Lesson 49 Morals Excellence, Advice to Chastity

A- Excellent Characters

Excellent Characters The core of the message of Islam is the call to excellent characters.

People of the highest rank on the Day of Resurrection are those who are the best in character.

Excellent character is acquired through fighting the base desires of the self and training it to pursue pious deeds and avoid evil.

Worship is training and education to achieve the excellence of character.

The Prophet (SAWS) is a model of excellent character, as he has been guided by Allah.

Advice Advice is sincere words given without an ulterior motive.

Advice is a manner of the prophets.

Advice is salvation from Hellfire.

Advice is required by all people to all people.

Chastity There are levels of chastity, starting with avoiding prohibitions, and then avoiding suspicion.

The highest rank of chastity is to be chaste even in what is permissible of money, living and enjoyment, with the intention of elevating the self.

Evidence from Qur ’ an and Sunnah

Excellent characters: The Prophet (SAWS) said, "I was sent to perfect the righteous manners.“ (Reported by Ahmad)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Al-Birr (all that which is good) is excellence of character.” (Reported by Muslim)

And: “There is nothing heavier than good character put in the scale of a believer on the Day of Resurrection.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) also said: “The most perfect believer with respect to faith is he who is best of them in character.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

And: “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be that who is the best of you in character. The most abhorrent and farthest from me among you will be the talkative (those who utter words in a way that shows that they are eloquent), and the arrogant.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to Mu`adh: “Fear Allah wherever you are, and perform good deeds after doing bad actions, and the former will wipe out the latter, and behave decently towards people.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) used to invoke Allah saying: “And guide me in the best of characters for none but You guides anyone (in) good characters. Remove sins from me, for none else but You can remove sins from me.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) the role model: Allah says:  وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ  [ القلم : 4]

This means: “And verily, you (O Muhammad SAWS) are on an exalted standard of character.” (Al-Qalam: 4)

`A’ishah (RA) narrated: “The character of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was entirely according to the Qur'an.” (Reported by Ahmad)

Advice: Allah says:  وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْر  [ العصر : 3]

This means: “And recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds, and recommend one another to patience.” (Al-`Asr: 3)

Hud (AS) says, to his people, in the Noble Qur’an:  وَأَنَاْ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِين  [ الأعراف : 68]

This means: “And I am a trustworthy adviser (or well­ wisher) for you.” (Al-A`raf: 68)

Nuh (AS) says, to his people, in the Noble Qur’an:  أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَالاَتِ رَبِّي وَأَنصَحُ لَكُمْ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُون  [ الأعراف : 62]

This means: “I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not.” (Al-A`raf: 62)

Salih (AS) says, to his people, in the Noble Qur’an:  يَا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَكِن لاَّ تُحِبُّونَ النَّاصِحِين  [ الأعراف : 79]

This means: “O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have given you good advice but you like not good advisers.” (Al-A`raf: 79)

Shu`ayb (AS) says, to his people, in the Noble Qur’an:  وَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالاَتِ رَبِّي وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ  [ الأعراف : 93]

This means: “O my people! I have indeed conveyed my Lord's Messages unto you and I have given you good advice.” (Al-A`raf: 93)

Allah says:  لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ذَلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُواْ يَعْتَدُونَ. كَانُواْ لاَ يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍ فَعَلُوهُ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُواْ يَفْعَلُونَ  [ المائدة : 78-79]

This means: “Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud (David) and `Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.

They used not to forbid one another from the Munkar (wrong, evil­doing, sins, polytheism, disbelief, etc.) which they committed. Vile indeed was what they used to do.” (Al-Ma’idah: )

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “(Our) religion is (calling to giving) advice. We (the Companions) asked: For whom? He replied: For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders and common Muslims.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “By Him, in whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is reputable and forbid what is disreputable, or Allah will certainly soon send punishment on you. Then you will make supplication and you will not be answered.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Chastity: Allah says:  لِلْفُقَرَاء الَّذِينَ أُحصِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِي الأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُم الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاء مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ لاَ يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِنْ خَيْر فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ  [ البقرة : 273]

This means: “(Charity is) for Fuqara’ (the poor), who in Allah's Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at all. And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well.” (Al-Baqarah: 273)

Allah says:  وَابْتَلُواْ الْيَتَامَى حَتَّىَ إِذَا بَلَغُواْ النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُواْ وَمَن كَان غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوف  [ النساء : 6]

This means: “And try orphans (as regards their intelligence) until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgement in them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully, and hastily fearing that they should grow up,

and whoever amongst guardians is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable (according to his work).” (An-Nisa’: 6)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His shade on the Day when there would be no shade but that of Him (i.e. on the Day of Judgment, and they are): … and a man whom a beautiful woman of high rank seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer) saying: I fear Allah.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

`A’ishah (RA) said: “Never had the family of Muhammad (SAWS) eaten to the fill with the bread of wheat for three successive nights until his death.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

`Urwah (RA) narrated: “`A’ishah (RA) used to say to me: ‘Son of my sister, by Allah, I used to see the new moon, then the new moon, then the new moon, i.e. three moons in two months, and fire was not kindled in the house of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). I (`Urwah) said: Auntie, then what were your means of sustenance? She said: Dates and water.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)