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Good Character
by Riaz Mohammed
"Allah loves
those who are good."
[Quran-3:134] |
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GOD Most High has said:
"Surely, you are of tremendous nature", [Quran-68:4] and "Those
who suppress their anger, and are forgiving toward mankind;
Assuredly, Allah loves those who are good. [Quran-3:134].
Abdallah ibn `Amr,
said, "Prophet Muhammad ( ..*), was never immoderate or
obscene. He used to say, "Among those who are most beloved
to me are those who have the finest character."
It is narrated that `Aisha, said, "Never |
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"Prophet
Muhammad ( ..*), was never immoderate or obscene. He
used to say, "Among those who are most beloved to me
are those who have the finest character." |
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was Prophet
Muhammad ( ..*), given the choice between two things without
choosing the easier of them, as long as it entailed no sin.
If it did entail sin, he was of all people the most remote
from it. Never did he seek revenge for something done
against himself."
Source:-
Books of Sahih Bukhari
and Sahih Muslim |
The meaning of good
character is the inclination of the soul towards gentle and
praiseworthy acts. This may take place in one's personal actions
for GOD Most High, or in actions which involve other people. In
the former case, the seeker of GOD has an open and welcoming
heart for His commandments and prohibitions, and does what He
has imposed on him happily and easily, and abstains from the
things which He has forbidden him with full contentment, and
without the least dissatisfaction. He likes to perform optional
good acts, and abstains from many permitted things for the sake
of GOD Most High whenever he decides that to abstain in that way
would be closer to perfect seeker to Him. This he does with a
contented heart, and without feeling any resentment or hardship.
When he deals with other
people, he is tolerant when 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
honoured, 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 asks permission of a friend to enter, and is not granted
it, or proposes to a woman, and is not allowed to marry her, or
ask for more time to repay a debt, but is not given more time,
or asks for it to be reduced, but is not permitted this, 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.
He remembers to carry out
his duties to others just as he remembers their duties towards
himself, so that when one of his friends/relatives falls ill he
visits him, if he is asked to intercede, he does so, if he is
asked for a respite in repaying a debt he agrees, and if someone
needs assistance he gives it, and if someone asks for favourable
terms in a sale, he consents, all without looking to see how the
other person had dealt with him in the past, and to find out how
other people behave. Instead, he makes "what is better" the head
of his soul, and obeys it completely.
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'a man of
beautiful character may acquire an even more
beautiful character by being with people whose
characters are excellent to his own'.. |
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Good character may be
something which a man is born with, or it may be acquired.
However, it may only be acquired from someone who has it more
firmly rooted in his nature than his own.
It is well known that a
man of sensible opinion can become even more sensible by keeping
the company of intelligent and sensible people, and that a
learned or a righteous man can learn even more by sitting with
other people of learning or righteousness; therefore it cannot
be denied that a man of beautiful character may acquire an even
more beautiful character by being with people whose characters
are excellent to his own. And GOD gives success! |
( ..*) = peace and blessings of GOD be
upon him |
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