The Value of Good Character in Islam
3 min read
One of the most significant goals of the Prophet’s mission is to perfect noble character.
“It is He who sent up among the unlettered people a Messenger from among them to recite His words to them, purify them, and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even though they were manifestly wrong before that,” Allah (SWT) states in Soorat Al-Jumuah (62:2). This verse highlights one of Allah’s (SWT) favours to believers, declaring that He has sent His Messenger, Muhammad (SAW), to educate them the Qur’an and purify them.
Purification can only be reached by cleaning one’s heart of such flaws as identifying others with Allah in worship, possessing ill moral character like as anger and jealousy, and abstaining from all sorts of wicked speech and conduct. “I have only been sent to perfect noble character,” the Prophet (SAW) once said. Sunan Al-Bayhaqee (Sunan Al-Bayhaqee: 21301) One of the goals of the Prophet’s mission, according to this remark, was to elevate and perfect the moral character of individuals and society as a whole.
Faith and belief go hand in hand with noble character.
“They are those who have the best character and manners,” the Prophet (S) said when questioned about the best of the believers. (Sunan Abu Daawood: 4682; Sunan At-Tirmidhee: 1162)
In reality, the Arabic word birr is used in the Qur’an to allude to faith. “Righteousness (birr) does not lay in turning your faces [during prayer] to the East or to the West,” the Qur’an says. True devoutness is found in individuals who believe in Allah, the Last Day, angels, the Book, and the Prophets…” 2:177 (Soorat Al-Baqarah) The phrase birr is a broad concept that encompasses all sorts of righteousness, both in word and deed.
The Prophet expresses this well when he says, “Faith (eemaan) has sixty odd branches.” The most important of these is the Testimony of Faith: Laa ilaaha illallaah (There is no god worthy of worship other than Allah), and the least important is the removal of a dangerous object from the road. Shyness is a religion branch.” (Saheeh Muslim: 35)
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All acts of worship are imbued with noble character.
Every time Allah instructs believers to execute a religious deed, He emphasises its moral value or positive impact on the individual and society. There are various examples of this, including the following:
“… establish the prayer, for the prayer keeps one from doing dishonourable and wrong deeds…”
(Soorat Al-Ankaboot 29:45)
“Take zakaat from their wealth to purify and cleanse them with it…” is the obligatory charity (Zakaat). (Soorat At-Tawbah 9:103) Zakaat refines the benefactor’s character and purges it of evil deeds in addition to exhibiting kindness and providing comfort to others.
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you, just as it has been commanded for those before you, so that you may remain cognizant of Allah,” says the Prophet.
(Soorat Al-Baqarah2:183) This passage makes it abundantly apparent that the primary goal of fasting is to achieve Allah’s consciousness by obeying His orders and abstaining from any words and deeds that He has forbidden. “Whoever does not forsake erroneous words and immoral conduct, Allah does not need him to leave his food and drink,” the Prophet (S) remarked. (Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree 1804) Fasting will not accomplish its true goal if it does not result in a change in one’s character and interactions with others.
The enormous rewards that Allah (SWT) has in store for people who do well.
The following are examples of textual evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah to this effect:
On the Day of Judgement, excellent character will be the heaviest righteous deed on a person’s scale of actions: “No deed that will be placed on the scale of deeds [on the Day of Judgement] will be heavier than good character,” the Prophet (S) remarked. A person of good character will rise to the level of those who have a long history of voluntary fasts and prayers.” Sunan At-Tirmidhee, Sunan At-Tirmidhee, Sunan At-Tirmidhee, Sunan At-
When asked which conduct will cause the most people to reach Paradise, the Prophet (S) said, “Piety and good character.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhee: 2004)
On the Day of Judgement, individuals who have good character will be the closest to the Prophet (SAW):
“Those who have the best character are dearest to me among you and closest to me on the Day of Judgement,” the Prophet (SAW) remarked. Sunan At-Tirmidhee
Prophet (SAW) once said, “and I guarantee a house in the middle of Paradise for those who abandon lying even when joking, and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Paradise for those who have good character and manners.” (Sunan Abu Daawood 4800)
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