What is the difference between akhlaq and adab?

Question

I have recently been introduced to the term *akhlaq*, [defined in Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhlaq) as follows:>Akhlaq (Arabic: أخلاق‎) is an Arabic term referring to the practice of virtue, morality and manners in Islamic theology and falsafah (philosophy).This to me sounds exactly the same as *adab*, a term I was already familiar with and which is [defined in Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adab_%28Islam%29) thus:>Adab, in the context of behavior, refers to prescribed Islamic etiquette: "refinement, good manners, morals, decorum, decency, humaneness".On the surface, they appear to be referring to the same thing (i.e., good character, manners and morals). Are the two terms actually synonymous, or do they have different applications?

Answer 1

This is an excellent question. The short answer to that is أدب indicates expression, be it in behavior particular to the individual, or to the norms of a particular culture or even family. That is why literature is called أدب .. expression manifested in the written form. أخلاق is the philosophical concept of vice and virtue, right and wrong, the collective values and standards. To understand the very subtle difference, lets us assume you meet a Nazi for a TV debate. You are not on the same ethical standards, that is أخلاق but you show your own standards of of civilized expression and communication and that is أدب .