Humane Character-Building Lesson In Islam
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
18 March
2024
A Hadith
Reads, “The Most Perfect Faith Among Muslims Is That Of The Person Who Has The
Best Morals."
Main
Points:
1. The current
Muslim culture is experiencing moral decline, uncertainty, fear, and
anxiousness due to the potential for corrupt and vile Muslim characters to
commit sins.
2. The
Prophet's (PBUH) principles should guide us, but our values have deteriorated,
leading to moral annihilation.
3. Practical
guidelines for human behaviour and life are divided into sub-divisions such as
worship, morality, social conduct, rights, obligations, culture, religion, and
character building.
4. The
Objective of Islamic Teachings is to create a society free from corruption and
characterized by kindness, honesty, dependability, and respect.
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Islam is an
all-encompassing code of conduct that takes into account every facet of life.
Belief and Practice are the two main tenets of Islam. Belief requires the
acceptance of fundamental truths. The fundamental truths of faith include
believing in Allah, believing in His messengers, believing in His holy books,
believing in the Last Day, believing in life after death, believing in Tawhid
(the oneness of God), believing in the messengers of Allah, etc. Practical
guidelines for human behaviour and life, as well as the dos and don'ts of
societal and individual existence, are included in the second section. This is
further split up into sub-divisions such as worship, morality, social conduct,
rights, obligations, culture, religion, and character building. Character
building is the subject of this write-up.
Islam lays
a great emphasis on character building, with particular attention paid to the
cultivation of traits like generosity, kindness, compassion, honesty, and
humility. Character building is emphasised throughout the Quran and Sunnah, and
is a fundamental aspect of day-to-day living.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said,
"I was sent to perfect the noble traits of character." (Al-Tabarani).
In the
teachings of the Prophet, it is recommended to elevate moral standards. But
judging by the current state of affairs, it is clear that the main cause of
man's problems in the world is his moral decline and character flaws. If a
person's principles and character align with the teachings of Islam, they will
be honoured in this life as well as the next. But our values have gotten so bad
that we now live in a society where bad things like lying, cheating, and sly
behaviour are commonplace. Our actions should inspire others. The moral breakdown,
however, is that we feel humiliated since we currently find ourselves in the
worst situation imaginable.
The current
culture is experiencing moral decline, uncertainty, fear, and anxiousness due
to the potential for corrupt and vile Muslim characters to commit sins. The
Prophet (pbuh) embodied the highest moral standard, and his principles should
guide us. The moral code of Allah's prophet, the Qur'an, has influenced every
person on the planet. However, we Muslims—the
followers of the Prophet (peace be upon him)—are to blame for the moral decline
in our society.
The Quranic
verses and hadiths stress the importance of acting with sincerity and
abstaining from wickedness, backbiting and hypocrisy. The companions of the
Prophet and infidels both used to praise the Prophet's morals before joining
Islam. But since our values have deteriorated, we are now condemned on many
fronts.
Using the
power that Allah has bestowed upon us, we ought to behave morally and
virtuously, abstaining from immorality and misdirection. However, we are moving
away from Allah due to our worldly and selfish ambitions, and we are on the
path to moral annihilation. We can observe our attitude because we remember
Allah when we are ill, lost, or facing difficulties, but we forget Him and
disregard His instructions when our Almighty God makes things better. We are
indeed so irresponsible that we are unable to develop ethically and prove that
we are moral Muslims.
The
objective of Islamic teachings on morals and character building is to create a
society free from corruption and characterized by kindness, honesty,
dependability, and respect. It emphasizes personal growth and positive social
impact, with individuals with good character serving as an example for others
and the community benefiting from their positive influence. This approach
promotes a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Sincerity
serves as the foundation for all good works and deepens one's relationship with
Allah, making it an essential component of Islamic character development.
Muslims are instructed to perform only for the pleasure of Allah, without
thinking about gain or honour.
Having a
sound intellect is another key quality of a good Muslim. Islam views acquiring
knowledge as a form of worship, and Muslims are urged to learn throughout their
lives. People who possess wisdom, which stems from knowledge, can make informed
decisions and lead fulfilling lives.
Islam
places great importance on virtues like gratitude, forgiveness, and patience.
Sustaining perseverance in faith and weathering adversity both require
patience. Remaining in good relationships requires forgiveness. To recognise
life's blessings and acknowledge Allah as the source of them, one must be
grateful.
Islam
emphasizes character building as a key to personal growth and a fulfilling
life. It is not enough to merely assert faith in Islam. Besides the expression
of certainty of faith in Allah and his prophet, every Muslim and every citizen
are required to build high character. Islam encourages excellence in all aspects
of life, including character, and sincere efforts to become the best version of
oneself, setting an example for others and contributing to a healthy community.
Morality is
the key to identifying a Muslim. He is unfit to be referred to as a Muslim if
he lacks morality. It is not feasible for a Muslim to profess faith and lack
morals at the same time. The holy Quran attests to the fact that our beloved
Prophet is the greatest example of the best morality, as follows:
Allah says
to his Prophet, “You are certainly on the most exalted standard of moral
excellence.” (68:4)
And why
shouldn't this be the case, given that his mission was to correct individuals
and instil good morals through education and training? The Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) is reported to have said, "I was sent to perfect the
noble traits of character."
(Al-Tabarani).
The Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said,
"The most perfect faith among Muslims is that of the person who has the
best morals."
Another
hadith reads: "The best among you is that which is best among you in terms
of morals."
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Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/humane-character-building-lesson/d/131942
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