The Islamic View of Good Character – I

1. Why is good character important?

• Good character defines what a mature, acceptable life should look like.
• It should show in every part of life, in every situation, at all times.
• Good character is what gives human beings a unique, high position that sets them apart from other living things.
• Every society that has appeared in the world has given good character a special place.

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2. Arabic words that mean good character

• The Quran and the Sunnah play a major role in teaching good character.

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3. The Prophet ﷺ – the peak of good character

• The Quran describes the Prophet ﷺ as the peak of good character and tells us to learn good character from him.
• "The best of you are those who are best in character" – this shows how necessary it is to live with good character.
• The Prophet ﷺ had good character from childhood:
  • Al-Amin (الأمين) – the trustworthy one
  • As-Sadiq (الصادق) – the truthful one
• Even after he was chosen as a prophet, he dealt with people with good character.
• His good character led even the bitterest enemies of Islam to accept Islam and become its defenders.
• One reason Islam spread beyond Arabia was the good character it trained people in.

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4. Good qualities in Surah Luqman

The advice Luqman gave his son on how a Muslim should behave (31:13–19)*:

1. Do not associate anything with Allah.
2. Establish the prayer.
3. Enjoin good and forbid evil.
4. Be patient in hardship.
5. Do not turn your face away from people (do not treat them with contempt).
6. Do not walk proudly on the earth.
7. Be moderate in your walk.
8. Lower your voice – the most hated of voices is the braying of the donkey.

*The textbook prints this verse reference as "(12:19)". Surah Luqman is the 31st surah – confirm with the teacher.

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5. Qualities of the true servants of Allah ('Ibad ar-Rahman) in Surah al-Furqan

(25:63–73)*:

1. They walk on the earth humbly.
2. When ignorant people address them, they do not argue but withdraw with dignity.
3. They spend much of the night worshipping their Lord.
4. They seek protection from the punishment of Hell.
5. They spend moderately, neither wastefully nor stingily.
6. They do not call on anything as a partner with Allah.
7. They do not kill unjustly.
8. They do not commit adultery (zina).
9. They do not give false witness.
10. When they pass by idle things, they pass by with dignity.
11. When they hear the verses of the Quran, they do not behave as if blind and deaf.
12. They pray for a happy family.

*The textbook prints this verse reference as "(63:73)". Surah al-Furqan is the 25th surah – confirm with the teacher.

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6. Our duty

Let us try, following the Quran and the hadith, to wear good character like jewellery.

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Quick revision

• Words for good character: khuluq hasan, akhlaq hasanah, makarim al-akhlaq, adab/aadab.
• The Prophet ﷺ = the peak of good character; in his youth "al-Amin" and "as-Sadiq".
• The best of you are those who are best in character.
• Luqman: do not associate partners, pray, enjoin good, be patient, no pride, walk moderately, lower your voice.
• Al-Furqan: humble walk, night worship, moderate spending, no false witness, turning away from idle things.