حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Good Character: Ibn al-Qayyim, may God have mercy on him, said: “The essence of good character, both with God and with people, rests on two phrases mentioned by Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani: ‘Be with God without being preoccupied with creation, and with people without being preoccupied with your ego.’ Reflect on the profound significance of these two concise phrases, and how comprehensive they are in encompassing the principles of conduct and every beautiful quality. The corruption of character arises from allowing creation to come between you and God Almighty, and from allowing the ego to come between you and His creation. Therefore, whenever you separate yourself from creation while being with God Almighty, and separate yourself from the ego while being with creation, you will have attained everything that these people have pointed to, striven for, and circled around. And God is the One from whom help is sought.” (Madarij al-Salikin 3/107)

Good character: Ibn al-Qayyim, may God have mercy on him, said, on the authority of Umm al-Darda’, she said: Abu al-Darda’, may God be pleased with him, spent the night praying and he kept crying and saying: “O God, You have made my physical form beautiful, so make my character beautiful,” until morning. I said: O Abu al-Darda’, your supplication all night was only for good character. He said: O Umm al-Darda’, the Muslim servant improves his character until his good character leads him to Paradise, and he makes his character bad until his bad character leads him to Hell. [Al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad / 264].

Good character: On the authority of Qatadah, he said: Ibn Umar, may God be pleased with him, was asked: Did the companions of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, laugh? He said: Yes! And the faith in their hearts was greater than mountains. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 1/221].

Good character: Ibn Umar, may God be pleased with them both, said: Kindness is something easy: a cheerful face and gentle words. [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya Encyclopedia 7/200].

Good manners: On the authority of Ibn Abbas - may God be pleased with them both - he said: If someone greets you from among God’s creation, return the greeting even if he is a Magian; this is because God, the Almighty and Majestic, says: “When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better than it or at least return it” [An-Nisa: 86]. [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya Encyclopedia 7/196].