Hassan Al Khulaq (Best Character)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him, and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …                                     السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ –

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islam.

Noble morals and good qualities are highly regarded in the religion of Allah Almighty. And the relationship between the Creator and people is based on iman (faith), sincerity and following the ordainments. Relationships between people is mostly built on morals and behavior. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺinformed that righteousness is good manners.

Rather, the Prophet made good manners one of the doors of goodness. AbdAllah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

قَالَ لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاحِشًا وَلاَ مُتَفَحِّشًا وَكَانَ يَقُولُ ‏ إِنَّ مِنْ خِيَارِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا ‏”‏‏.‏

The best of you are those best in conduct. And the Prophet was not one who was obscene, nor one who uttered obscenities. [Bukhari 3559, Muslim 2321, Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1975]. https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3559

And the Prophet ﷺ informed that good manners is the best of what a Muslim is given. For Usamah bin Shareek said that they asked:

يا رسولَ اللهِ ما أفضلُ ما أُعطِيَ المرءُ المسلمُ ؟ قال حُسنُ الخُلقِ

Oh, Messenger of Allah what is the best thing that a Muslim is given? He said, good manners. [Sahih Ibn Habban 478]

And his ﷺ emphasis on good manners was only due to the greatness of its status with Allah Almighty. It is a means to get close to Allah Almighty, and to attain His love. Narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

إنَّ أحبَّكم إلى اللهِ وأقربَكم منِّي أحاسنُكم أخلاقًا

The most beloved of you to Allah and the closest to me are the best of you in character [Sahih Ibn Habban 482]. And the Prophet ﷺ said:

أحَبُّ النَّاسِ إلى اللهِ أحسنُهم خُلقًا

The most beloved of people to Allah are the best in character [Sahih Ibn Habban 486]

And good character is also a path that leads to the completion of Iman (faith) as the Prophet ﷺ said:

أكمَلُ المؤمنين إيمانًا أحسَنُهم خُلقًا

The most complete of the believers in faith, is the one with the best character among them. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1162]. https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1162

The importance of good character is magnified so much that the person having it is in constant worship equivalent to the rank of the one who fasts and prays at night.  Even though he may not be occupied with voluntary acts of worship. But he reached that through his character. The Prophet ﷺ said:

‏ “‏ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيُدْرِكُ بِحُسْنِ خُلُقِهِ دَرَجَةَ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ ‏”‏ ‏‏

A believer will attain by his good character the rank of the one who fasts and prays at night (continually). [Sunan Abi Dawud 4798]. https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4798

And good character makes one’s scale heavier at a time when he is in most need of something to make his scale of good deeds heavier. Good character is the heaviest of righteous deeds on the scale. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“‏ مَا شَيْءٌ أَثْقَلُ فِي مِيزَانِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ خُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَبْغَضُ الْفَاحِشَ الْبَذِيءَ ‏”‏ ‏

The Messenger of Allah said: “Nothing is heavier on the believer’s Scale on the Day of Judgment than good character. For indeed Allah, Most High, is angered by the shameless obscene person.” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2002. https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2002

And good character is the strongest reason for admission into paradise. The Prophet ﷺ was asked about that for which people are admitted into Paradise the most, so he said:

قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَكْثَرِ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ أَكْثَرِ مَا يُدْخِلُ النَّاسَ النَّارَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ الْفَمُ وَالْفَرْجُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah was asked about that for which people are admitted into Paradise the most, so he said: “Taqwa of Allah, and good character.” And he was asked about that for which people are admitted into the Fire the most, and he said: ” The mouth and the private parts.” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2004. https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2004.

And the one with good character is given a house in the highest part of paradise as a reward for his lofty and noble character. Abu Umamah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

I guarantee a house in the outskirts of Paradise for the one who refrains from quarrelling even if he is in the right, and a house in the middle of Paradise for the one refrains from lying even if he is joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for the one who made his character good. [Sunan Abu Dawud 4800]. https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4800.

So, congratulations to the one who collects all of these houses.

So, what is good character and how can it be attained?

Brothers good character is for a Muslim Firstly love for Allah (2:165)

وَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّٰهِ

“Believers are stronger in love for Allah”. And then to our Prophet Muhammad he ﷺ said:

لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِين  البخاري:15، مسلم:44

None of you has believed until I am dearer to him than his father, his son and all the people. [Bukhari 15, Muslim 44]. Sahih Muslim 44a. https://sunnah.com/muslim:44a

Then good character for a Muslim to love for a Muslim what he loves for himself. And to be humble before them. And to not be prideful over them. And to not cheat, and to not be arrogant and self-important. And if someone is arrogant with him, then he should bear it and treat them kindly. And to venerate the elderly and to have mercy for the children and youth. And to fulfil the rights of all, to have a pleasant face and receive others well.

To be always cheerful and gentle and have good companionship.  And have gentle speech and mend matters between his brothers, and to check up on his friends. And to not listen to what people say about one another. And do favours for them only for the sake of Allah and not for any other purpose with protecting their honour. And to overlook people’s mistakes and answer their invitations. And to not be accusing. And to be forbearing for the one who was ignorant towards him. And to forgive whoever wrongs him.

This is the weight of good character in the religion of Allah Almighty. And these are the limits and attributes of good morals. So let each one of us gauge his character against this scale, so whoever has a deficiency in their character, should improve and rectify it, and whoever has good character, let him praise Allah Almighty, and ask Him for steadfastness. Allah said:

Fusilat (41) 34-36: (34) And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.

(35) But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good]. (36) And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

One of the goals of the mission of the Seal of the Prophets ﷺwas to call to virtuous morals. The Prophet ﷺ said:

إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الأَخْلاقِ

I was sent to perfect good character. [Ahmad 8952, Sahih Al Jami’ 2349]

And the Prophet ﷺ commanded adherence to the good character. To strive to adorn oneself with it. And it is not an excuse for a person with a bad character to say: it is a nature that I have been born with, as morals are acquired through training and conditioning. And the evidence for that is when Muadh, may Allah be pleased with him, when he intended to travel said, Oh Messenger of Allah advise me, he ﷺ said:

Worship Allah and do not associate anything with him, he said Oh Messenger of Allah give me more, he said, when you do wrong do a good deed, he said Oh Messenger of Allah give me more, he said, be steadfast and improve your character [Ibn Hajar 132]

And in another Hadith the Prophet ﷺ said to him:

“‏ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ ‏

Abu Dharr said: “The Messenger of Allah said to me: ‘Have Taqwa of Allah wherever you are, and follow an evil deed with a good one to wipe it out, and treat the people with good behaviour.” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1987. https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1987

How much people are in the need of good character. Indeed we do not accommodate the people through our wealth or our influence. Rather we accommodate them through our good character. Those who interact with us want nothing else from us other than a kind word, a beautiful smile, overlooking faults and excusing them.

So treat people in the best possible fashion. And know that nothing remains for the person in this worldly life except for the good mention. So have good conduct with the people so that you attain the love of Allah and their love. And so that you are mentioned in a good fashion while you are alive and when you pass.

Oh Allah just as you have perfected our forms, perfect our character. Indeed, Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon our Prophet as your Lord commanded:

Allahumma Sallai Al’a Muahmmad’n wa’aila Muhammad

أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ  لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ  إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

For Any further Information please contact me at info@irlammosque.org.

Imam Mahboob Rasool