Hadiths on Good Character

[Has taken from Malik's Muwatta, Book # 47]

Good Character
(01) Yahya related to me from Malik that Muadh ibn Jabal said, "The last advice the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave me when I put my foot in the stirrup was that he said, 'Make your character good for the people, Muadh ibn Jabal!'" [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47, # 47.1.1]

may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not take revenge for him unless the limits of Allah were violated. Then he took revenge for it for Allah. [Malik's Muwatta,
47.1.2]

(02) Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Urwa ibn az-Zubayr that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not have to choose between two matters, but that he chose the easier of them as long as it was not a wrong action. If it was a wrong action, he was the furthest of people from it. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not take revenge for him unless the limits of Allah were violated. Then he took revenge for it for Allah. [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 #

(03) Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ali ibn Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Part of the excellence of a man's Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him. [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 # 47.1.3] 1

Modesty
01. Yahya related to me from Malik from Salama ibn Safwan ibn Salama az-Zuraqi that Zayd ibn Talha ibn Rukana, who attributed it to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Every deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.' [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 # 47.2.9]

02. Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn Abdullah from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by a man who was chiding his brother about modesty. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Leave him. Modesty is part of Iman." [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 # 47.2.10]

Anger
01. Malik related to me from Ibn Shihab from Humayd Ibn Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf that a man came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, "Messenger of Allah, teach me some words which I can live by. Do not make them too much for me, lest I forget." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not be angry. [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47# 47.3.11]

02. Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Said ibn alMusayyab from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry." [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 #
47.3.12]

Shunning People:
(01) Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ata ibn Yazid al-Laythi from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is not Halal for a Muslim to shun his brother for more than three nights, that is they meet, and this one turns away and that one turns away. The better of the two is the one who says the greeting first. [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 # 47.4.13] (02) Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not be angry with each other and do not envy each other and do not turn away from each other, and be slaves of Allah, brothers. It is not halal for a muslim to shun his brother for more than three nights." [Malik's Muwatta, Book 47# 47.4.14] (03) Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Beware of suspicion. Suspicion is the most untrue speech. Do not spy and do not eavesdrop. Do not compete with each other and do not envy each other and do not hate each other and do not shun each other. Be slaves of Allah, brothers."
[Malik's Muwatta, Book 47 # 47.4.15]

Hadiths on Manners:
Abu Darda (RA) reported that Rasulullah(SAW) said, Nothing is weightier on the Scale of Deeds than ones good manners. [Al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (RA) said, I heard Abul Qasim (Rasulullah(SAW)), said, The best among you in Islam are those with the best manners, so long as they develop a sense of understanding. [Al-Bukhari] Rasulullah (SAW) said: The most beloved of Allahs servants to Allah are those with the best manners.
[At-Tabarni and Albani authenticated it in Silsilatul-AHaadeethis-Saheehah]

Abdullah ibn Amr said, Rasulullah(SAW) was never obscene or coarse. Rather, he used to tell us that the best among us were those with the best manners. [Al-Bukhari] 5

The Importance of Manners

1. Abu Darda' reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Nothing is weightier on the Scale of Deeds than one's good manners." [Hadith:Bukhari's Book of Manners # 271, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ahmad,
and Ibn Hibban]

2. Abu Huraira, r.a., said, "I heard Abu al Qasim (the Prophet saaws), say, 'The best among you in Islam are those with the best manners, so long as they develop a sense of understanding.' [Hadith:Bukhari's Book of
Manners # 286 and Ahmad]

3. The Prophet (saaws) said: "The most beloved of Allah's servants to Allah are those with the best manners. [Hadith:At-Tabaraanee collected it, and
Albani authenticated it in Silsilatul-AHaadeethis-Saheehah # 432]

4. 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr said, "The Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was never obscene or coarse. Rather, he used to tell us that the best among us were those with the best manners. [Hadith:Sahih Bukhari, Muslim,
and Tirmidhi] 6

The sin of finding faults in others:

1. Abdullah reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "A believer is not a fault finder and is not abusive, obscene, or course." [Hadith: Bukhari's Book of Manners # 313, Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, and
Hakim]

2. Ibn 'Abbas said, "If you wish to mention the faults of your friend, mention your own faults first." [Hadith-Bukhari's Book of Manners #329] 3. Ibn 'Abbas said on the following verse of the Qur'an, "Nor defame one another" (49:11), "Do not spend your time finding fault with one another." [Hadith: Bukhari's Book of Manners #330] 4. Jubayr ibn Nufayr reported that Mu'adh ibn Jabal 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."
[Hadith: Bukhari's Book of Manners # 545]

Group Conversations:
1. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "If they are three, two of them should not carry on a conversation from which the third is excluded, for surely that will be distressing to him."
[Hadith: Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah]

2. Ibn 'Umar reported the same from the Prophet, (upon him be peace and blessings of Allah) Except that in the end, he added, "We asked, 'If they are four?' He, upon him be peace, said, 'Then there is no harm.'
[Hadith: Bukhari's Book of Manners, Abu Dawud. Ibn Hibban classified the hadith as authentic.]

Beware of Suspision:
Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Be careful of suspicion, for it is the most mistaken of all speech. Do not spy on others, compete* among yourselves, envy one another, or despise one another. Rather, be servants of Allah and brothers!"
[Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and Ibn Hibban]

[*There is nothing wrong with healthy competition, particularly in doing good deeds. This hadith refers to completion that destroys team play and equality, etc.]

'Abd Allah said, "Sometimes a victim of robbery will become so suspicious [of everyone around him] that he will become worse than the thief."*
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #1294]

*In other words, his suspicions will lead him to doubt everyone
until he has destroyed every one of his relationships.
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Hadith on Suspision: 3. Anas(r.a.) reported that a man passed by while the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was with one of his wives. The Prophet called the man and said, 'O So and so. This is my wife, so and so." The man replied, What I might have thought about another, I would never think about you." The Prophet, upon him be peace, said, "Shaitan [satan] will circulate through a person just like blood circulates [through one's veins]."
[Hadith- Bukhari's Book of Manners #1293, Muslim and Abu Dawud]

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Give Gifts:

1. Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Give gifts to one another, and you will love one another.
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 594, also related by Abu Ya'la and by Nasa'i in al Kuna].

2. Ibn Abi Mas'ud al Badri reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Anyone who spends money on his family and seeks blessings for doing so will find it counted as sadaqah (charity) on his behalf. [Hadith - Sahih Bukhari,
Muslim, Nasa'i and Tirmidhi]

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Give Gifts:
2. Ibn Abi Mas'ud al Badri reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Anyone who spends money on his family and seeks blessings for doing so will find it counted as sadaqah (charity) on his behalf.
[Hadith: Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa'i and Tirmidhi]

1. Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Give gifts to one another, and you will love one another.
[Hadith: Bukhari's Book of Manners # 594, also related by Abu Ya'la and by Nasa'i in al Kuna].

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Have a sense of shame or shyness:

Not being shy from doing good, but shyness from doing wrong 1. Abu Mus'ud reported that the Prophet of Allah, saaws, said, "Among the well-known wisdom of the prophets is the saying, 'If you have no shame, then do as you please.'" [Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Abu
Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, and Ahmad]

2.

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet, saaws, said, "... Having a sense of shame is one branch of faith. [Hadith - Sahih Bukhari,
Muslim, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Tabarani]

3. 'Abdullah ibn Abi 'Atabah said that he heard Abu Sa'id say, "The Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was shyer than a virgin in her shift. Whenever he disliked something, we could see it on his face."
[Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim and Ibn Majah]

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The sin of Pride:

01. Abu Huraira, radi Allahu Taala Anhu, reported that the Prophet(upon him be peace and blessings), said, "Whoever eats with his servant, or rides a donkey in the market place, or who ties up his goat and milks it will not be guilty of the sin of pride.
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 550]

02. Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that a handsome man went to the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, and said, "I love beauty, and I have been given what you see, even to the extent of my hating to be bested. Is that pride?" The Prophet replied, "No. Rather, pride is to disdain the truth and to treat others with contempt.
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #556, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi] 14

The sin of flattering or praising a person:

Praising is . to glorify especially by the attribution of perfections Flattering is to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest. 1. Aslam reported that he heard 'Umar say, "Praise is slaughter." One of the narrators added, "That is, if you accept it."
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #337, Bayhaqi, and similar version by Ibn Majah]

2. Abu Bakr reported that a man was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet(saaws) and another praised the man. The Prophet (saaws), said, "Woe to you, for you has broken your friend's neck!" The Prophet(saaws) repeated this several times and then said, "If any of you simply must praise another, let him/her say, 'I think the person is this way or that...' if you genuinely think the person to be that way. The Final Reckoner is Allah, and no one can tell Allah anything about anyone."
[Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abu 'Awanah, and Ibn Hibban]

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No Fraud and Deceit

Pray for good Manners

Regarding Fraud and Deceit:

Praying for Good Manners: 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, used very often to pray in the following manner, "O Allah! I ask You for good health, for trust, for selfcontrol, for good manners, and to be satisfied with the divine decree.
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 308 and Bayhaqi] 16

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "A believer is frank and decent, whereas a wrongdoer is deceitful and blameworthy.
[Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 420, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim, and Tahawi]

Charity:
01. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Charity does not diminish wealth. [Riyadh-us-Saleheen, Volume 1, Hadith # 556]

Family:
Hadith
01. A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." [Imam Bukhari's
Book of Muslim Morals and Manners]

Qur an
02. "Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none save Him, and show kindness to your parents. If one or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them or repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word.
[Holy Quran, Surah Al-Isra,17:23-24]

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Equality:
The Prophet Muhammad(pbuph) said: "God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but He looks into your hearts and observes your deeds."

Forgiveness:

The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "Whoever suffers an injury and forgives (the person responsible), God will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins.
[Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith # 998]

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Honesty
02. The Prophet(pbuh) said, "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise: Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your gaze (in modesty), and restrain your hands from injustice." [At-Tirmidhi, # 1260]

01. The Prophet (pbuh) quoted a person who will face severe punishment on Judgment day as saying: "I enjoined others to do good, but did not do it myself, and I forbade them to do evil, but did it myself."
[Riyadh-us-Saleheen,# 198]

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Justice
01. The Prophet also stated that God said: "O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. [Hadith Qudsi #17]

02. "God does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Each will enjoy the good it earns, as indeed each will suffer for the wrong."
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:286]

03. The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "To administer justice between two people is charity." [Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 3:98]
04. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed." People asked, "It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3:624]

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Honesty:
02. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise : Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your gaze (in modesty), and restrain your hands from injustice."
[Al Tirmidhi # 1260]

01. The Prophet (pbuh) quoted a person who will face severe punishment on Judgment day as saying: "I enjoined others to do good, but did not do it myself, and I forbade them to do evil, but did it myself."
[Riyadh-us-Saleheen, # 198]

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Justice Justice
01.Prophet Muhammd (pbuh) said: "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed." People asked, "It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor? Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others.
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3:624]

02. The Prophet also stated that God said: "O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another."
[Hadith Qudsi, 17]

03. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "To administer justice between two people is charity."
[Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 3:98]

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Kindness:
01. A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." [Imam Bukhari's
Book of Muslim Morals and Manners]

02. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished." He also said: "Make things simple and do not complicate them. Calm people and do not drive them away. [Imam Bukhari's Book of
Muslim Morals and Manners]

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Life & Human Nature:

2:286

"God does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Each will enjoy the good it earns, as indeed each will suffer for the wrong." [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:286]
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02. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "There is no disease that God has created, except that He has also created its treatment." [Sahih AlBukhari, Volume, Hadith 582]

Manners: The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: One who covers up the failings of someone in this world will have his shortcomings covered up by God on the Day of Judgment.
[Riyadh us-Saleheen, 240]

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Mercy:

A man once told the Prophet(pbuh) that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do well to others."
[Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners]

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Moderation:
The Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights."
[Sahih Al Bukhari - Volumn I, Hadith # 8]

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy.
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith 707]

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Time:

The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "A time will come when the murderer will not know why he has committed the murder, and the victim will not know why he has been killed."
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 1356]

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Witnessing

The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "Should I not tell you of the best witness? He is the one who produces his evidence before he is asked for it."
[Sahih Muslim, Hadith # 799]

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Women:
The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife." The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "The best thing in this world is a virtuous woman(wife)."
[Riyadh us-Salaheen, 1:280]

The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "Whoever has three daughters, cares and provides for them, and shows them mercy, will enter Paradise."
[Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners]

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