Islam means Good Character

Imam Ibn Mubarak described good character with the following sentence:

"’To smile (be cheerful), do good, and avoid harm’’

(Tirmidhi: Kitab al Birr)

1. The Prophet was sent to teach good manners. The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said:

‘’I was only sent to perfect good character’’ (Al-Hakim)

2. The best among people: The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said:

‘’The best among you are those who are best in character’’ (Bukhari)

3. Good character is a sign of the perfection of iman: The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said:

‘’The most complete of believers in iman are those who are best in character’’. (Abu Dawud/ Tirmidhi)

4. Good character will be the weightiest thing on the scale: The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said:

‘’Nothing will be placed in the balanced heavier than good conduct, and a person with good conduct will attain the rank of one who fasts and prays’’. (Tirmidhi)

5. Righteousness is Good Character

A man came to the Prophet S.A.W.S. and asked him: O Messenger of Allah, what is Righteousness. The Prophet S.A.W.S. said: ‘’It is good character’’. (Hadith Mursal)

6. Having good character is safety from hypocrisy: The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said:

‘’Two characteristics are not found together in a hypocrite, pleasant personality and understanding of the deen’’. (Tirmidhi)

7. Having Good character will admit a person into Heaven. The Prophet (S.A.W.S.) said:

On the authority of Abu Huraira who said: The Prophet was asked what deed will be foremost to admit a man to Paradise. He replied, ‘Fear of Allah and good conduct’’. Then he was asked what deed will be foremost to admit a man to the (Hell) Fire? He replied, ‘’The two hollow things ‘’The tongue and the private parts’’. (Ibn Majah)

8. People of good character will earn the Prophet’s companionship and love on the Day of Judgement:

‘’The dearest to me among you and nearest to me on the Day of Judgement will be one who is best among you in conduct; and the one who most disliked by me among you and the one furthest away from me on the Day of Judgement will be those who talk with pretence, the boastful, and the talkatives’’. (Tirmidhi)

9. The Prophet S.A.W.S. was described as being on an exalted standard of character. He would supplicate to Allah to make his character beautiful the same way He made his (Prophet’s) creation beautiful and perfect.