Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
We are a Muslim IT company, and have a lot of internal correspondence. Is there any adab related to this?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,
I pray that you are all well and in the best of health and spirits.
Three of the great means of baraka (blessings) in communications, as mentioned by the ulema when discussing the proper manners of writing and communication, are:
1) Always giving salams, according to the sunna, whenever possible. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O people! Give salams; feed others; and pray at night while others sleep, and you shall enter Paradise in peace.” [Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja; Bukhari and Muslim related hadiths similar in meaning]
The salams are a means of baraka, and also a means of strengthening emotional ties–and Allah has willed that the salams (particularly the proper sunna manner of giving salams) be a powerful means for this when done with sincerity of intent.
2) Striving to start one’s correspondence in the name of Allah, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said that, “Every action that does not begin In the Name of Allah is cut off.”
The ulema explained that “action” here refers to anything important or significant, and “cut off” refers to being deficient and lacking in baraka, the secret of increase and success.
3) Remaining positive in one’s speech. Always keeping all one’s words, whether written or spoken, in accordance with the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say the good or remain silent.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Thus, one should always weigh one’s words before speaking. If they are good, one should speak. If not, one should not. If unsure, one should not speak until sure of their good.
And Allah alone gives success.
Yours,
Wassalam
Faraz Rabbani.