Excellence in Character

Anas ibn Malik said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, was merciful. No one came to him but that he promised himsomething and carried out that promise, if he had anything to give. Theiqama for the prayer had been given when a bedouin came, took hold ofhis garment, and stated, 'I am still not satisfied and I'm afraid of forgetting'. The Prophet went with him until the man had receivedwhat he wanted then he returned and prayed."

Jabir said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,was never asked for anything to which he said, 'No.'"

'Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr said, "I have never seen two women moregenerous than 'A'isha and Asma'. Their generosity was different. 'A'ishaused to gather things and after they had been collected together, she wouldshare them out. Asma' would not keep anything for the next day."

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, said, "The dust of the path of Allah and the smokeof Hellfire are never joined together in the heart of a slave (of Allah). Belief andstinginess are never joined together in the heart of a slave (of Allah)."

miserliness and ill-temper."

"We used to sit with 'Abdullah and they mentioned a man together with aspects of his character. 'Abdullah said,'What would you think if you cut off his head? Would you be able to putit back on again?' 'No,' they replied. He said, 'And his hand?' 'No,' theysaid. 'And his foot?' they said. 'No,' he said. He said, 'You cannot changehis character until you change his physical form. The drop remains in thewomb for forty nights and then the blood congeals and then it becomes ablood clot and then a lump of flesh and then Allah sends an angel andhe records his provision, his character, and whether he will behappy or miserable (in the Next World).'"

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, said, "A man who is known for his good characterhas the same degree as someone who stands at night in prayer."

Abu Hurayra said, "I heard Abu'l-Qasim say, 'The best of you inIslam is the best of you in character when they possess understanding (ofthe deen)."

Thabit ibn 'Ubayd said, "I have not seen anyone more serious whenhe sits with the people nor more jovial in his house than Zayd ibn Thabit."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, was asked, 'Which religion does Allah Almighty love the most?' Hereplied, 'The simple Hanifiyya one.'"

good character, restraint in food,truthful speech, and upholding a trust."

the genitals and the mouth. Do you know what it is thatmakes most people enter Paradise? Taqwa of Allah and good character."

Umm ad-Darda' said, "Abu'd-Darda' stood up in the night to pray.He was weeping and said, 'O Allah! You made my physical form good, so makemy character good!' until morning. I said, 'Abu'd-Darda', your only supplicationfor the entire night was for good character!' He replied, 'Umm ad-Darda',the Muslim perfects his character until good characterenters him into Paradise; and taints his character untilhis bad character enter him into Hellfire. The Muslim is forgiven whilehe is asleep.' I asked, 'Abu'd-Darda', how can be forgiven while he isasleep?' He said, 'His brother arises in the night, performs the nightprayer, and supplicates to Allah Almighty and is answered. Hesupplicates for his Muslim brother and his supplication is answered.'"

Usama ibn Sharik said, "I was with the Prophet, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, when some bedouins came. There were many peopleon all sides. The people were silent and no one spoke except them. Theysaid, 'Messenger of Allah! We experience difficulty in such-and-such andsuch-and-such' and it was in things which are not harmful to people. Hesaid, 'Servants of Allah! Allah has removed difficulty except in a casewhere a man slanders someone unjustly - that is the one who is in difficultyand destroyed.' They said, 'Messenger of Allah, can we make use of medicaltreatment?' 'Yes, servants of Allah,' he replied, 'you can make use ofmedical treatment. Allah Almighty did not create an illness but that Hemade a cure for it - except for one disease.' They asked, 'And whatis that, Messenger of Allah?' 'Old age,' he replied. They said, 'Messengerof Allah, what is the best thing that a man can be given?' He replied, 'Good character'."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, was the most generous of people in giving charity. Hewas even more generous in Ramadan when Jibril, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, used to meet him. Every night of Ramadan, Jibril used tocome to him and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, would read the Qur'an to him. When Jibril came to him, the Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was more generous ingiving charity than the blowing wind."

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported that the Messenger of Allah, mayAllah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Before your time a man wascalled to account and it was found that the only good thing he had donewas that he was easy in his business dealings with people. He used to orderhis slaves to go easy with people who were in difficulty. Allah Almightysaid, 'We are more entitled to do that than he is, so forgive him.'"

the mouth and the genitals."

It is reported Nawwas ibn Sam'an asked the Messenger of Allah,may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about righteousness and sin.He said, "Righteousness is good character and sin is what gnaws at your conscience and that which you dislike for other people to becomeaware of."

that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless himand grant him peace, said, "Who is your chief, O Banu Salama?" We replied, "Judd ibn Qays, although we think that he is a miser." He said, "What illness is worse than miserliness? Rather, your chief is 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh." And 'Amr was (serving) upon their idols during Jahilyyah and he used to arrange the marriage banquet of the Messenger of Allah if he married.

Warrad, the scribe of al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, said, "Mu'awiya wroteto al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, saying, 'Write down for me something which youheard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'Al-Mughira wrote to him, ' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless himand grant him peace, used to forbid gossip, wasting money, asking too manyquestions, refusing to give, disobedience to parents, and burying daughtersalive."