(meaning, in every situation).^[1]

Allah is Watching

It is narrated that a shaykh used to show more honour to a young murīd (disciple) rather than to his elder disciples. This did not sit well with some of the elder disciples. One of them eventually complained to the shaykh, asking: ‘Why do you give such preference to this young man over us, who were older and more experienced disciples?’ The shaykh then replied: 'This murīd of mine surpasses all of you in etiquette and intellect, which is why I love him dearly. I will now give you proof of this, so that you may understand what virtue he possesses.' Then the shaykh ordered some birds to be brought and gave each of his disciples a bird and a knife, saying: 'Go and slaughter this bird in a place where no one is watching.' The young man was given a bird in the same manner, and the same instruction was given to him. After a short while, each of them returned with a slaughtered bird, but the young murīd returned holding a live bird in his hand. The shaykh asked why he had not slaughtered it like the others. He replied: 'O shaykh! I could not find a place where no one was watching, because wherever I went, I found that Allah Almighty was watching me. Therefore, I was compelled to bring it back alive.' Upon hearing this, the veil was lifted from the eyes of all the fellow disciples, and they not only apologised to the shaykh but also said: 'Indeed, this young man deserves to be honoured'.^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

(2) Respect yourself too!

Dear Islamic brothers! The second type of etiquette is: اَدَبُ النَّفْس, meaning showing etiquette to oneself.