131. Good Manners

Know that Allāh admitted a prostitute into Jannah because she gave a drink to a dog that was thirsty. 

What will be the case for the one who feeds others, giving them drink and removing hardships from them!

Ibn al-Mubārak رحمه الله had a Jewish neighbor. He would always feed him before feeding his own children and would provide clothing for him first and then for his children. Some people said to the Jewish neighbour, “Sell us your house.” He answered, “My house is for 2000 dīnārs. 1000 is for the house and 1000 is for having Ibn al-Mubārak as a neighbor!” Ibn al-Mubārak heard of this and he exclaimed, “O Allāh, guide him to Islām.” By the permission of Allāh, he accepted Islām.

On another occasion, Ibn al-Mubārak رحمه الله passed by a caravan of people who were travelling to make the pilgrimage to Makkah. He too was on his way to do the same. He saw one of the women take a dead crow from a cesspit. He sent his servant to inquire about this and when he asked her, she replied, “We have had nothing for three days except that which finds its way into it.” When Ibn al-Mubārak رحمه الله heard of this, his eyes swelled with tears. He ordered for all of his provision to be distributed among those of the caravan, and having nothing with which to continue the journey, he returned to his home and gave up making the pilgrimage for that year. Later, he saw someone in a dream saying, “Your pilgrimage has been accepted, as have your rites; and your sins have been forgiven.”

No one regrets having done well even if he was extravagant in doing so. 

Regret is only for the mistake or for the wrong done, even when that wrong is a minor one. 

Good manners lead to prosperity, while bad ones lead to misery.

Nabī sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: 
"Through good manners, one reaches the status of the person who not only fasts but who also stands late in the night to pray."

Nabī sallallahu alaihi wa sallam also said: 
"Shall I not inform you of the most beloved to me and the closest to me on the Day of Resurrection: Those of you who are best in manners."

[Don’t be sad, ʿĀ’id al-Qarni, Page 125-7/194]