40 hadith honourable character and warning of evil conduct by sheikh yusuf al-nabahani
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About honorable character in IslamTRANSCRIPT
40 hadith on encouragement towards honourable character and warning
Of evil conduct
Compiled by
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Nabahani (may Allah show him mercy)
الرحيم الرحمن هللا بسم In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate, all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the universe, peace and blessings upon our master Muhammad, master of Messengers, upon his family and his companions, all of them.
These are forty hadith on encouragement towards honourable character and warning about evil conduct.
Hadith one
Tell the truth and beware of lying
Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
يزال ما و الجنة إلى يهدي البر وان البر إلى يهدي الصدق فان بالصدق عليكم فان والكذب واياكم صديقا هللا عند يكتب حتي الصدق ويتحرى يصدق الرجل يكذب الرجل يزال ما و النار إلى يهدي الفجور وان الفجور إلى يهدي الكذب
كذابا هللا عند يكتب حتى الكذب ويتحرى "Adhere to truthfulness; truthfulness guides to piety and piety guides to paradise. A man continues to be persistent upon truthfulness until he is recorded with Allah as one of the truthful. Beware of lying because lies lead to obscenity; because obscenity leads to the fire. A man continues to lie and persists in lying until he is recorded, with Allah, as a liar."1
1 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Hadith two
Gentleness is goodness
Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الخير يحرم الرفق يحرم من "Whoever forbids gentleness has forbidden goodness."2
Hadith three
Avoid sitting on the street without giving its right
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
بالطرقات الجلوس اياكم "Beware of sitting in the streets." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, we have no other way. (They conduct business on the paths). We have to sit and speak." He said,
حقه الطريق فاعطوا أبيتم إذا فانا "If you want to do this, then give the street its right." They asked, "What is its right?" He said,
المنكر عن والنهي بالمعروف واالمر السالم ورد االذي كف و البصر غض 2 Muslim.
"Lower your gaze, refrain from harming, replying to greetings and commanding the good and forbidding evil."3
Hadith four
Excellent character is heavy on the scales on the day of judgement
Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الخلق نحس من ثقلا الميزان في شيء من ما "There is nothing weights on the scales more than excellent character."4
Hadith five
Shyness is an honourable trait
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
االيمان من الحياء "Shyness is part of faith."5
3 Al-Bukhari and Muslim. 4 Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi rated sahih. 5 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Hadith six
Without shyness, some commits sins easily
Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
ا إن ة كالم من الن اس كأدر مم شئت ما فاصنع يتستح لم إذا األولى الن ب و “From that which reached the people from the speech of the first prophets is: when you are not shy then you do as you wish.”6
Hadith seven
Goodness is in every Muslim
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
احرص خير كل في و الضعيف المؤمن من هللا الى احب و خير القوي المؤمن كذا فعلت اني لو تقل فال شيء اصابك وان تعجز وال باهلل واستعن ينفعك ما على
الشيطان عمل تفتح لو فان فعل شاء ما و هللا قدر قل لكن وكذا كذا كان "The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer; in both is goodness; be keen for what benefits you; seek the assistance of Allah and do not be incapable; if something afflicts you do not say if only I had done this or that
6 Al-Bukhari 3483-4, Abu Dawood 4797, Ibn Majah 4183, Imam Ahmed 4/121, 122, Al-Taylasi 621, Al-Bayhaqi 10/192.
but say (this is) the decree of Allah and He does what He wills, because 'if' opens the door of satan."7
Hadith eight
All the believers are the same
Iyyad ibn Hamar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
احد على احد يفخر وال احد على احد يبغي ال حتى تواضوا ان الى هللا اوحى "Allah revealed to me they (should) be humble until no one desires one over the other and no one is proud over the other."8
Hadith nine
Do not harm the honour of anyone
Abu Al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
القيامة يوم النار وجهه عن هللا رد بالغيب اخيه عرض عن رد من "Whoever harms the honour of his brother in his absence; Allah returns it as fire on his face on the day of judgement."9
7 Muslim. 8 Muslim. 9 Al-Tirmidhi. Imam Ahmed reports form Asma bint Yazid.
Hadith ten
Give charity without fear and be humble for Allah (the Exalted)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
اال هلل احد تواضع وما عزاا اال بعفو عبدا هللا زاد وما مال من صدقة تنقص ما رفعه
"Wealth does not decease with charity, Allah does not increase his servant in pardoning except it raises him and no one is humble towards Allah except He raises them."10
Hadith eleven
General qualities for life
Abdullah ibn Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
والناس بالليل وصلوا الطعام أطعموا و االرحام وصلوا السالم افشوا الناس ايها يابسالم الجنة تدخلوا نيام
"Dear respected people; spread peace, maintain family ties, feed the poor, pray in the night whilst people are asleep, (thus) enter paradise in peace."11
10 Muslim. 11 Al-Tirmidhi rated Sahih. This was part of the sermon that was delivered upon arriving in Yathrib.
Hadith twelve
Religion is sincerity
Abi Ruqayyah Tamim Ibn Owais Ad-Darri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him) said,
ين وألئمة ولرس وله ولكتابه هلل قال ؟هيرسولهللالمن ق لنا ثالثالن صيحة الد سلمين تهم الم وعام
“Religion is sincerity to three (people).” We asked, “To whom O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “To Allah, His book (Quran), His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and to the generality.”12
Hadith thirteen
Fear Allah
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الخلق وحسن هللا تقوى الجنة يدخل ما اكثر "Most of those who enter paradise are fearful of Allah and have excellent character."13
12 Muslim 55, Abu Dawood 4944, An-Nisa’i 7/156, Imam Ahmed 4/102, Al-Hammadi 837. 13 Al-Tirmidhi authenticated by Al-Hakim.
Hadith fourteen
Seek to exemplify those with excellent character
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الخلق حسن و الوجه بسط منكم سعهملي ولكن باموالكم الناس نعوتس ال انكم "You should not purse the wealth of people rather seek from them an enlightened face and excellent character."14
Hadith fifteen
Find your fault by looking at a believer
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
المؤمن اخيه مرآة المؤمن "A believer is a mirror of the believer."15
14 Abu Ya'lla authenticated by Al-Hakim. 15 Abu Dawood with hassan chain.
Hadith sixteen
Be patient with people
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
وال الناس يخالط ال الذي من خير اذاهم على ويصبر الناس يخالط الذي المؤمناذاهم على يصبر
"The believer who mixes with people and is patient upon their harm is better than he who does not mix with people and is not patient upon their harm."16
Hadith seventeen
Supplicate for excellent character
Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
خلقي فحسن خلقى حسنت اللهم "O Allah, as you have made my creation excellent; make my character excellent."17
16 Al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah rated hassan. 17 Ibn Hibban and authenticated.
Hadith eighteen
Be gentle and violence
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
ال وما العنف على يعطي ال ما الرفق على يعطي و الرفق يحب رفيق تعالى هللا انسواه على يعطي
"Allah, the Exalted, is gentle and loves gentleness; he gives for gentleness; what he does not give for violence (i.e. punishment) and he does not give for anything else."18 In another narration from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that he (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
ينزع وال زانه إال شيء في يكون ال الرفق ان والفخش والعنف واياك بالرفق عليكشانه إال شيء من
"Adhere to gentleness; beware of violence and obscenity. Gentleness is not in anything except it beautifies it and is not taken out of something except it disgraces it."
18 Muslim.
Hadith nineteen
Piety is excellent character
Al-Nawas ibn Samran (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) about piety and sin. He said,
الناس عليه يطلع ان وكرهت صدرك في حاك ما واالثم الخلق حسن البر "Piety is excellent character and sin is that which the heart dislikes and you detest that people know."19
Hadith twenty
If you love him (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) then follow his character Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
اخالقا احسنكم الي احبكم من ان "From your love to me is to make your character excellent."20 Imam Muslim reports the words,
اخالقا احسنكم خياركم "The best of you is the best of you in character."
19 Muslim. 20 Al-Bukhari.
Hadith twenty one
Do not envy
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الحطب رالنا تأكل كما الحسنات ياكل الحسد فان والحسد اياكم "Beware of envy because envy consumes good actions like fire consumes wood."21
Hadith twenty two
Strength is controlling anger
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الغضب عند نفسه يملك الذي الشديد انما بالصرعة الشديد ليس "Wrestling is not strength rather strength is when someone controls themselves when angry."22
21 Abu Dawood narrated similarly by Ibn Majah from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him). 22 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Hadith twenty three
Avoid oppressing anyone
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
قبلكم كان من اهلك فانه الشح واتقوا القيامة يوم ظلمات الظلم فان الظلم اواتق "Fear oppression because oppression is darkness on the day of judgement and fear greed because it destroyed those before you."23 In a narration from Al-Bukhari, from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
القيامة يوم ظلمات الظلم "Oppression is (many types of) darkness on the day of judgement."
Hadith twenty four
Beware of pretention
Mahmood ibn Lubid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الريا االصغر الشرك عليكم اخاف ما اخوف "I fear that you do not fear lesser polytheism; ostentation."24
23 Muslim. 24 Imam Ahmed with hassan chain.
Hadith twenty five
Lying is a sign of a hypocrite
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
خان ائتمن واذا اخاف وعد اذاو كذب حدث اذا ثالث افقنالم آية "The signs of a hypocrite are three: if he speaks he lies, he breaks his promise and he breaks it and if he is given a trust he deceives."25 They have the addition from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him),
فجر خاصم اذا "He becomes obscene when arguing."
Hadith twenty six
Harming a believer is harmful
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
كفر وقتاله فسوق المسلم سباب "Cursing a believer is like sinning openly and fighting him is ingratitude."26
25 Al-Bukhari and Muslim. 26 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Hadith twenty seven
Beware of thinking badly of someone
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الحديث كذب الظن فان والظن اياكم "Beware of thinking badly (of someone) because conjecture is the worst of lies."27
Hadith twenty eight
Avoid angry
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and asked,
تغضب ال قال مرارا فرد د تغضب ال قال أوصنييارسولهللا “O Messenger of Allah, advise me.” He replied, “Do not be angry.” He asked repeatedly. He said, “Do not be angry.”28
27 Al-Bukhari and Muslim. 28 Al-Bukhari 6116, At-Tirmidhi 2020, Imam Ahmed 2/362, 466.
Hadith twenty nine
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
وا وال تباغض وا وال تناجش وا وال تحاسد وا ال بيع على بعض ك م يبع وال تدابر بعض سلم إخوانا هللا عباد وك ون وا سلم أخو الم ه ال الم ه وال يخذ ل ه وال يظلم الت قوى يحقر نا ات ثالث صدره إلى وي شير هه سلم أخاه يحقر أن الش ر من امرئ بحسب مر الم
سلم ك ل سلم على الم ه : حرام الم وعرض ه ومال ه دم
“Do not envy one another, do not swindle one another, do not hate one another, do not turn your backs on one another, do not trade something at the cost of someone else. Be brethren, servants of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he does not oppress, betray or despise him. Piety is here.” He indicated to his chest three times. “It is sufficient evil for a person that he despises his fellow Muslim. All Muslims have these things unlawful from a Muslim: their blood, their wealth and their honour.”29
Hadith thirty
Avoid dishonourable character
Qutabah ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
واآلراء واالهواء واالعمال االخالق منكرات جنبي اللهم
29 Al-Bukhari 5143, 6064, 6066, 6824, Muslim 2563, Abu Dawood 4918, At-Tirmidhi 1988, Imam Ahmed 2/288, 312, 342.
"O Allah cause me to avoid dishonourable character, actions, passions and opinions."30
Hadith thirty one
Avoid mocking and jesting your brother
Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
فتخلفه موعدا تعده وال تمازحه وال اخاك تمار ال "Do not mock your brother and do not jest; do not make a promise and break it."31
Hadith thirty two
Be generous
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الخلق سوء و البخل مؤمن في تجتمعان ال خصلتان "Two traits are not part of believer: miserliness and evil character."32
30 Al-Tirmidhi authenticated by Al-Hakim. 31 Al-Tirmidhi. 32 Al-Tirmidhi.
Hadith thirty three
Insulter bears sins
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
ستبان المظل وم يعتد لم ما البادئ فعلى قاال ما الم "Insulting each other is upon the one who initiated and not on the one who returned oppression."33
Hadith thirty four
Avoid obscenity
Abu Al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
البذيء الفاحش يبغض هللا ان "Allah detests the obscenity of the obscene."34
33 Muslim. 34 Al-Tirmidhi
Hadith thirty five
A believer does not...
Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
ذيبلا وال الفاحش ال و اللعان وال بالطعان المؤمن ليس "A believer does not curse, is not obscene, and does not harm."35
Hadith thirty six
Talebearers do not enter paradise
Hudayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
قتات الجنة يدخل ال "Talebearers do not enter paradise."36
35 Al-Tirmidhi rated hassan. Al-Hakim rated sahih. 36 Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Hadith thirty seven
Cursers are losers
Abu Al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
القيامة يوم شهداء وال شفعاء يكونون ال اللعانين ان "The cursers do not intercede and are not witnesses on the day of judgement."37
Hadith thirty eight
Walking proudly causes you great harm
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
غضبان عليه وهو هللا لقى مشيه في واختال نفسه في تعاظم من "Whoever magnifies himself and walks conceitedly; meets Allah whilst He is angry with him."38
37 Muslim. 38 Al-Hakim from trustworthy sources.
Hadith thirty nine
Allah detests the argumentative
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الخصم االلد هللا الى الرجال ابغض "The most detested man according to Allah is he who persistently quarrels."39
Hadith forty
Look at your sins and not the sins of others
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
الناس عيوب عن عيبه شغله لمن طوبي "Blessed is he who is busy with his own sins from the sins of people."40
39 Muslim. 40 Al-Bazzar with hassan chain.
Hadith forty one
Perfect your character and actions
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said,
االفعال محاسن كمال و االخالق مكارم بتمام بعثني هللا ان "Allah only sent me to complete honourable character and perfect excellent actions."41
We pray that Allah accepts this translation, forgives our families, teachers and all the Muslims. May endless and countless blessings be showered upon the final Messenger (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings), always and forever, upon his family, the Awliyah and all the Prophets and Messengers. This translation was completed on 6th Ramadan 1435/5th July 2014 by Arfan Shah (Straight Translations and Sheikhy notes).
41 Al-Baghawi.