Being considerate of the feelings of the elderly, respecting them and letting them speak first:
This is one of Islaam’s greatest characteristics. The young person should not speak before the older person and the younger one listening to the elder person speak is considered good
manners/politeness. This sublime Islaamic etiquette is absent among many young Muslims, who are unconcerned with this issue
in their lives. Therefore, it is essential for educators/teachers to emphasize these manners.
Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari, may Allaah
be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Respect for Allaah includes respect for
an elderly gray-haired Muslim and respect for one who carries the Qur’aan [in his heart, that is, he who memorized it] who does not exaggerate [while reciting it] and does not keep
himself away from it and respect for a just man of high office.”
[Reported by Abu Daawood (4843), Al-Albaani: Hasan.]
‘Ubaadah ibn As-Saamit, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“He is not from my Ummah [Nation], the one who does not esteem our elderly and does not have mercy on our young ones and does not know the right of our scholars.”
[Reported by Ahmad (22755), Al-Albaani: Hasan]
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“I saw in a dream that I was using Siwaak and two persons contended to get it from me, the one being older than the other one. I gave the Siwaak to the younger one. It was said to me give that to the older one and I gave it to the older one.”
[Reported by Muslim (3003)]
Asmaa’ bint Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with her, reported: “When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, entered Makkah and entered the Sacred Mosque, Abu Bakr, may
Allaah be pleased with him, came to him with his father to visit him. When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw him he
said:
‘Why didn’t you leave the old man at his house and I would have gone to him there?’
Abu Bakr said: ‘You are more deserving of him coming to you than he is of you going to him.’
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, seated him (Abu Quhaafah) in front of him. Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed his hand on his chest and asked him to embrace Islaam and he did.”
[Reported by Ahmad (26956).]
Sahl ibn Abi Hathamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, (a man from the Ansaar) narrated that a number of people from his tribe went to Khaybar and dispersed, and then they found one of them murdered. The bereaved group went to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to talk to him about the matter of
their murdered companion. ‘Abdur Rahmaan ibn Sahl started to speak first and he was the youngest among them. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“Let the older among you come forward and speak.”
They then spoke about the matter of their companion.
[Reported by Al-Bukhaari (6142) and Muslim (1669).]
Being considerate of the feelings of the host when he does not have the means to be hospitable to his guest:
Thawbaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported: “A Bedouin guest came to us and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sat in front of his wives’ houses and started asking the Bedouin if his people were happy with Islaam and about their situation with prayer. The Bedouin continued to inform the Prophet,
sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, until he was joyful and his face lighted up. Then it reached midday and it was time to eat and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called me out of view and told me to tell ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, has a guest.
She said: ‘By the one who sent you with the truth! I have woken up with nothing that people can eat.’
He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent me to the rest of his wives and they all apologized as ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, did.
I saw the color in the Prophet’s face change. The Bedouin said:
‘We are not from the city and we endure more than (the people of the city).
A handful of dates and some water will suffice. That is considered abundance (to us).’
At that time a she-goat passed by and she had been milked. We used to call her Thamar Thamar. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wa sallam, called her by her name: ‘Thamar Thamar.’ She approached the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, whinnying and he took hold of her leg and said Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah). He then restrained her saying Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah). Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, wiped her teat
saying Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah). She became full of milk and he called me to bring a pail and I brought it to him.He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, milked her saying Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah).
He filled the pail and pushed it to the guest and
he drank a lot and wanted to put it down, so the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Drink more.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, repeated this to him until the guest was full
and had drank what he desired.
He then milked the goat again saying Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah) and he filled (the pail). He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,
then said: ‘Take this to ‘Aa’ishah.’ So she drank what she desired, then I returned to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he milked the goat again saying Bismillaah (In the
name of Allaah). He then sent me with it to his wives, and every time one drank I returned to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he milked the goat saying Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah) filling the pail. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said: ‘Give it to the guest.’ I then gave it to the Prophet, sallallaahu
‘alayhi wa sallam, and he said Bismillaah (In the name of Allaah) and he drank what Allaah Wills and then he gave it to me. I tried to place my lips where the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa
sallam, drank and I drank a drink that was sweeter than honey and more perfumed than musk. Then the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘O Allaah! Make this she-goat blessed for her owners.'”
[Reported by Al-Albaani in his book As-Silsilah As-Saheehah (1977).]
From this Hadeeth we see how the Bedouin guest was tactful and how he was considerate of the Prophet’s condition when he didn’t have the means to be hospitable to his guest.