Importanct of Adab (Moral characters)

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Mother of Imam Malik رحم الله would say to him:
اذهب إلى ربيعة فتعلم من أدبه قبل علمه
Go to Rabi’ah and learn ADAB before I'lm.



اهتمام السلف به قبل العلم:
يقول إبراهيم بن حبيب : "يا بني ائت الفقهاء والعلماء وتعلّم منهم وخذ من أدبهم وأخلاقهم وهديهم، فإن ذلك أحبُّ إليّ لك من كثير من الحديث ".
 Ibrahim Ibn Habib said : "O sons of Fuqaha  and Ulama,  learn from them and take it from their Adab  and Aqlaaq  and judgement,  Verily those are  lovely to you than  a lot of hadith."

وحكى مطرف أن أم الإمام مالك من أول يوم دخل فيه على العلم فقال: " كانت أمي تعممني وتقول لي:
اذهب إلى ربيعة فتعلم من أدبه قبل علمه".
Related from Mutaraff from Mother of Imam Maalik , On the First Day when Imam Maalik went to seek Knowledge, she said " Go to Rabi’ah and learn ADAB before I'lm"

يقول العنبري : علم بلا أدب كنار بلا حطب، وأدب بلا علم كروح بلا جسم.

Imaam Zakariya al-Anbari once said:
“Knowledge without Adab is like fire without wood, and Adab without knowledge is like a spirit without a body”.

Why are some seemingly religious people guilty of bad conduct?
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.PrintContent&fa=regcon&action=Print&contentid=20141213227325

Doublespeak is common. Some people behave in one way in public and in another in private. Some people are well-known for their manners and good character while others lack any positive good qualities and are boastful and sulky.

There are some among us who are seemingly, on the outside, highly religious. They fulfill their religious duties, both those that are obligatory and those that are voluntary.

At the same time, they are rude to people and make them feel horrible. They treat people who seek their help or support in an arrogant way and are not helpful, even with nice words.

There is no use being stringent in one’s observance of religious rituals while ignoring the essence and spirit of worship.

I think the reason for these contradictions is that some religious practices, at least in the Middle East, have been linked to material benefits.

People perform religious rituals with the intention of getting a reward from God. But at the same time, they forget the true spirit of worship, which involves performing religious rituals while ensuring that one exhibits good conduct, helps the needy and shows compassion to others.

The paradox here is that some people who perform their religious duties well also harm people through deeds or words.

The true spirit of religion lies in good conduct and staying away from doing anything that is harmful to others. 

More Info: http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/fatawaDetails.aspx?BookID=2&View=Page&PageNo=2&PageID=13332

http://www.islamhouse.com/291069/en/en/books/Al-Adab_Al-Mufrad


http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.PrintContent&fa=regcon&action=Print&contentid=20141213227325 

Nice blog: http://adabinislam.blogspot.in/2007/04/importance-of-adab.html