Most Beloved Abdallah ibn Amr (radi Allahu anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was never immoderate or obscene. He used to say, ‘Among those of you who are most beloved to me are those who have the finest character.’” [Sahih Muslim] The character of Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was the best of all humankind and testified to by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Therefore, if we would like to be among the most beloved to Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), and also most beloved to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), we must make his character our model, as it was displayed in the masjid, in the market place, in the battle field, in his home and everywhere. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has told us explicitly through the Quran and Hadith what is “good” and what is “bad”. So this is not for any individual or human rights group to determine for anyone anymore. Some of the attributes of good character are: suppressing anger that is for the sake of one’s ego, not vindicating or justifying oneself when in the wrong, hating oppressors and the immoral, being gentle and humble with believers, being honest and decent in speech. Imam al-Bayhaqi gives a few practical examples of good character saying: “A person with good character makes ‘what is better’ the imam of his soul, and obeys it completely,” making it the basis of his dealings with others. “When he deals with other people, he is tolerant in claiming what is his right, and does not ask for anything which is not; but he discharges all the duties which he has towards others. When he falls ill or returns from a trip, and no-one visits him, or when he gives a greeting which is not returned, or when he is a guest but is not honouored, or intercedes but is not responded to, or does a good turn for which he is not thanked, or joins a group of people who do not make room for him to sit, or speaks and is not listened to, or proposes to a woman but is not allowed to marry her, or asks for more time to repay a debt, but is not given more time, and all similar cases, he does not grow angry, or seek to punish people, or feel within himself that he has been snubbed, or ignored; neither does he try to retaliate with the same treatment when able to do so, but instead tells himself that he does not mind any of these things, and responds to each one of them with something which is better, and closer to goodness and piety, and is more praiseworthy and pleasing (to Allah).” [The Seventy-Seven Branches of Faith by Imam Al-Bayhaqi, p.48-49]
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:45:44 +0000
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