Ahadith Related to the Importance of Good Character

From Sunnah.com

Seven Scattered Pearls

Abu Dharr (r.a.) related: My beloved friend (Allah's Messenger s.a.w.) has commanded me to do seven things:

1. To love the poor and the needy and to be close to them.
2. To look towards those who are of a lower standing than me regarding worldly goods and not towards those who are of a higher standing than me in this regard.
3. To strengthen the ties of kinship, even if my relatives try to sever them.
4. Not to ask anything of anyone.
5. To speak the truth under all circumstances, even if it might be bitter (for him who hears it).
6. Not to fear the reproach of anyone when it comes to bidding good and forbidding evil.
7. To recite Laa hawla wa la quwwata illa billah often as these words are a part of the treasure beneath the Mighty Throne.  (Ahmad)

(From Scattered Pearls vol.8)

Three Easy Ways to Enter Paradise

Abu Saeed Al Khudri (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: "A person who eats only from what is lawful, and acts according to my Sunnah, and from whose harm others are safe, shall enter Paradise." One man said: "O Messenger of Allah! This applies to many people." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) replied: "Yes, and this shall be so even in the coming generations." (Tirmidhi)

(From 'Scattered Pearls' vol.8)

A Strong Believer

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:

“A believer who is strong is better and more beloved to Allah than the one who is weak, although both bear goodness. Aspire for what benefits you, and seek help from Allah; and do not give up. And if any adversity befalls you, do not say if I had done this or that, it would have resulted in such and such. But say, Allah so destined and did it as He desired. For verily (the word) "if" opens the way for the work of Shaitan.”   (Muslim)

One of my favourite sayings ....

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"One sees a stalk in his brother's eye but forgets the trunk of his own eye."  (Ibne Habban)


Note: It means that the people see even a little fault of others but do not look at their own great sins and faults.

(From 'Muntakhab Ahadith' by Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Kandhlavi)

Gentleness

Jarir (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"One who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of a good thing." (Recorded in Sahih Muslim)

 The following two hadith were narrated by Aisha (r.a.):
  
"One who is given his share of gentleness, infact he has been given his share of the goodness of the world and Hereafter. The one who is deprived of his share of gentleness is deprived of his share of goodness in this world and the Hereafter. (Sharah-al-Sunnah)

"Allah gives gentleness to the family members of a house whom He intends to benefit and the one whom He deprives of gentleness is but to cause them harm." (Baihaqi)
 
Mu'adh (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) told Ashajj (r.a.) (from the tribe of 'Abd-al-Qais):
 
"You have two habits loved by Allah i.e. Gentleness and patience." (Recorded in Sahih Muslim)

(From Muntakhab Ahadith by Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Kandhlavi)

Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (Allah be pleased with him) asked:

 

“Messenger of Allah, tell me about an act, that if a servant of Allah does it, he enters Paradise" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him ) answered. "To believe in Allah and the Day of Judgement." Abu Dharr said, "Messenger of Allah, there must be deeds beside the belief." The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Let him show satisfaction with the will of Allah regarding whatever He has provided him.” Abu Dharr asked “Messenger of Allah, what if he is too poor to have anything to be satisfied with?” The Prophet (pbuh) said “Let him enjoin right and forbid wrong.” Abu Dharr said “Messenger of Allah he cannot do that because he stammers and is incapable of expressing himself.” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Let him do things for someone who is incapable of doing them.” Abu Dharr said, “Messenger of Allah, he himself is too clumsy to do anything for anybody.” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Let him help a weak person.” Abu Dharr said, “He himself is too weak to help anybody.” The Prophet (pbuh) said “What is that friend of yours good for? Let him not harm people.” Abu Dharr said, “If he does that, will he enter Paradise?” The Prophet (pbuh) said “Any Muslim who does any of these things, I’ll take him by the hand till he enters Paradise.” (Narrated by Al-Tabarani)

 

(From the book “Some of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) Advice” by Abdul Aziz Al-Shinnawy)

A Few Important Hadith

 The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said "The devil continually pursues humans as a wolf pursues sheep. The wolf only dares to attack those sheep which have separated from the rest of the flock and are standing alone. And so, my followers and my devotees! Save yourselves from being caught in the traps of misguidance and firmly remain with the largest and most well known group of Muslims!" (Ahmad)

 Allah's Messenger (s.a.w.) said " Allah will never allow my Ummah to unite upon misguidance and incorrect beliefs. Allah's mercy, blessings and protection are with the largest group of Muslims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be thrown into Hell." (Tirmidhi)

 Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (r.a.) said, "People used to ask the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things because I was afraid that they might overtake me.
 I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, we were lost in ignorance (Jahiliyyah) and evil, then Allaah brought this good (i.e. Islaam). Will some evil come after this good thing?' He said, 'Yes' I asked, 'And will some good come after that evil?' He said, 'Yes, but it will be tainted with some evil' I asked, 'How will it be tainted?' He said, 'There will be some people who will lead others on a path different from mine.You will see good and bad in them."
 I asked, 'Will some evil come after that good?' He said, 'Some people will be standing and calling at the gates of Hell; whoever responds to their call, they will throw him into the Fire.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allaah, describe them for us.' He said, 'They will be from our own people, and will speak our language.' I asked, 'What do you advise me to do if I should live to see that?' He said, 'Stick to the main body (jamaa'ah) of the Muslims and their leader (Imaam).
 I asked, 'What if there is no main body and no leader?' He said 'Isolate yourself from all of these sects, even if you have to eat the roots of trees until death overcomes you while you are in that state.' "
(Bukhari, Kitaab al-Fitan, 9/65)

The Messenger of Allah's (s.a.w.) Advice to the Person who Complained About the Ill Treatment he received from his Relatives

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) reports that a man once came to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) complaining, "I have relatives who sever ties with me when I foster them, who behave ill towards me when I am good to them and who behave foolishly with me when I behave tolerantly with them." Rasulullaah's (s.a.w.) advice to him was, "If you are as you claim, then it is as if you are filling their mouth with burning ashes (they are harming themselves by behaving as they do). As long as you behave as you are doing, there shall remain with you an assistant (angel) from Allaah." (1)

Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Amr (r.a.) narrates that a man came to Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) saying, "0 Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) I have relatives who severe ties with me when I attempt to foster them, who oppress me when I forgive them and who are bad to me when I am good to them. Should I do to them as they do to me?" Rasulullaah's (s.a.w.) response was, "In that case, you would all be partners (in evil). You should rather adopt the better stance and continue bonding ties because as long as you behave as you are doing, there shall remain with you an assistant (angel) from Allaah." (2)
 
(1) Muslim (Vol.2 Pg.315). Bukhaari has also reported the narration in his Adab (Pg.11).
(2) Ahmad. Haythami (Vol.8 Pg.154) has commented on the chain of narrators.

(From 'Hayatus Sahabah' by Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Khandhlawi)

Al-Jassasah And Ad-Dajjaal

Faatimah Bint Qais's (r.a.) Hadeeth About The Dajjaal; And What Tameem Ad-Daaree (r.a.) Related In Regards To Him Seeing Al-Jassasah And Ad-Dajjaal

 Amir b. Sharahil Sha'bi Sha'b Hamdan reported that he asked Fatima, daughter of Qais and sister of ad-Dahhak b. Qais and she was the first amongst the emigrant women: ''Narrate to me a hadith which you had heard directly from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and there is no extra link in between them.''

 She said: 'Very well, if you like, I am prepared to do that,' and he said to her: 'Well, do it and narrate that to me.' She said: 'I married the son of Mughira and he was a chosen young man of Quraish at that time, but he fell as a martyr in the first Jihad (fighting) on the side of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). When I became a widow, 'Abd al-Rahman b. Auf (r.a.), one amongst the group of the Companions of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), sent me the proposal of marriage. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) also sent me such a message for his freed slave Usama b. Zaid (r.a). And it had been conveyed to me that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had said (about Usama): 'He who loves me should also love Usama.' When Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) talked to me (about this matter), I said: 'My affairs are in your hand. You may marry me to anyone whom you like.' He said: You better shift now to the house of Umm Sharik, and Umm Sharik was a rich lady from amongst the Anqir. She spent generously for the cause of Allah and entertained guests very hospitably. I said: 'Well, I will do as you like.' He said: Do not do that for Umm Sharik is a woman who is very frequently visited by guests and I do not like that your head may be uncovered or the cloth may be removed from your shank and the strangers may catch sight of them which you abhor. You better shift to the house of your cousin 'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. Umm Maktum (who was blind) and he is a person of the Bani Fihr branch of the Quraish, and he belonged to that tribe (to which Fatima) belonged. So I shifted to that house, and when my period of waiting was over, I heard the voice of an announcer making an announcement that the prayer would be observed in the mosque (where) congregational prayer (is observed).

 So I set out towards that mosque and observed prayer along with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and I was in the row of the women which was near the row of men. When Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had finished his prayer, he sat on the pulpit smiling and said: 'Every worshipper should keep sitting at his place.' He then said: 'Do you know why I had asked you to assemble?' They said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said: 'By Allah. I have not made you assemble for exhortation or for a warning, but I have detained you here, for Tamim Dari, a Christian, who came and accepted Islam, told me something, which agrees with what I was telling, you about the Dajjal.

 He narrated to me that he had sailed in a ship along with thirty men of Bani Lakhm and Bani Judham and had been tossed by waves in the ocean for a month. Then these (waves) took them (near) the land within the ocean (island) at the time of sunset. They sat in a small side-boat and entered that Island. There was a beast with long thick hair (and because of these) they could not distinguish his face from his back. They said: 'Woe to you, who can you be?' Thereupon it said: 'I am al-Jassasa.' They said: 'What is al-Jassasa?' And it said: 'O people, go to this person in the monastery as he is very much eager to know about you.' He (the narrator) said: 'When it named a person for us we were afraid of it lest it should be a Devil. Then we hurriedly went on till we came to that monastery and found a well-built person there with his hands tied to his neck and having iron shackles between his two legs up to the ankles.' We said: 'Woe be upon thee, who are you?' And he said: 'You would soon come to know about me. but tell me who are you.' We said: 'We are people from Arabia and we embarked upon a boat but the sea-waves had been driving us for one month and they brought as near this island. We got into the side-boats and entered this island and here a beast met us with profusely thick hair and because of the thickness of his hair his face could not be distinguished from his back. We said: Woe be to thee, who are you? It said: I am al- Jassasa. We said: What is al-Jassasa? And it said: You go to this very person in the monastery for he is eagerly waiting for you to know about you. So we came to you in hot haste fearing that that might be the Devil.' He (that chained person) said: 'Tell me about the date-palm trees of Baisan.' We said: 'About what aspect of theirs do you seek information?' He said: 'I ask you whether these trees bear fruit or not.' We said: Yes Thereupon he said: 'I think these would not bear fruits.' He said: 'Inform me about the lake of Tabariyya?' We said: 'Which aspect of it do you want to know?' He said: Is there water in it? They said: There is abundance of water in it. Thereupon he said: I think it would soon become dry. He again said: Inform me about the spring of Zughar. They said: Which aspect of it you want to know? He (the chained person) said: 'Is there water in it and does it irrigate (the land)?' We said to him: 'Yes, there is abundance of water in it and the inhabitants (of Medina) irrigate (land) with the help of it.' He said: 'Inform me about the unlettered Prophet; what has he done?' We said: 'He has come out from Mecca and has settled In Yathrib (Medina).' He said: 'Do the Arabs fight against him?' We said: Yes. He said: 'How did he deal with him?' We informed him that he had overcome those in his neighbourhood and they had submitted themselves before him. Thereupon he said to us: 'Had it actually happened?' We said: Yes. Thereupon he said: 'If it is so that is better for them that they should show obedience to him. I am going to tell you about myself and I am Dajjal and would be soon permitted to get out, and so I shall get out and travel in the land, and will not spare any town where I would not stay for forty nights except Mecca and Medina as these two (places) are prohibited (areas) for me and I would not make an attempt to enter any one of these two. An angel with a sword in his hand would confront me and would bar my way and there would be angels to guard every passage leading to it.'

 Then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) striking the pulpit with the help of the end of his staff said: 'This implies Taiba meaning Medina. Have I not, told you an account (of the Dajjal) like this?' The people said: 'Yes', 'And this account narrated by Tamim Dari was liked by me for it corroborates the account which I gave to you in regard to him (Dajjal) at Medina and Mecca. Behold he (Dajjal) is in the Syrian sea (Mediterranian) or the Yemen sea (Arabian sea). Nay, on the contrary, he is in the east, he is in the east, he is in the east.' and he pointed with his hand towards the east.

 I (Fatima bint Qais) said: I preserved it in my mind (this narration from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him).

                                               (Muslim Book #041, Hadith #7028)


see also:

Signs Before The Day of Judgement - Part 1

Signs Before The Day of Judgement - Part 2

The Biggest Loser

Abu Hurayra (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:

''Do you know who the greatest loser is?''

The Companions answered: ''He is the one who has completely lost all of his wealth and his livelilood.''

The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied: ''Not at all! The biggest loser among my nation will be the one who comes to the Day of Judgement bringing all his prayers, his fasting and his charitable deeds, but also has abused one person, cheated another, stolen from another and drawn the blood of another.
 Allah will give all his good deeds to the people whom he harmed, and if they are not sufficient to repay the harm he has done, then the wrong actions of his victims will be piled on his head and the angels will be ordered to take him to the Fire.''

(recorded in Muslim)