Excellence in Character

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

'Amr ibn al-'As said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, sent for me. He commanded me to put on my clothes and weapons andcome to him. I did that and came to him while he was doing wudu'. He lookedat me and then lowered his eyes. He then said, ''Amr, I want to put youin charge of an army and Allah will give you booty. I will give you a correctportion of the spoils.' I said, 'I did not become Muslim out of the desirefor property. I became Muslim out of the desire for Islam and so that Iwould be with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace.' He said, ''Amr! Sound (legitimately acquired) wealth is very excellent for a righteous man!'"

Mihsan al-Ansari reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless himand grant him peace, said, "When someone is secure in his property, healthyin his body and has his food for the day, it is as if he owned the entireworld."

Mu'adh ibn 'Abdullah ibn Khubayb al-Juhani related from his fatherthat his uncle said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him andgrant him peace, came out to them with the traces of ghusl on him. He wascheerful so we thought he had been with his wives. We said, 'Messenger ofAllah, we see that you are cheerful.' He said, 'Yes, and praise be to Allah!'Then wealth was mentioned that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah blesshim and grant him peace, said, 'There is no harm in wealth for someonewho has taqwa, but health for the person who has taqwa is even better thanwealth. Cheerfulness is a blessing.'"

An-Nawwas ibn Sam'an al-Ansari reported that he asked the Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about righteousness andsin. He said, "Righteousness is good character and sinis what gnaws at your conscience and that which you dislike for other people to becomeaware of."

Anas reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, was the best of people, the most generous of people and most courageousof people. One night the people of Madina were alarmed by a noise and thepeople went towards its source. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, met them, having already reached the source of the noise beforethem and he was saying, "Do not be alarmed. Do not be alarmed." He wasriding a horse belonging to Abu Talha without a saddle and a sword washung around his neck. He said, "I found it (the horse) like a great river"or it was a great river (meaning its speed).

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless himand grant him peace, said, "Every act of kindness is sadaqa. Part of kindnessis that you offer your brother a cheerful face and you pour some of yourbucket into his water vessel."

Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, was asked, "Which is the best action?" He replied, "Belief inAllah and jihad in His Way." He was asked, "Which slaves are best?" Hereplied, "The highest in price and the most precious to their people."He said, "What do you think I should do if I am unable to fight?" He said,"Help someone in trouble or work for someone who does not work." He said,"What do you think that I should do if I am too weak (to act accordingly)?"He said, "Spare people your evil. That is a sadaqa which you bestow onyourself."

Sa'id ibn Abi Burda related from his grandfather that the Prophet,may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Every Muslim owes sadaqa."He said, "What do you think he should do if he cannot find anything togive?" He replied, "He should find work and thus benefit himself and beable to give sadaqa." He said, "What do you think he should do if he cannotor does not do that?" He said, "He should help someone with a great need."He said, "What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?"He replied, "He should command the good." He asked, "What do you thinkhe should do if he cannot or does not do that?" He replied, "He shouldrefrain from evil. That is sadaqa for him."

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, used to supplicate, "Oh Allah, I ask Youfor health, restraint, trustworthiness, good character, and contentmentwith the decree."

"It isthe believers who are successful: those who are humble in their prayer;those who turn away from worthless talk; those who actively pay zakat;those who guard their private parts." (23:1-5)' She said, 'That was thecharacter of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace.'"