In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Rights and Etiquettes of the Self (In the Light of Qur’an & Hadith)

Maintaining a Proper Appearance

A true Muslim does not neglect his clothing or his body. Therefore, without exaggeration or extravagance, his appearance remains neat and dignified. He does not present himself before people in a poor or disgraceful state. However, it must be remembered that in all such matters, a Muslim follows the balanced and moderate approach of Islam.

Qur’anic ayah:
Arabic: الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَاۤ اَنۡفَقُوۡا لَمۡ يُسۡرِفُوۡا وَلَمۡ يَقۡتُرُوۡا وَكَانَ بَيۡنَ ذٰلِكَ قَوَامًا ۝
Transliteration: Alladhīna idhā anfaqū lam yusrifū wa lam yaqturū wa kāna bayna dhālika qawāmā
Translation: “And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly, but keep a balance between the two.” (Al-Furqan 67)

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah loves to see the effect of His blessing upon His servant.”
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2819)

Adornment is considered good so long as it does not reach the level of excess.

“Sayyiduna Abu Mas‘ud (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘A person will not enter Paradise in whose heart there is even an atom’s weight of arrogance.’ A man asked: ‘A person likes his clothes to be good and his shoes to be good (is this arrogance)?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied: ‘Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance is to reject the truth and to look down upon people.’”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 91)

A true and sincere Muslim should not become so excessive in outward adornment and beauty that it disturbs the balance established by Islam in all matters. Islam warns against exaggeration and obsession with adornment to the extent that a person becomes its slave and makes it the central concern of life.

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Perished is the slave of the dinar and the dirham, and the fine garments. If he is given these, he is pleased; if not, he is displeased.’”
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2886)

Reform and Purification of the Self

The success of this world and the Hereafter lies in disciplining, reforming, purifying, and cleansing one’s self (nafs). Misfortune lies in allowing corruption, impurity, and filth to fill it.

Qur’anic ayah:
Arabic: قَدۡ اَفۡلَحَ مَنۡ زَكّٰٮهَا ۝ وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَنۡ دَسّٰٮهَا ۝
Transliteration: Qad aflaḥa man zakkāhā, wa qad khāba man dassāhā
Translation: “He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it.” (Ash-Shams 9–10)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“All people go out in the morning and sell themselves; some free themselves, and others destroy themselves.”
(Sahih Muslim)

Repentance and Good Deeds Purify the Self

If a person commits sin, he should repent and perform good deeds so that his soul may be purified.

Qur’anic ayah:
Arabic: وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ الَّيۡلِؕ اِنَّ الۡحَسَنٰتِ يُذۡهِبۡنَ السَّيِّاٰتِؕ
Transliteration: Wa aqimiṣ-ṣalāta ṭarafayi an-nahāri wa zulafan mina al-layl; innal-ḥasanāti yudhhibna as-sayyi’āt
Translation: “Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in the early part of the night; indeed, good deeds remove bad deeds.” (Hud 114)

Qur’anic ayah:
Arabic: كَلَّا بَلۡ رَانَ عَلٰى قُلُوۡبِهِمۡ مَّا كَانُوۡا يَكۡسِبُوۡنَ ۝
Transliteration: Kallā bal rāna ‘alā qulūbihim mā kānū yaksibūn
Translation: “No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts because of what they used to earn.” (Al-Mutaffifin 14)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When a believer commits a sin, a black mark appears on his heart. If he repents and refrains, his heart is cleansed; but if he continues in sin, the mark increases until it covers his heart.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Nasa’i)

He ﷺ also said:
“Fear Allah wherever you are, follow up a bad deed with a good deed—it will erase it—and deal with people with good character.”
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)