A-          Observing the proper etiquette when mentioning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. This can be fulfilled by not mentioning his name except by annexing to and conjoining it with the word "prophet" or "messenger". As being etiquette for the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, when calling the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, it should be also etiquette to others when mentioning or calling him. One should not say, "Muhammd"; however, one should say, "Prophet of Allah or the Messenger" and the like.

Such is a privilege only for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when Allah, The Almighty, addresses him in the Noble Quran away from all other Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention. Allah, The Almighty, never addressed him with his name only and when He, The Exalted, says (what means): {Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men…} [Quran 33: 40], He, The Exalted, says after it in the same Soorah (i.e. chapter) (what means): {…but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets...}

Instruction of observing this etiquette was stated in the saying of Allah, The Almighty: {Do not make [your] calling of the Messenger among yourselves as the call of one of you to another…} [Quran 24: 63]

B-          Observing the best etiquette in the mosque of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and also at his grave. One should refrain from uttering ill words and raising voices in it. Therefore, ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, denounced those who raised their voices in it.

It was narrated that As-Saa‘ib ibn Yazeed, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I was standing in the mosque and somebody threw a gravel at me. I looked and found that he was ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab. He said to me, “Fetch those two men to me.” When I did, he said to them, “Who are you? (Or) where do you come from?” They replied, “We are from At-Taa‘if.” ‘Umar said, “Were you from this city (Medina) I would have punished you for raising your voices in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him,”

C-          Preserving the sanctity of Al-Madeenah Al-Munawaarah, the city of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. That is because it is the place to which he, peace and blessings be upon him, emigrated, the house that supported him, the homeland of his helpers, the place of establishing his religion, and the place of his grave. It has his mosque which is the best after the Haraam Masjid.

"What is meant by glorifying Medina is to venerate its sanctity. This is something obligatory upon those who inhibits or enters it. Also, its inhabitants should observe the right and proper etiquette of being in the neighborhood of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. That is because the great status and standing of it in the sight of Allah, The Almighty, and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.  Thus, doing righteous deeds in it will be more confirmed while committing sins will be more awful due to the great honor of the place.

D-          Holding the narrations reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in high esteem, observing the best etiquette when listening to it, and solemnity when studying it. Our righteous predecessor and scholars in general and scholars of Hadeeth in particular of the Islamic nation used to have sound approach and rich credit in venerating the narrations reported from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, revering the session of Hadeeth, being full ready to compete one another in applying it as a form of venerating it.

Here are some great witnesses regarding this:

It was narrated that ‘Amr ibn Maymoon said, “I have never heard ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, uttering the words, ‘The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said" except one time. I looked at him and saw that his shirt was unfastened, his eyes were filled with tears, and his veins were bulging out (with fear). He said, ‘Or more than that, or less than that, or close to that, or something similar.”

It was reported from several Muslim scholars that they never recited or gave lectures of Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, unless they are in state of ablution such as Qataadah, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, Maalik ibn Anas, and Al-A‘mash. Rather, this becomes something recommended for them and disliked the opposite (i.e. reciting the Hadeeth of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while being impure). Daraar ibn Marrah: "They (Muslim scholars) used to dislike reciting the Hadeeths of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while they are not in the state of ablution." Ishaaq also said: "If Al-A‘mash wants to recite the Hadeeth while he is not in state of ablution, he used to perform Tayammum (i.e. dry ablution)." 

It was reported that Abu Salamah Al-Kuzaa‘i said:  "When Imam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him, wants to come out for his Hadeeth classes, he used to perform the same ablution of prayer, wear the best of his newest clothes, wear turban, comb his beard as well. Once he was asked about this. He explained that the due respect that he treasured to the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is the motive behind this.  

Ibn Abi Az-Zinaad said: "When Sa‘eed ibn Al-Musayyib, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was ill used to say, help me to sit up for I hate to speak to you about the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while I am lying down.”

It was reported that Maalik ibn Anas, may Allaah have mercy upon him, once passed by Ibn Abi Haazim while he was teaching Hadeeth. He said, "I could not find any space to sit down in, and I did not want to learn the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, standing up." 

It was also reported that Ibn Sireen, may Allaah be pleased with him, used to laugh at times but when the Hadeeths of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, were mentioned in his presence he became humble."

Hammaad ibn Salamah said: "We was visiting Ayyub and heard a loud noise. Then he said, what is such noise for? Have not they been informed that raising voices during learning the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is like raising voices over him in his life?"

Ahmad ibn Sulaymaan Al-Qattaan said: “Whenever ‘Abdur Rahmaan ibn Mahdi, may Allah have mercy upon him, read the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he used to order people to remain silent and thus no one should speak, nor sharpen his pen, no one should smile, no one should stand up as if birds are on their heads or as if they are offering prayer. Whenever he sees someone smiles or speaks, he used to have his slippers on and go out.”

Ibn Numayr, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to adopt the same principle and was one of the most serious people in this regard.

Wakee‘, may Allaah have mercy upon him, applied this in his lectures of Hadeeth as if they are offering prayer and if he was displeased with something of their actions, he used to take his slippers on and leave."

Ibn Numayr, may Allaah have mercy upon him, used to be angry and shout and if he saw someone sharpening his pen, the color of his face would change (because of anger).

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