The Character Of A Muslim In Islam.
Islam is a religion, full of wisdom and harmony. Aah if only we could follow this wonderful religion then a Muslim would be a great example to follow.
The Beloved Prophet (SAW) said: “The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.’ (Sahih Bukhari)
Ziyad bin `Ilaqah reported: My uncle Qutbah bin Malik (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) used to supplicate: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from undesirable manners, deeds, and aspirations.” (Tirmidhi)
Mu’adh bin Jabal (RA) asked the Prophet (SAW) to inform him of some good work that would admit him into Paradise and distance him from the Hellfire. The Prophet (SAW) mentioned to him the virtues of many good deeds, and then said: “Shall I inform you of the foundation of all of that?” Mu’adh (RA) said: “Certainly.” The Prophet (SAW) took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain yourself from this.” Mu’adh (RA) then asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Are we held to task for the things that we say?” The Prophet (SAW) replied: “May your mother be bereaved of you, O Mu’adh! Does anything topple people headlong into the Hellfire save the harvests of their tongues?” (Tirmidhi)
We should avoid speaking ill of others and rather remain silent unless we are seeking justice for some wrong that has been perpetrated against us. Allah says: “Allah does not like that evil should be mentioned in public except by one who has been done injustice. And Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.” (Surah al-Nisaa 4:148)
Our tongues are double-edges swords. They can work for us and against us, both in this world and the Hereafter. We will be held accountable for what we say. Allah tells us: “He does not utter a statement except that there is an observer by him ready to record it.” (Surah Khaf: 18)
The Prophet (SAW) said: “Indeed a servant will speak a word pleasing to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it Allah raises him by many degrees. And indeed a servant will speak a word displeasing to Allah that he thinks to be insignificant, but because of it, He will consign him to the Hellfire.” (Al-Bukhari)
We must be careful not to speak anything false, think about what we are saying, before we go ahead and speak. The Prophet (SAW) said: “A man might speak a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and west.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
A Sin of finding faults in A Believer!
1) Abdullah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, “A believer is not a fault-finder and is not abusive, obscene, or course.” (Al-Bukhari)
2) Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) said, “If you wish to mention the faults of your friend, mention your own faults first.” (Al-Bukhari)
3) Abu Hurairah said that The Prophet said: “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others’ faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!”) (Al-Bukhari)
4) Jubayr ibn Nufayr reported that Mu’adh ibn Jabal (RA) said, “If you love someone, do not quarrel with him and do not annoy him. Do not ask others about him, for the one you ask might be his enemy and thus tell you things about him that are not true and thus break you apart.” (Al-Bukhari)
5) Amr ibn al ‘As (RA) said, “…I am amazed at one who spots an impurity in the eye of another but is unable to detect it in his/her own eye, or who attempts to remove a grudge from another’s heart while making no attempt to remove grudges from his/her own heart. I have never blamed anyone for the confidences of mine that they have betrayed. How could I, when already they have given me reason for pause?” (Al-Bukhari)
6) Safwan bin Muhriz A man asked Ibn ‘Umar: “What did you hear Allah’s Apostle (SAW) saying regarding An-Najwa (secret talk between Allah and His believing worshipper on the Day of Judgment)?” He said: “(The Prophet (SAW) said), “One of you will come close to his Lord till He will shelter him in His screen and say: Did you commit such-and-such sin? He will say: “Yes.” Then Allah will say: “Did you commit such and such sin?” He will say: “Yes.” So Allah will make him confess (all his sins) and He will say: “I screened them (your sins) for you in the world, and today I forgive them for you.” (Al-Bukhari)
7) Abu Hurairah (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said, “A believer is frank and decent, whereas a wrongdoer is deceitful and blameworthy.” (Al-Bukhari)
I had come across an article that I would love to share, (esp. with an Admin from a certain site you know who you are and why I am sharing this article) it is a lesson for us all to learn and practice… (Please do send in your comments)
Having A Good Opinion of People
From leading principles to which the Muslim needs to pay attention before he raises any doubt and before he accepts and believes in any accusation is to give priority to having a good opinion over having a bad opinion of his Muslim brothers. He should look for excuses and justifications that will excuse them and clear them of blame, especially when the accusation is directed towards callers to Allah and the righteous.This is the practice of the righteous, people of understanding and wise men from among Muslims who fear their Lord and desire victory and predominance for Allah’s Deen.
Had it been the other way around – had having a bad opinion of people been given a priority over having a good opinion, then no scholar would have been left without being maligned, no nobleman without faults found in him, and Muslims would be deprived from good examples. That is a methodology that is accepted neither by the Islamic Law nor by any logic.The basic principle in this rule is the saying of Allah `Azza wa jall: “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (Al-Hujurat 49:12)
Allah `Azza wa jall ordered avoiding much of the suspicion because some of it is sin, and He followed this order with the prohibition of spying, pointing out that spying in most cases does not occur except due to bad assumptions.
The way of the Muslim, the general rule, is hiding others’ faults and having a good opinion of others. This is why Allah `Azza wa jall ordered believers to have a good opinion of people when they hear slanders of their Muslim brothers.And in the story of Ifk (the lie which hypocrites invented against Ayesha, the Mother of the Believers, from which Allah declared her free and innocent in the Quran), when it was said what was said, Allah `Azza wa jall clarified the true position which every Muslim must understand. He said subhanahu wa ta`ala: “Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves [i.e. one another] and say, ‘This is an obvious falsehood’?” (An-Noor 24:12)” (Hisham Ismail As-Sini, Manhaj Ahl As-Sunnah wal Jama`ah fin Naqd wal Hukm `ala al Akhirin, Al Muntada, London, 1992, p. 21)
Dr. Mustafa as-Siba’i said, “Because having a good opinion and then regretting is better than having a bad opinion and then regretting.” (As-Sibai, Hakadha `allamatni al Hayat, al Maktab al Islami, Beirut, 1984, vol. 1, p. 42)
(Dr. `Ali Al-Hammadi, From “Fi Qafas al-Ittiham”1420 Dar IbnHazm
Muslimah 