reach safety, in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq. Al-Fatiha.

There are recited Qur’an Khatms, Dalail Al-Khayrāt, Ayāt, Surahs, Tasbihat, Tahlilat, Salawat, and whatever good deeds there is, we gift them firstly to our Holy Prophet ﷺ, his ﷺ Ahlu l-Bayt and ṣaḥābah, souls of all Anbiya, Awliya, Asfiya and Mashayikh, to the souls of all our passed ones, to the souls of all late Muslims and Mu’mins. May whatever goals those who recited have be reached. For happiness here and hereafter. For strength of īmān, in shā’a Llāh. For happiness here and hereafter. Li-Llahi Ta’āla.

Al-Fatiha.

• Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbaniق

11 April 2025/ 13 Shawwal 1446

Fajr Prayer – Akbaba Dergah, Istanbul