A house at the summit of Jannah

The other day during Ilmfest, Dr Reda Bedeir spoke about something very important i.e. the importance of good character. Having good character gives us a high status in the sight of Allah and also a high place in Jannah. Indeed, a man who does the minimum required of him in matters of worship, but has good character is better than another man who excels in worship but has poor character. Good character can make up for minimal ibadah, but excellence in ibadah CANNOT make up for bad character. Many hadiths speak about this:

The Prophet (PBUH) was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, such-and-such a woman spends her nights in prayer, fasts during the day, and so on, and she gives in charity, but she offends her neighbours with her sharp tongue." The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Her good deeds will be of no avail: she is among the people of Hell." They said, "And so-and-so prays only the obligatory prayers, gives charity in the form of left-over curds, but does not offend anyone." The Prophet (PBUH) said: "She is among the people of Paradise." (al-adab al-mufrad)

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was neither obscene nor indecent. He used to say, 'The best of you are the best in character." [Agreed upon] 

Abu'd-Darda' reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There will be nothing heavier in the balance of the believer on the Day of Rising than good character. Allah dislikes foul language." [at-Tirmidhi]  

'A'isha said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'By his good character a believer can reach the same rank as someone who fasts and prays at night." [Abu Dawud] 

Abu Umama al-Bahili reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I guarantee a house on the outskirts of the Garden to anyone who abstains from disputation, even if he is in the right, and a house in the middle of the Garden for anyone who abandons lying, even when he jests, and a house at the summit of the Garden for anyone who has good character." [Abu Dawud]  

So let us all strive to better our character. Good character is not something that you either have or do not. And it isn't something that can change overnight either. It is something that needs to be cultivated. We need to train ourselves to behave uprightly, help people in need even if it causes us inconvenience, hold our tongue when we are angry, refrain from using foul speech, wear a bright smile when we meet people, be dutiful to our parents, to give in charity, to do our jobs with ihsan etc If the people of Japan and Korea can do it, then we surely can to. In fact, it is a disgrace to ourselves if we cannot do better than them.

And with all things, we must never forget to make dua'. The prophet SAW used to seek refuge in Allah from bad character and pray for good character. One dua' which is easy to say and can be said often, especially for those of us who love to look in the mirror is as follows:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

"O Allah, just as You have made my external features beautiful, make my character beautiful as well".

(Hisnul Hasin)