Every culture has its own distinct set of customs and traditions. It is this set of customs, traditions and etiquettes that help to distinguish between one nation and one tribe and another. There are over a billion of Muslims in the world, living in different countries, but tied together by the thread of one common Muslim culture, which again represents many distinct Muslim cultural groups, namely the Asian Muslims, the Middle Eastern, the American Muslims, etc., all of them with their distinct customs and traditions, but bound by common beliefs and practices. The religious practices and beliefs of Muslims centre around the Islamic religion with some aspects of the religion or culture being accepted by all Muslims of the world, including the Oneness of God, the Holy Books, the Day of Judgment, and all Prophets from Adam to Muhammad without discrimination.

You need to understand that the source of the universal customs and traditions is Quran, while the variables are based on local customs and traditions of various people living in different societies.

To understand the true meaning of something, we need to learn about that thing and gain all the relevant information about the specific thing. Learn how to read Quran fluently starting from Arabic alphabets by signing up for Quran lessons, which is the ultimate source to gain the most authentic and most accurate knowledge about the religion, faith, society, life, nature and more.

An overview of the Islamic customs and traditions:

Pronouncing God’s Name Before Eating or Drinking- The pronouncement of Allah’s name is with a double purpose- firstly, you are recognizing and thanking Allah’s countless blessings upon us, and secondly wishing for the continuity and abundance of these blessings in future.

Using the Right Hand for Eating & Drinking- A Muslim should use his right hand for eating and drinking after pronouncing God’s name. This practice symbolizes an individual’s desire and commitment to be among the people of ‘right hand’ on the Day of Judgment.

Muslim Greeting and Its Response- It is with the words “Assalaam –o-Alaikum” that a Muslim greets/should greet his brother. These words have been referred to in the Quran as well as in the sayings of the Prophet.

Blessing After Sneeze and Its Response- A Muslim should thank the Almighty with the words: “Al-Hamdulillah”, after being relieved from a temporary disorder, that is ‘sneeze’, and those present around this individual should pray for Allah’s mercy and blessings for him with the words: “Yarhamukallah”.

Keeping the Nose, the Mouth, and the Teeth Clean- Cleaning the nose, the mouth and the teeth has been a permanent feature of the teachings of the prophets of God as a part of developing a sense of purification and cleanliness among the followers.

Reciting Adhaan in the Right Ear of Newly born- The Prophet (peace be upon him) initiated this tradition with the words of the Adhaan being fixed by Him. Recitation of the Adhaan in the right ear of a newly born symbolizes physical contributions of the parents in the formation of the child and bringing him into this world, the parents have also proposed the communication of their spiritual beings to the child, through the deliverance of Allah’s message.

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