Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (rahimahullah), the teacher of Shaykh ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) writes in his book: Islamic manners on the topic of respect for seniors:

Give precedence to the elderly or to dignitaries ahead of anyone else. After that, you may proceed with those on their right, which is in accordance with the practice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). The evidence supporting this manner is illustrated in many Hadiths, some of which are cited below.
Imam Muslim (rahimahullah) reported in his Sahih under the chapter: “The Manner and Rules of Eating and Drinking” that Sayyiduna Hudhayfah ibn Al-Yaman (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said:

“Whenever we were invited to a meal with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), we would not stretch out for the food until he reached for it.”

[Acknowledging Religious Status]

To emphasize the importance of these manners, Imam An-Nawawiy (rahimahullah), in his book, Riyadus Salihin, cited a large collection of Hadiths and devoted an entire chapter to this subject entitled, “The Chapter of Respecting Scholars, the Elderly, the Dignitaries, Giving Them Precedence and the Best Seat and Acknowledging Their Rank.”
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quran:

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
?Are those who know equal to those who do not know”
“.It is only those who possess understanding that take heed

Sayyiduna ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir Al-Badriy Al-Ansariy (radiyallahu ‘anhu) stated that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Those who are best at reciting the Quran should lead the people in salah. If they are equal, then those who are well-versed in the sunnah should lead, if they are equal, then a person who emigrated earlier (from Makkah to Madinah) should lead. If they emigrated at the same time, then the elder should lead.”

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“Let your wise and intelligent ones stand close to me (in salah), then those that are lower than them in rank, and then those that are lower than them in rank, and so on.”

[Preferance for the Hafiz]

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said this thrice.
Sayyiduna Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) said: “After the Battle of Uhud, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) buried two martyrs at a time in a single grave. He would ask: “Which of the two memorized more of the Qur’an?” Upon being informed of that person, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would lay him down first.”

[Serving Elders First]

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) stated that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “I dreamt I was brushing my teeth with a miswak when two men approached me. I handed the miswak to the younger but I was then instructed to hand it to the elder. Accordingly, I handed it to the elder.”

Sayyiduna Abu Musa Al-Ash’ariy (radiyallahu ‘anhu) stated that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Part of paying homage to Allah Ta’ala is to respect an elderly Muslim, whose hair has turned grey, a Hafiz of the Quran, who is neither too strict nor too lax with regard to it, and a just ruler.”

[Observing the Ranks of People]
Sayyiduna Maymun ibn Abi Shabib (radiyallahu ‘anhu) recounted that a beggar stopped by Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wife, Sayyidatuna ‘Aishah (radiyallahu ‘anha). She gave him a piece of dry bread. At another time, a properly dressed, well-groomed man passed by her. She let him sit and offered him a meal. When asked about that, she replied, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Treat people according to their status.”

[Silence in Their Presence]

Imam An-Nawawiy (rahimahullah) concluded this chapter by citing a Hadith as reported by Imam Al-Bukhariy and Imam Muslim in which Sayyiduna Samurah ibn Jundub (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said:

“Though I was a young child at the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), I used to listen to what he said and memorize it. Nothing prevents me from narrating my knowledge except the presence of men elder than me.”

[End of quote from Islamic Manners, pg. 46]

08/07/2026