Chapter: On Good Character

باب فی حسن الخلق — اچھے اخلاق کے بارے میں

بَابٌ فِي حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ — On Good Character (Husn al-Khuluq)

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

"And indeed, you are of a great moral character." (Al-Qalam, 68:4). This verse was revealed about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the author discusses at length the centrality of noble character (husn al-khuluq) to the Prophetic mission and to the spiritual life of every believer.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا

Narrated by Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'The most complete of the believers in faith is the one best in character.' (Tirmidhi — Mishkat)

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ خُلُقُهُ الْقُرْآنَ

Narrated by 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her): 'His character was the Qur'an.' (Muslim — Mishkat). The author: If one wishes to understand the character of the Prophet ﷺ, one should study the Qur'an; and if one wishes to live by the Qur'an, one should study the Prophet's character.

The author enumerates the principal dimensions of good character: truthfulness, forbearance (hilm), generosity (karam), forgiveness ('afw), humility (tawadu'), modesty (haya'), loyalty (wafa'), and justice ('adl). He notes that these are not merely ethical virtues but spiritual ones, for they reflect the attributes of Allah in the human servant, and hence constitute the highest form of Ihsan.