1. Always begin your letter with the words
   Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem

   . If you wish to use and abbreviation, you may write

   Bismihi Ta 'aala.

   The Holy Nabi (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has affirmed: "Any undertaking, which does not commence with the utterance of the attribute of Allah 'Bismillah,' remains incomplete and unblessed." Some people write the numerals 786 in place of the words. This practice should however be avoided, because it is the words that carry the blessings, not the number.

2. Do write your own address in each letter. Never omit your address under the impression that the addressee already knows your address. Your address may not be necessarily preserved by the addressee nor can you be sure that the addressee remembers your address.
3. Write your address on the right hand side leaving a little space in between the margin and the lines of the address. Write your address clearly and take care that it is correct and the spellings of each words are also correct.
4. You must indicate the date below your address.
5. After indicating the date, write a brief salutation to the addressee. Keep your salutation brief and simple, such as may communicate feelings of sincerity and clsoe relationship. Avoid words of salutation, which smack of artificialty and convey a formal sense. Along with the salutation or on the next line after it, write "As-Salaamu 'Alaykum." Do not write words like "Aadaab" or "Taslimaat."
6. If you are sending a letter to a non-Muslim, write words like "Aadaab" or "Taslimaat," instead of "As-Salaamu 'Alaykum" or "Salaam Masnoon."
7. After the salutation, write down your message or purpose which you wish to convey to the addressee. Close your letter with a suitable compliment which indicates your relationship to the addressee such as "yours obediently," "yours sincerely," "yours truly," etc.
8. Your letter must be legible, clear, and simple, so that it may easily be read and understood, and may impress the addressee.
9. Use fluent and polite language in your letter.
10. Be brief, but never miss necessary details to make your point clear.
11. Throughout the letter, from the salutation to the complimentary close, pay due regard to the status of the addressee.
12. Start with a new paragraph for every new point.
13. Adopt a serious style in correspondence and avoid frivolity.
14. Avoid writing letter in hot temper. Never write anything offensive. Always adopt a courteous style in letters.
15. Do not discuss secret matters in general correspondence.
16. Put a dot at the end of each sentence.
17. Do not read a letter addressed to someone else without his permission. This is a grave violation of trust. However, the elders and guardians should, as a matter of duty, go through the letters written or received by their children so that they may correct and guide them. Islam does not give free license to the teenagers to indulge in activities that do not conform with the norms and ethics of Islamic society. Before marriage, boys and girls, having no blood relations, are not allowed to mix freely or to write private letters to each other. Hence it is the responsibility of the parents to keep an eye on the letters written to or by their children till they are married.
18. Keep up a regular correspondence with your relatives and friends conveying to them your welfare.
19. When someone falls ill, or, Allah forbid, is involved in an accident or some other calamity, do send a letter of concern and sympathy to him.
20. On occasions of ceremony, festivity or any happy development, do send letters of congratulation and joy.
21. Always use black ink for the purpose of writing letters. Do not use a pencil or red ink for correspondence.
22. When some one gives you a letter for the purpose of posting it, never forget to post it without delay. Negligence and delay in such matters speak of irresponsibility.
23. Send a return card or stamp to those with whom you are not familiar.
24. If you wish to cancel a portion of what you have written already, just cut it with a faint line.
25. While writing a letter, keep in view the interest of the addressee as well, and do not concentrate on the matters of your own choice and interest. You should not only communicate news of the peace and welfare of your own family but enquire about the peace and welfare of the family of the addressee and do not make too many demands even in letters. A man who makes too many demands degrades himself.

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