Obedient Angel
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Join date : 2011-04-30
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 | Subject: The Muslim's Character  Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:28 am | |
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Perfecting One's Character
By: Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
"The Magnificent Journey"
© QSS
The Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam used to make a number of supplications related to good character.
"O Allah, guide me to good character, none guides to good character but You..." [Muslim]
"O Allah, I seek refuge in you from bad character, deeds and desires." [at-Tirmidhee]
"O Allah, You perfectly created me, so perfect my character." [Ahmad]
"O Allah, I seek refuge in you from disability and laziness; from cowardice and avarice; from decrepitude and harshness; from negligence and impoverishment, from lowness and humiliation. And I seek refuge in You from poverty and disbelief; from sinfulness, disunity and hypocrisy; from notability and riyaa' (show off)..." [Ahmad, Maalik, Bazaar, Haithami and ibn `Abd al-Barr authenticated it.
The following beneficial excerpt is from "The Magnificent Journey" by ibn ul Qayyim [published by QSS]. It explains three conditions needed to acquire good manners, meaning proper nature, controlling one's nafs and sound knowledge.
Three Conditions to Acquire Excellent Manners
This is one example of the excellent manners with which Allah (ta`aala) has equipped his Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam). He described him as,
"Verily, You [Muhammad] are on an exalted standard on character." [68:4]
`Aa'ishah, radhiallaahu `anhu, described him as, "His character was just [a reflection of] the Qur'aan." [Muslim, Aboo Daawood, Ahmad]
Such excellent character cannot be attained without three conditions:
1. The foundation must be good. If one has a rough and dry nature, it will be hard for him to submit to this [excellence of character] through knowledge, will, or practice. On the other hand, a mild and smooth nature will be ready and willing to receive the plowing and the seeds [to prepare it for character excellence].
2. The soul must be strong and capable of conquering calls of laziness, transgression, and desire. Those matters contradict perfection, and souls which cannot defeat them will always be defeated and conquered.
3. [One must possess] a discerning knowledge of the truth of matters, enabling one to put them in the rightful position, and to distinguish between flash and cancer - between glass and jewels.
If these three qualities are present in a man, and Allah's facilitation helps him, then he will be among those whom the best (husnaa) has been decreed and for whom Allah's care has been secured.
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=94
[size=14]Care in Building Characteristics of the Believers
By: Shaykh Ahmed Fareed
Care in Building Characteristics of the Believers
© 1996 Jam`iat Ihyaa Minhaj al-Sunnah
From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would constantly search their souls to breed in them the characteristics of the believers, and to discard the characteristics of the hypocrites. One is the opposite of the other. A summary of the believers characteristics is mentioned in His great Book saying,
"Those who turn (to Allaah) in repentance;
that serve Him, and praise Him;
that wander in devotion to the cause of Allaah;
that bow down and prostrate themselves (in prayer);
that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Allaah
- so proclaim the glad tidings to the believers." [9:112]
Also, the believers will be successful. Those who humble themselves in their prayers;
who avoid vain talk;
who are active in deeds of charity,
who abstain from sex except with those joined to them in marriage or (the captives) whom their right hands possess, for (in their case) they are free from blame. But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors.
Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants;
who (strictly) guard their prayers:
these will be the heirs who will inherit Paradise, to dwell therein." [23:1-11]
In the hadeeth, "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." [al-Bukhaari and others...Al-Hafidh said in "Fathul-Bari": The fact that negating complete imaan and negating the name of a thing meaning negating completeness and perfection is derived from the Arabic language as is said, "Such and such is inhuman".]
"By Allaah! He does not believe. By Allaah! He does not believe. By Allaah! He does not believe." He was asked, "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said: "Whoever does not safeguard his neighbour from his harms." [al-Bukhaari and Muslim. Muslim's version reads: He will not enter Paradise if he does not spare his neighbour from his harms.]
Yahya ibn Muadh (rahimahullah) gathered the characteristics of the believers in one of his essays as follows, "
It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too.
To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt.
For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good action. To have little slip-ups and not to be excessive.
To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them.
To be dignified and grateful.
To be full of contentment if Allaah restricted some provision.
To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers.
To be compassionate and chaste.
Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip.
Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant nor vain.
Not to lean towards worldliness, nor to extend long hopes and wishes.
Not to sleep too much nor to be absent-minded, nor to show-off nor be hypocritical.
Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful, not servile.
Loving for the sake of Allaah, being pleased for His sake and being angry only for His sake.
His provision is taqwaa (reverential fear of Allaah).
His worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife.
His friends remind him. His beloved is His Protector and Master. His struggle is for the Afterlife."
Fudayl ibn `Iyad (rahimahullah) said, "A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow!"
O brother! Realise these facts and search yourself carefully before your death. Weep over your soul if you find in it the morals of the hypocrites. Increase in seeking His forgiveness. All praise be to Allaah Lord of the worlds.
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=308 | |
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