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Levels
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Level 1 (23)
- The Testimony of Faith
- An Introduction to Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith (part 1 of 2)
- An Introduction to Pillars of Islam and Articles of Faith (part 2 of 2)
- Some Common Questions by Recent Converts
- Importance of Seeking Knowledge
- Paradise (part 1 of 2)
- Paradise (part 2 of 2)
- The Night Journey
- How to Pray for a Recent Convert(part 1 of 2)
- How to Pray for a Recent Convert (part 2 of 2)
- Breaking the News to Family (part 1 of 2)
- Breaking the News to family (part 2 of 2)
- Getting Adjusted To the Muslim Community
- Keeping Good Company
- Belief in Allah (part 1 of 2): The Categories of Tawheed
- Belief in Allah (part 2 of 2): Shirk, the Opposite of Tawheed
- Belief in Prophets
- Belief in Scriptures
- Belief in Angels
- Belief in the Day of Judgment
- Belief in Divine Decree (part 1 of 2)
- Belief in Divine Decree (part 2 of 2)
- Study Methodology for a New Muslim
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Level 2 (25)
- Let’s Meet Muhammad (part 1 of 2)
- Let’s Meet Muhammad (part 2 of 2)
- Preservation of the Holy Quran
- The Importance of Prayer (Salah)
- Etiquette of the Ritual Bath (Ghusl)
- Ablution (Wudoo)
- Prayer for Beginners (part 1 of 2): Beforeyou Pray
- Prayer for Beginners (part 2 of 2): A Description ofthe Prayer
- Spiritual Benefits of Prayer
- Medical Benefits of Prayer
- Manners of Relieving Oneself
- Menstruation
- Introduction to Dietary Laws in Islam
- An Introduction To Muslim Family (part 1 of 2)
- An Introduction To Muslim Family (part 2 of 2)
- Love of God and How to achieve it (part 1 of 2)
- Love of God and How to achieve it (part 2 of 2)
- An Introduction to Fasting
- How to Fast
- Eid and End of Ramadan
- Where Is Allah?
- Abraham (part 1 of 2)
- Abraham (part 2 of 2)
- Simple Explanation of Surah Al-Fatiha
- Simple Explanation of Three Short Surahs of Quran
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Level 3 (30)
- Beginners Guide to the Quran (part 1 of 3)
- Beginners Guide to the Quran (part 2of 3)
- Beginners Guide to the Quran (part 3 of 3)
- Beginners Guide to Hadith & Sunnah
- The Importance of Prayer
- Pre-requisites of Prayer
- Hygiene in Islam
- Bathing (Ghusl)
- Ablution (Wudoo)
- Performing Two Units of Prayer
- Performing Three Units of Prayer
- Performing Four Units of Prayer
- General Points About Prayer
- A Day in the life of a Muslim (part 1 of 2): From Waking uptill late Morning
- A day in the life of a Muslim (part 2 of 2): From Noon to Bed
- Fate of Non-Muslims
- Repentance (part 1 of 3): Door to Salvation
- Repentance (part 2 of 3): Conditions of Repentance
- Repentance (part 3 of 3): Prayers of Repentance
- Can We See Allah?
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 1 of 4)
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 2 of 4)
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 3 of 4)
- Preservation of Sunnah (part 4 of 4)
- Eating – The Islamic Way (part 1 of 2)
- Eating – The Islamic Way (part 2 of 2)
- Simple Explanation of Quran’s Greatest Verse: Aaya tul-Kursi
- Wiping Over Socks, Making Up Prayers, and Prayer of a Traveler
- Omens
- Charms and Amulets
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Level 4 (30)
- Adhan (part 1 of 2): The Call to Prayer
- Adhan (part 2 of 2): The Call to Prayer
- Shirk & its Types (part 1 of 3)
- Shirk & its Types (part 2 of 3)
- Shirk & its Types (part 3 of 3)
- Recommended Acts of Ritual Bath (Ghusl)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 1 of 3)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 2 of 3)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 3 of 3)
- Dry Ablution (Tayammum)
- Introduction to Sects (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to Sects (part 2 of 2)
- Protection from Evil (part 1 of 2)
- Protection from Evil (part 2 of 2)
- Perfecting Our Character
- Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 2 of 2)
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 1 of 3)
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 2 of 3): Awrah & Mahrams
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 3 of 3): Prayer & Wisdom
- Satan: Humankind’s Worst Enemy (part 1 of 2)
- Satan: Humankind’s Worst Enemy (part 2 of 2)
- Supplication (part 1 of 2)
- Supplication (part 2 of 2)
- The Mercy of Allah (part 1 of 2)
- The Mercy of Allah (part 2 of 2)
- Role Models in Islam (part 1 of 2): TheFirst Generation of Muslims
- Role Models in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Trials and Tribulations after Conversion (part 1 of 2): Allah’smercy is embedded in the difficulties of life
- Trials and Tribulations after Conversion (part 2 of 2)
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Level 5 (29)
- Manners of Attending a Mosque (part 1 of 2)
- Manners of Attending a Mosque (part 2 of 2)
- Good Habits for New Muslims to Develop
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Noah
- Friday Prayer (part 1 of 2)
- Friday Prayer (part 2 of 2)
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Ibrahim
- Marriage Advice (part 1 of 2)
- Marriage Advice (part 2 of 2): Practical Steps
- Rights & Responsibilities of Husbands & Wives
- The Nuts & Bolts of an Islamic Marriage
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Lot
- How to Deal with Sadness and Worry (part 1 of 2): Patience, Gratitude and Trust
- How to Deal with Sadness and Worry (part 2 of 2): Establish a relationship with Allah
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Yusuf
- Istikharah Prayer
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Ayub
- Easy Guide to Zakah (part 1 of 2)
- Easy Guide to Zakah (part 2 of 2)
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Musa
- Should I Change My Name?
- Glimpses from the Life of Prophet Isa
- Dealing with Doubts
- A Brief Biography of Prophet Muhammad (part1 of 2): The Meccan Period
- A Brief Biography of Prophet Muhammad (part 2 of 2): TheMadinan Period
- Drugs, Alcohol, & Gambling (part 1 of 2)
- Drugs, Alcohol, & Gambling (part 2 of 2)
- World of Jinn (part 1 of 2)
- World of Jinn (part 2 of 2)
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Level 6 (27)
- Voluntary Prayers
- Treatment of Animals
- Lying, Backbiting and Slander (part 1 of 2)
- Lying, Backbiting and Slander (part 2 of 2)
- Increasing Faith (part 1 of 2): Why faith is not always at asteady level
- Increasing Faith (part 2 of 2): Increase your faith (Imaan)and earn rewards
- Voluntary Fasts
- Signs of the Day of Judgment (part 1 of 2): The Minor Signs
- Signs of the Day of Judgment (part 2 of 2): The Major Signs
- Adultery, Fornication, & Pornography (part 1 of 2)
- Adultery, Fornication, & Pornography (part 2 of 2)
- Islamic Guidelines for Gender Interactions(part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Guidelines for Gender Interactions (part 2 of 2)
- Introduction to Shariah (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to Shariah (part 2 of 2)
- Acts that Correspond to Human Nature (Sunan ul-Fitrah)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 1 of 3)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 2 of 3)
- Eid ul-Adha from A to Z (part 3 of 3)
- Innovation in Islam (part 1 of 2): Two Types of Bidah
- Innovation in Islam (part 2 of 2): Is this a bidah?
- Ramadan: The Last Ten Nights
- Umrah (part 1 of 2)
- Umrah (part 2 of 2)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 1 of 3)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 2 of 3)
- Concept of Sins in Islam (part 3 of 3)
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Level 7 (30)
- Parenting in Islam (part 1 of 2)
- Parenting in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Major Sins in Islam (part 1 of 2): What is aMajor Sin?
- Major Sins in Islam (part 2 of 2): Major Sins and How toRepent from Them
- The Pilgrimage (Hajj) (part 1 of 3)
- The Pilgrimage (Hajj) (part 2 of 3)
- The Pilgrimage (Hajj) (part 3 of 3)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr (part 2 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Umar ibn Al-Khattab (part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Umar ibn Al-Khattab (part 2 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Uthman ibn Affan (Part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Uthman ibn Affan (part 2 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Ali ibn AbiTalib (part 1 of 2)
- The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Ali ibn Abi Talib (part 2 of 2)
- Events on the Day of Judgment (part 1 of 3): The Day Begins
- Events on the Day of Judgment (part 2 of 3):Before the Judgment
- Events on the Day of Judgment (part 3 of 3): Judgment Begins
- Interest in Islam (part 1 of 2)
- Interest in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- An Explanation of Surah Al-Asr
- The Questioning in the Grave (part 1 of 2): Death is not theEnd
- The Questioning in the Grave (part 2 of 2): Your Place untilthe Day of Judgment
- The Fruits of Taqwa (part 1 of 2)
- The Fruits of Taqwa (part 2 of 2)
- An Explanation of Surah Al-Ikhlas
- The Rights of Neighbours in Islam (part 1 of 2): The KindTreatment of Neighbours
- The Rights of Neighbours in Islam (part 2 of 2): Neighbours -Good and Bad
- Those Shaded when there is no Shade (part 1 of 2): Allah’sMercy made Manifest
- Those Shaded when there is no Shade (part 2 of 2): Strivingto be Shaded
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Level 8 (29)
- Sincerity in Worship: What is Ikhlas? (part 1 of 2)
- Sincerity in Worship: Ikhlas vs. Riyaa(part 2 of 2)
- Lawful Earning
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Salman Al-Farsi
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Bilal ibn Rabah
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Ammar ibn Yassir
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Zayd ibn Thabit
- The Companions of Prophet Muhammad: Abu Hurayrah
- Islamic Terms (part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Terms (part 2 of 2)
- Khushoo in Prayer
- Inviting Non-Muslims to the Right Path (part 1 of 3): Deliverthe Message in the Best Way Possible
- Inviting Non-Muslims to the Right Path (part 2 of 3): Tawheed First
- Inviting Non-Muslims to the Right Path (part 3 of 3): Inviting Family, Friends and Colleagues
- Trust & Reliance in Allah
- Who Is a Good Friend? (part 1 of 2)
- Who Is a Good Friend? (Part 2 of 2)
- Pride and Arrogance
- The Mothers of the Believers (part 1 of 2): Who are theMothers of the Believers?
- The Mothers of the Believers (part 2 of 2): Altruism & Alliances
- Getting Involved in the Muslim Community
- Ummah: The Muslim Nation
- Simplified Rules of Islamic Divorce (part 1 of 2)
- Simplified Rules of Islamic Divorce (part 2 of 2)
- The Role of a Muslim Scholar (part 1 of 2)
- The Role of a Muslim Scholar (part 2 of 2)
- The Benefits of Being a Muslim
- Sacred Cities; Mecca, Medina, & Jerusalem (part 1 of 2)
- Sacred Cities; Mecca, Medina, & Jerusalem (part 2 of 2)
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Level 9 (30)
- Prayers – Advanced (part 1 of 2)
- Prayers - Advanced (part 2 of 2)
- The Purpose of Life
- Why & How to Learn the Quran (part 1 of 2)
- Why & How to Learn the Quran (part 2 of 2)
- Miracles of the Prophets
- Meat of the People of the Book (part 1 of 2)
- Meat of the People of the Book (part 2 of 2)
- Dhikr (Remembering Allah): Meaning & Blessings (part1 of 2)
- Dhikr (Remembering Allah): Meaning & Blessings (part 2 of2)
- Intercession on Judgment Day (part 1 of 2)
- Intercession on Judgment Day (part 2 of 2)
- Virtues of the Quran (part 1 of 2)
- Virtues of the Quran (part 2 of 2)
- Good Morals (part 1 of 2)
- Good Morals (part 2 of 2)
- The Islamic Golden Age (part 1 of 2)
- The Islamic Golden Age (part 2 of 2)
- Social Media in Islam
- Leisure, Fun and Entertainment
- Astrology and Fortune-telling
- Miracles of Prophet Muhammad (part 1 of 2)
- Miracles of Prophet Muhammad (part 2 of 2)
- Bad Morals to Stay Away From (part 1 of 2)
- Bad Morals to Stay Away From (part 2 of 2)
- The Spiritual Benefits of Fasting and Charity
- Dream Interpretation
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Meccan Period (part 1 of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Meccan Period (part 2of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Meccan Period (part3 of 3)
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Level 10 (26)
- What is Jihad?
- Prophet Adam: Beginning of Humankind (part 1 of 2)
- Prophet Adam: Beginning of Humankind (part 2 of 2)
- An Explanation of Surah Az-Zalzalah
- Morals of Prophet Muhammad (part 1 of 2)
- Morals of Prophet Muhammad (part 2 of 2)
- Preserving the Environment
- Crime and Punishment in Islam (part 1 of 2)
- Crime and Punishment in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Prostration of Forgetfulness
- Introduction to Hadith Terminology
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Madinan Period (part1 of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Madinan Period (part2 of 3)
- Detailed Biography of Prophet Muhammad - Madinan Period (part 3 of 3)
- Story of Creation (part 1 of 2)
- Story of Creation (part 2 of 2)
- Funeral Rites (part 1 of 2)
- Funeral Rites (part 2 of 2)
- Islamic Wills and Inheritance (part 1 of 2)
- Islamic Wills and Inheritance (part 2 of 2)
- Prophetic Narrations: Sincerity
- Understanding Media Stereotyping
- Health and Fitness (part 1 of 2)
- Health and Fitness (part 2 of 2)
- Intimate Issues
- Islam Began as Something Strange
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Perfecting Our Character
Description: An introductory lesson on the importance of developing good moral character.
By Imam Mufti (© 2012 IslamReligion.com)
Published on 07 May 2012 - Last modified on 25 Jun 2019
Printed: 616 - Emailed: 1 - Viewed: 23,852 (daily average: 5)
Objectives
·Appreciate that character building is related to belief and is not based on slogans.
·Understand the relationship between the prophets of Allah and good character.
·Learn the meaning of a few hadiths of Prophet Muhammad on good character.
·Identify the three basics of good character.
New Terms
·Khuluq - character or inner natural disposition
We live in an age where character is dead, where morality exists without good or evil. Modern society has mostly reduced morality to empty maxims: “Be cool, follow the rules,” “Just say no,” “Just do it,” “Do the right thing.”
Character is formed in relation to convictions (strong beliefs) and the capacity to stand by those convictions when they are challenged. That is what Islam provides: clear guidelines to reform individual character by constraining, limiting, binding, obligating, and compelling the believer. It provides abiding values that reform character of the individual and, thus, the society. Even the Arabic term “khuluq” describes a person’s character or his inner, natural disposition. Islam, if observed with proper guidance, reforms one’s very core, the “khuluq.”
Islam views good character to be a trait of the prophets of Allah that any Muslim would want to emulate in their daily lives. Allah praised Prophet Muhammad for his beautiful moral character. Allah, the Exalted says,
“And indeed you are in an exalted standard of character.” (Quran 68:4)
Prophet Muhammad said, “The most excellent believers in faith are those who have good moral character.” (Tabarani)
One of the fundamental teachings of Islam is that this life will end and it will be followed by another life that will be eternal. People will be judged and sent to either Hell or Paradise. One way they will be judged is by the weighing of their deeds, or the actions they performed in this life. Speaking of that reality, Prophet Muhammad, said “The heftiest thing to be placed in the scale of the believer on the Day of Judgement will be good character, and Allah hates the (person who uses) abusive and obscene (language).” (Tirmidhi)
What motivates a Muslim who has submitted to Allah? What moves a believer who has accepted “faith”? Naturally, it is what the person claims to believe. A Muslim professes to believe in Allah and the Last Day, the Day on which the scale which will be set to weigh the deeds of people. Using the most powerful motivation to encourage Muslims to pay attention to their morals and character, Prophet Muhammad said, “Let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or keep silent, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbor, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest.” (Muslim)
Love of Prophet Muhammad is a fundamental requirement of faith. A person cannot be a Muslim without loving Prophet Muhammad. Learning more about him makes one love and appreciate the man who sacrificed so much for our sake. A natural result of that love is the desire of a Muslim to meet and see the Prophet in the life to come, on the Last Day. A person who spends more time getting to know the Prophet and reading about his life will actually want to be with him on that Day! Addressing the deep seated desire of a true believer to meet him and to be with him, Prophet Muhammad said, “The dearest to me and the nearest among you to me on the Day of Judgement will be those who have good moral character.” (Tirmidhi)
There is more to character than respect, responsibility, compassion, honesty, and civic participation. So, what exactly is good character? Many scholars consider good character has three aspects:
1.To have a cheerful face
Naturally, its effect is quite the opposite of meeting people with a frown. Greeting people with a cheerful, smiling face makes them happy, brings about mutual love, and makes the other person feel comfortable.
2.To be generous
There is more to it than being generous in spending money. It includes taking your time out, using your position or skills, or even your knowledge and expertise in a specific area to help others.
3.To harm no one
It is easy to say not to harm others with your words or actions, yet in practice we end up doing just that – hurting others with our words and actions, and quite often without even thinking much of it. Just remember that a hurtful person has bad character, remember, “before I look at others, I need to look at myself!” Think about how common it is for people to gossip about co-workers in the office, for relatives to backbite other relatives whom they don’t like, and even parents and siblings to talk bad behind each other’s backs. All gossip is not the same in terms of sin. Hurting parents is the worst, followed by other close relatives and the neighbors.
Perfecting our character, however, requires effort, determination, and self-discipline. Remember that our character is moulded and motivated by: love of the Prophet, belief in Allah and the Last Day, desire to increase the “weight” of our good deeds on that Day, and simply to be an excellent believer.
Previous Lesson: Protection from Evil (part 2 of 2)
Next Lesson: Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 1 of 2)
- Adhan (part 1 of 2): The Call to Prayer
- Adhan (part 2 of 2): The Call to Prayer
- Shirk & its Types (part 1 of 3)
- Shirk & its Types (part 2 of 3)
- Shirk & its Types (part 3 of 3)
- Recommended Acts of Ritual Bath (Ghusl)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 1 of 3)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 2 of 3)
- Reflections on Surah al-Fatiha (part 3 of 3)
- Dry Ablution (Tayammum)
- Introduction to Sects (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to Sects (part 2 of 2)
- Protection from Evil (part 1 of 2)
- Protection from Evil (part 2 of 2)
- Perfecting Our Character
- Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 1 of 2)
- Introduction to the Purification of the Soul (part 2 of 2)
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 1 of 3)
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 2 of 3): Awrah & Mahrams
- The Islamic Dress Code (part 3 of 3): Prayer & Wisdom
- Satan: Humankind’s Worst Enemy (part 1 of 2)
- Satan: Humankind’s Worst Enemy (part 2 of 2)
- Supplication (part 1 of 2)
- Supplication (part 2 of 2)
- The Mercy of Allah (part 1 of 2)
- The Mercy of Allah (part 2 of 2)
- Role Models in Islam (part 1 of 2): TheFirst Generation of Muslims
- Role Models in Islam (part 2 of 2)
- Trials and Tribulations after Conversion (part 1 of 2): Allah’smercy is embedded in the difficulties of life
- Trials and Tribulations after Conversion (part 2 of 2)
Perfecting Our Character
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