Best Character

‘Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported from his grandfather that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

“Shall I tell you about who among you I love the most and the one who will be seated closest to me on the Day of Rising?”

The people were silent, so he repeated that two or three times.

Then the people said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah.”

He said, “The one among you with the best character.”

Al-Adab al-Mufrad Al-Bukhari

  

   Just read the post few days ago from haqislam.org (http://www.haqislam.org/best-character/). It really touch my heart on how Islam and our prophet (SAW) teach us to behave. I’m not good in analyzing the hadith but my simple mind define the said character is refering to manner. And the manner is simply how we treat family, friends, peoples and animals. In Islam there are sooooo many hadith and phrases from Al-Quran that said how we Muslim should show a good manner, and there also sooooo many ibadah to train us for that. For the summary ill go 10 the simplest that I think everyone might already familiar with it.

Phrases From The Noble Quran

1. Luqman advice to his son. Don’t be arrogant.

‘And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster. (18)  And be moderate in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the asses.’ (19) [Surah Luqman, Phrases 18 & 19]

 2. Do not insult other religion

‘And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, for fear that they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.’ [Surah Al-Anaam, Phrase 108]

3. Do not badmouthing

‘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 Hujuraat, Phrase 12]

4. Speak only the good words

‘And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces (dissension) among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.’ [Al-Isra’, Phrase 53]

Hadith

5. Hard working, humble and cooperating

'Amrah Radiyallahu 'Anha reports that someone asked 'Aayeshah Radiyallahu 'Anha. "What was the usual practice of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam at home?" She replied: "He was a human from among other humans. He himself removed the lice from his clothing, milked his goats, and did all his work himself".

6. Take care of others feeling

'Amr ibnul 'Aas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "(Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam gave attention, spoke and showed love to the worst person of a nation. So that, the person may feel he is being given special attention). He used to give attention, and spoke to me also in a manner, that I began to feel that I was the best among the community. (Therefore one day) I asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, am I better or is Abubakr better?' He replied: 'Abubakr'. I then asked: 'Am I better, or 'Umar?' He replied. "Umar'. I asked: 'Am I better or 'Uthmaan?' He replied: 'Uthmaan'.When I asked him these questions, Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam told me the truth. (He did not tell me I was better to keep me happy. Afterwards I felt ashamed of myself on this deed). I felt I should not have asked such a question".

This fireman said the unkind words bluntly when Garfield is a sensitive cat. 

He deserved to be pushed away =P

7. Show mercy to animals and appreciate them

It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not use the backs of your animals as chairs. Allah has made them subject to you, so that by them you can reach places that you would not otherwise be able to reach except with great fatigue." (Abu Dawud)

8. Both spiritual and moral are important in Islam

Some people came to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him that a certain woman was well-known for her praying, fasting, and giving much Sadaqat but she was harming her neighbor. He said, “She is in the hellfire”. Imagine! It is said that she was well known for her praying, fasting, and giving much Sadaqat. However, he said, “She is in the hellfire”. Then, it was said to the Prophet (PBUH) that another woman was well known for her little amount of praying, fasting, and giving too little Sadaqat but she was not harming her neighbors. He said, “She is in paradise”.

History

9. Show mercy even to enemy or prisoner of war

The time came when Muhammad and his Companions entered Makkah victorious and the Quraysh surrendered to them. On that glorious day, Muhammad (pbuh), once again, had the opportunity to retaliate for the painful years of persecution and oppression in Makkah, but once more, he showed an outstanding ability to forgive and overlook. He simply pardoned them forgave their past misdeeds. Thus, Makkah was conquered without a single drop of blood being shed.

10. A person with noble character surely loved by everybody

Rasulullah SAW is the best character to be example and followed by Muslim. His noble character is well known that he was called Al-Amin which means trustworthy, honest and reliable. As young teen, he even trusted to solve conflict among the Quraisy leader on who will put the Hajarul Aswad back into its place after flood, and Rasulullah SAW solve it fair and wisely that all the leader agreed and impressed. His noble character also one of the many reasons of peoples revert to Islam. And when everybody love him for his manner and honesty, Khadijah also fall in love to the prophet that she approach him with entrusted friend and ask to consider marriage. MasyaAllah, that how one of a greatest love in history started and just who don’t love a well mannered person? Hehe..

And when talk about ibadah that encourage of well manner, there are just sooo many but can be simplified  as below:

1. Fasting- People that fasting has to control their mouth, eyes, body and mind from doing worthless things.
2. Zikir- Islam encourages zikir to worship Allah SWT besides stopping mouth from talk nonsense.
3. Zakat- It show how Muslims take care and mercy of one another.
4. Hajj- Besides doing vacation (with the remembrance of Allah SWT) to the blessed place that full of Islamic history, Hajj teach us to be humble and met fellow Muslims of different races all around the world.
5. Doa- Doa with best wishes to family and friends surely will teach heart to be soft, have mercy and more optimistic.
6. Covering aurat- Always appearance represent character or at least control and teach us to be better.   
7. Read Quran- And when sooo many dalil in Quran and with its beautiful words will surely move heart of the reader to encourage us to be a better Muslim with best character. 
8. Following sunnah of Rasulullah SAW- And when the beloved Prophet has show the perfect example of character, following his sunnah is where we can learn to be well mannered.

     
      With His bless hopefully this simple writing can encourage any heart to improve ourself to be a better Muslim with best character.  I myself will try harder to achieve it as I strongly belief manner is what represent us and well mannered person surely more happy and optimistic. InsyaAllah.. Amin...

 p/s- Writer is someone that still lack of knowledge but willing to learn. Please correct if spotted any mistakes or misinformation especially that related to phrases from Al-Quran, hadith and fact. To all my family and friends, forgive all my mistakes and misbehave, selamat hari raya, maaf zahir dan batin. May Allah bless us. =)

Reference 

1. http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?427-The-Noble-Character-of-the-Prophet-%28saw%29
2. http://navedz.com/2009/02/09/prophet-muhammad-saw-the-most-noble-character/
3. http://campus.udayton.edu/~msa/60verses.htm
4. http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/his-character/458999-good-manners-a-key-to-paradise.html
5. http://www.questionsaboutislam.com/faith-beliefs-practices/islam-teaches-manners.php
6. http://darulilm.forumotion.com/t1085-importance-of-good-manners-in-islam
7. http://turntoislam.com/community/threads/morals-and-manners-in-islam.6400/
8. http://www.bcmuslimschool.ca/Stories/PDF/luqman%20advice%20to%20his%20son.pdf
9. http://www.rahmanbashri.com/2012/08/ayat-al-quran-tentang-jangan-mengumpat.html
10. http://quran.com 
11. http://syahadatul.blogspot.com/2010/12/tarbiyyah-akhlak-mengikut-fiqh-sirah.html