Introduction to Al-Adab al-Mufrad.

This book deals exclusively with the subject of moral etiquettes in Islam, focusing on the customs and traditions of the early Muslims. Although Kitab al-Adab (The Book of Manners) contained in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree explores the same subject, Al- Adab al-Mufrad was basically compiled as a separate work. So while Kitab al-Adab has 128 sections with 256 hadeeths, al-Adab al-Mufrad contains 644 sections with 1,322 ahaadeeth and narrations from the pious predecessors.

Therefore, al-Adab al-Mufrad comprises more benefits from the daily life of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), his companions and the early Muslims. Also, while Imam al-Bukhaaree stipulated to collect only authentic ahaadeeth in his Saheeh as mentioned earlier, al-Adab al-Mufrad includes ahaadeeth and reports that are either Saheeh (Authentic), or Hasan (Sound) or Da’eef (Weak). Regarding the significance of the book, Imam Abdur-Rahman al- Yamaanee al-Mu’allamee – may Allah be pleased with him – said, “Those who really know Islam and stick to it have regularly emphasized that the weakness and failings and other forms of decadence that has befallen the Muslims were due to their distance from the reality of Islam; and I think that is owing to some things:
One: Mixing up what is not from the religion with that which is from it.
Two: Weak certainty about that which is from the religion.
Three: Not acting according to the rulings of the religion.

I believe that knowing the authentically related prophetic manners in worship and dealings; while at home, during journeys, while with others or alone, while active and inactive, and during wakefulness and sleep, while eating and drinking, during talk and silence and other aspects of human engagements and sticking to following it as is easy is the only remedy to those ailments. Many of those etiquettes are easy upon the soul; so if one acts by what is easy for him of it while abstaining from what contradicts it, he does not take long – Allah willing – before he seeks to improve upon it. So, after a while, he becomes a model in that for others. And by following that true guidance and adopting that great character – even if to some extent – the heart is illuminated, the mind is delighted, the soul becomes tranquil, and so, certainty becomes deep-rooted and the actions become good. When those who follow this path become large in number, those ailments soon disappear by Allah’s leave. From the simplest of the compilations from the Books of Sunnah about the manners of the Prophet is the book, Al-Adab al-Mufrad by
Imam Muhammad bin Ismaa’eel al-Bukhaaree (may Allah be pleased with him): Imam al-Bukhaaree is famously known and his works are the best in quality and authenticity. This book of his, I mean al- Adab al-Mufrad, is, after his book – al-Jaami’u as-Saheeh -, the most deserving of been given attention by the one who seeks to follow the Sunnah. This is because he carefully and painstakingly collected and preserved it pointing out the salient points of benefit (in it).

However, the Ummah has unfortunately fallen short regarding the book; its manuscripts are very nice, and it has been repeatedly published. However, it is as if it does not exist because they (those publications) are error laden in their chains of report and text: errors that would not be discerned except by those well grounded in knowledge.” The grade of each hadeeth or narration was appended according to the checking and grading of Imam Muhammad Naasiruddeen al- Albaanee (rahimahullah) in his books, Saheeh and Da’eef Al-Adab al-Mufrad