The Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam) once mentioned in a Hadith which is narrated by Bukhari, that:
“I
have not been sent as a Messenger, except to perfect character (Akhlaaq)”
He (Salallalhu 'Alayhi Wasallam) also said that:
“The
nearest of you to me on the Day of Judgement will be the one who is best in
character.” (Bukhari)
I began with the following Ahadith narrated by
our beloved messenger (Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam) to emphasis the importance
of the topic at hand today. The topic of Akhlaaq.
Akhlaaq is a beautifier in the life of a Muslim. It is the core concept in the life of a slave of Allah, which highlights a person’s righteousness, piety and a good heart. It is one of the most important things that a Muslim must acquire and seek, even more so than knowledge. One of the early predecessors made a profound statement, he was told:
Akhlaaq is a beautifier in the life of a Muslim. It is the core concept in the life of a slave of Allah, which highlights a person’s righteousness, piety and a good heart. It is one of the most important things that a Muslim must acquire and seek, even more so than knowledge. One of the early predecessors made a profound statement, he was told:
(Ibn
Al-Mubarak said, “Mukhlid Ibn al-Husayn once said to me),
"We are more in
need of acquiring adab than learning Hadith"
Adab
basically is the way an individual conducts his or herself. It is their ways,
mannerisms and characteristics. A Muslim is taught to conduct themselvs in the
best way. He or she should strive to perfect their manners with Allah, first
and foremost, then the people and the entire creation. Adab includes all
that is good, all the good things that a Muslim may do. It is something which
is not taught or acquired rather it is something which is naturally developed,
and something which is held in high regard and respect.
Akhlaaq is our character, how we hold ourselves, and our etiquettes.
All the Prophets, Sahaabah and noble scholars of Islam always held a great disposition. Their mannerisms were humbling. Their speech, inspiring and their etiquettes were in our terms, amazing.
Today, we have lost touch with our religion; we've lost touch with our purpose and or focus. Look to the youth today, how many of them do we see lacking basic manners, basic ways of talking to elders, basic Adab. Today, swearing is widespread, foul language, filth, gossip, screaming, and rowdiness...all this has become the norm in today's society. We've forgotten this treasure that our role models in the history of Islam had. We've forgotten the way we were taught to treat and respect our elders, and how to show kindness to Allah's creatures such as spiders and flowers. Instead, we harm the creation of Allah, we show disrespect, our habits are filthy and our character is one that portrays lack of intelligence and lack of understanding.
How come, we Muslims, the best community, the Ummah of Rasulullah (Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam) portray such bad manners? It is only by the grace and blessing of Allah, that we were given messengers and prophets, such as the Seal of all prophets, Raslullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself, who came down to PERFECT Akhlaaq. His job was to deliver the message of peace - of Islam, and Islam teaches, it highlights and it gives great importance to Akhlaaq and to being a good Muslim. Not only in our belief, but our way of eating, drinking, talking, sleeping, even purifying our self - we are taught to do it in the best way.
Let your Akhlaaq be outstanding,
As a traveller in this world, you must keep in mind that you're only here for a short time. Throughout this journey in this world, you are going to meet other travellers, some who are on the same road as you, others that may heading to another destination and some, who may not even have a destination in mind at all, rather, they are just lost in this world with no guidance, no focus, and no direction. Yet, with each person you meet, whether or not they are on the same journey as you, you have to display the best and most excellent characteristics. It is because YOU are a representitives of the deen of Allah, and through your character you are teaching them about your identity, about who you are, and about your way of life.
When you smile, you are showing others that Islam is a religion of kindness, of ease, and of peace. When you walk across the street in humbleness and being gentle in your pace, you are showing that Islam is not a religion of haste, but a religion of ease, of humbleness, of selflessness. When you greet your fellow workmates in the morning, displaying cheerfulness, you are showing that Islam teaches you to be positive, optimistic, no matter what you may be hiding under that mask. You not only brighten your day with your pleasant character, but whoever you may cross, you too can brighten their day with your amazing character.
Akhlaaq is our character, how we hold ourselves, and our etiquettes.
All the Prophets, Sahaabah and noble scholars of Islam always held a great disposition. Their mannerisms were humbling. Their speech, inspiring and their etiquettes were in our terms, amazing.
Today, we have lost touch with our religion; we've lost touch with our purpose and or focus. Look to the youth today, how many of them do we see lacking basic manners, basic ways of talking to elders, basic Adab. Today, swearing is widespread, foul language, filth, gossip, screaming, and rowdiness...all this has become the norm in today's society. We've forgotten this treasure that our role models in the history of Islam had. We've forgotten the way we were taught to treat and respect our elders, and how to show kindness to Allah's creatures such as spiders and flowers. Instead, we harm the creation of Allah, we show disrespect, our habits are filthy and our character is one that portrays lack of intelligence and lack of understanding.
How come, we Muslims, the best community, the Ummah of Rasulullah (Salallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam) portray such bad manners? It is only by the grace and blessing of Allah, that we were given messengers and prophets, such as the Seal of all prophets, Raslullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself, who came down to PERFECT Akhlaaq. His job was to deliver the message of peace - of Islam, and Islam teaches, it highlights and it gives great importance to Akhlaaq and to being a good Muslim. Not only in our belief, but our way of eating, drinking, talking, sleeping, even purifying our self - we are taught to do it in the best way.
Let your Akhlaaq be outstanding,
As a traveller in this world, you must keep in mind that you're only here for a short time. Throughout this journey in this world, you are going to meet other travellers, some who are on the same road as you, others that may heading to another destination and some, who may not even have a destination in mind at all, rather, they are just lost in this world with no guidance, no focus, and no direction. Yet, with each person you meet, whether or not they are on the same journey as you, you have to display the best and most excellent characteristics. It is because YOU are a representitives of the deen of Allah, and through your character you are teaching them about your identity, about who you are, and about your way of life.
When you smile, you are showing others that Islam is a religion of kindness, of ease, and of peace. When you walk across the street in humbleness and being gentle in your pace, you are showing that Islam is not a religion of haste, but a religion of ease, of humbleness, of selflessness. When you greet your fellow workmates in the morning, displaying cheerfulness, you are showing that Islam teaches you to be positive, optimistic, no matter what you may be hiding under that mask. You not only brighten your day with your pleasant character, but whoever you may cross, you too can brighten their day with your amazing character.
When
you eat slowly, unrushed and with the right decorum you are teaching others
that Islam covers all aspects of your life. Even the way you eat and drink, the
way you sit, the way you cover and all your interactions.
Akhlaaq and Adab are treasures that we have buried in the sand. For too long we have been busy debating, arguing, busying ourselves with unecessary things and things of which are of no benefit...when our Akhlaaq is not up to scratch.
When people remember you, they remember you for what you are, your character, behavior and the way you present yourself to them. Are you always sitting with a sulk on? Do you refrain from giving Salaam? Do you get angry quickly? Do you talk with a full mouth? Are you not ashamed to use a foul word when you speak? Seriously, these are all things people notice, and that is what they remember you by. Today, we have lost all sense of decorum.
Islam is a complete way of life. It tells us how to live or life is the most benefitting and beautiful way. Hence, part of our Islam, or perhaps OUR Islam, is the way we live by it and the way we represent it. Good akhlaaq should be shining off us. Our character should be gleaming, it should be OUTSTANDING.
The way you are with your Lord, the way you talk to your Creator, the way you worship Him, should be the most important part of your Akhlaaq. For if your mannerisms with the Creator are beautiful, then so too they will be with His creation.
Ramadhan has come and gone, and we make Du'aa to Allah that He allows us to witness another. But let this time in between, be a time of reform, of change, of development, of growth. Grow in your beautiful habits and attributes and live how you would want to be remembered. Perfect your character, make it dazzling, make it inspiring, so that when a non-muslim sees you, he sees Islam, he sees the truth, he sees a Slave of Ar-Rahmaan,
Akhlaaq and Adab are treasures that we have buried in the sand. For too long we have been busy debating, arguing, busying ourselves with unecessary things and things of which are of no benefit...when our Akhlaaq is not up to scratch.
When people remember you, they remember you for what you are, your character, behavior and the way you present yourself to them. Are you always sitting with a sulk on? Do you refrain from giving Salaam? Do you get angry quickly? Do you talk with a full mouth? Are you not ashamed to use a foul word when you speak? Seriously, these are all things people notice, and that is what they remember you by. Today, we have lost all sense of decorum.
Islam is a complete way of life. It tells us how to live or life is the most benefitting and beautiful way. Hence, part of our Islam, or perhaps OUR Islam, is the way we live by it and the way we represent it. Good akhlaaq should be shining off us. Our character should be gleaming, it should be OUTSTANDING.
The way you are with your Lord, the way you talk to your Creator, the way you worship Him, should be the most important part of your Akhlaaq. For if your mannerisms with the Creator are beautiful, then so too they will be with His creation.
Ramadhan has come and gone, and we make Du'aa to Allah that He allows us to witness another. But let this time in between, be a time of reform, of change, of development, of growth. Grow in your beautiful habits and attributes and live how you would want to be remembered. Perfect your character, make it dazzling, make it inspiring, so that when a non-muslim sees you, he sees Islam, he sees the truth, he sees a Slave of Ar-Rahmaan,
I
want to close the topic with a quote I found in my ‘gems book’ :)
“The
fragrance of the flower is directed in the way of the wind, whilst the
character of the people is portrayed in all directions.”
May Allah allow us to live
like His messenger, emulating and following his ways and mannerisms, and may He
make us beautiful inside and out. Ameen
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