Reports on good character

Sayyidah Aishah Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to make this supplication: "O Allah! You have made my outward form beautiful, so make my character beautiful as well."
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Ammar bin Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Good character is the most magnificent creation among the creation of Allah Almighty."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains Amr bin al-Husayn, who is matruk (abandoned).

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), from Sayyiduna Jibril (peace be upon him), this saying of Allah Almighty: "This religion, I am pleased for it to be for Myself, and nothing suits it except generosity and good character, so honour this religion through these two and remain with it."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Ibrahim bin Abi Bakr bin al-Munkadir, who is da'if (weak), and the same is the case with the narrator Miqdam bin Dawud.

Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah Almighty has made this religion purely His own, and nothing suits your religion except generosity and good character, so adorn the religion with these two."
Al-Tabarani recorded it; its chain contains Amr bin al-Husayn, who is matruk (abandoned).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "These traits of character are from Allah Almighty. Whoever Allah Almighty intends good for, He grants him good character, and whoever He intends evil for, He grants him bad character."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Maslamah bin Ali, who is da'if (weak).

It is narrated from him: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty revealed to Sayyiduna Ibrahim (peace be upon him): O My Khalil (intimate friend)! Keep your character good, even if it is with the disbelievers; you will enter where the righteous enter. My word has already gone forth for those whose character is good, that I will shade them beneath My Throne, give them to drink from My Hazirat al-Quds (enclosure of holiness), and keep them in My nearness."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Mu'ammal bin Abd al-Rahman al-Thaqafi, who is da'if (weak).

It is narrated from him that he said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Whoever's character and outward form Allah Almighty has made beautiful, Allah Almighty will never put him into Hell."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Abdullah bin Yazid al-Bakri, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "The One who guides to good character and turns away bad character is He alone (that is, Allah Almighty)."
Al-Tabarani recorded it.

Sayyiduna Abu Tha'labah al-Khushani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "In the Hereafter, the most beloved of you to me and the closest of you to me will be those whose character is best, and in the Hereafter the most disliked of you to me and the farthest of you from me will be those whose character is bad: those who talk excessively and who speak affectedly, mouthing their words pompously."
Ahmad and al-Tabarani recorded it, and the narrators of Ahmad are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Shall I not tell you about those who will be most beloved to me on the Day of Resurrection and closest of you to me in sitting? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) repeated this three or perhaps two times. The people said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Those whose character is best." (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: in the Sahih, from this Companion, only these words are recorded: "The most beloved of you to me will be those whose character is best."
Ahmad recorded it with a good (jayyid) chain.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this as a marfu' hadith: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, the most beloved of you to me will be those who are best in character, and on the Day of Resurrection the most disliked to me will be those who speak affectedly, mouthing their words pompously (or who display arrogance)." One of the narrators of this report says: I asked my teacher Ibn Bahdalah: What is meant by the word mutafayhiqun? He replied: The arrogant.
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and al-Bazzar recorded it, and his wording is: The narrator says: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you about the best of you? The people said: Yes. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The best of you are those whose character is best."
(The narrator says:) I think the narration also has these words: "those whose sides are spread out (that is, who are gentle and approachable)."
Al-Bazzar's chain contains Sadaqah bin Musa, who is da'if (weak). Al-Tabarani's chain contains Abdullah al-Ramadi, and I do not know him.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most beloved of you to me will be those whose character is best and whose sides are spread out, who show affection and are shown affection. And the most disliked of you to me will be those who go about carrying tales, who cause division between friends, and who seek out people's faults."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Saghir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains Salih bin Bashir al-Murri, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most perfect of the believers in faith will be those whose character is best and whose sides are spread out, who show affection (to people) and are shown affection. And he is not of us who does not show affection (to people) and is not shown affection."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat, and something similar in al-Mu'jam al-Saghir. Its chain contains Ya'qub bin Abi Abbad al-Qulzumi, and I do not know him.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "A Muslim who keeps to the right course reaches the rank of one who fasts much and stands in prayer reciting the verses of Allah; this is because of his good character and his gentle nature."
Ahmad recorded it, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains Ibn Lahi'ah, in whom there is weakness. The rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Rafi' bin Makith (may Allah be pleased with him), who had the honour of taking part in the expedition of al-Hudaybiyah, narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Good character is growth, and bad character is ill omen; righteousness increases one's lifespan, and charity prevents an evil death." (Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: Abu Dawud recorded from this Companion only these words: "Bad character is ill omen."
Ahmad recorded it through one of the descendants of Sayyiduna Rafi' (may Allah be pleased with him), without naming him. The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) met Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: O Abu Dharr! Shall I not guide you to two traits which are light to practise and will be heavier in the Scale than anything else? He said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Hold fast to good character and to keeping silent most of the time. By the One in whose Hand is my soul, creation has not adorned itself with anything like these two.
Abu Ya'la recorded it, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; the narrators of Abu Ya'la are thiqat (trustworthy).

It is narrated from him that he said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most perfect of the believers in faith are those whose character is best, and through good character a person reaches the rank of prayer and fasting."
Abu Ya'la recorded it. Its chain contains Zakariyya bin Yahya Abu Malik al-Ta'i, and I do not know him. The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, through a person's good character, Allah Almighty raises him to the rank of prayer and fasting."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Ali bin Sa'id bin Bashir; al-Daraqutni (may Allah have mercy on him) said: He is not of that standing. The rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You cannot accommodate people with your wealth, but you accommodate them through a cheerful face."
Abu Ya'la and al-Bazzar recorded it, and these words were added: "and good character." Its chain contains Abdullah bin Sa'id al-Maqburi, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Shall I not tell you about the best of you? The people said: Yes. He said: Those best in character (the narrator is unsure; perhaps the words are:) whoever among you is best in character."
Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains Suhayl bin Abi Hazm, whom Yahya bin Ma'in declared thiqah (trustworthy), and a group declared him da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of you are those with the longest lives and the best character."
Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains Ibn Ishaq, who is a mudallis.

Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Nothing will be placed in the Scale heavier than good character, and good character will raise its possessor to the rank of prayer and fasting."
(Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say:
Al-Tirmidhi recorded it in abridged form.
Al-Bazzar recorded it, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I am a guarantor of a house on the outskirts of Paradise, a house in the middle of Paradise and a house in the highest part of Paradise, for whoever gives up arguing even if he is in the right, gives up lying even if it is in jest, and whose character is good."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in all three of his books, and al-Bazzar recorded it. Al-Tabarani's chain contains Muhammad bin al-Husayn, and I do not know him; apparently he is al-Tamimi, who is thiqah (trustworthy). The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "I am a guarantor of a house in the gardens of Paradise, a house in its highest part and a house in its lowest part, for whoever gives up disputing despite being in the right, gives up lying even when it is in jest, and whose character is good."
Al-Tabarani recorded it; its chain contains Abu Hatim Suwayd bin Ibrahim, whom the majority declared da'if (weak), and according to one report Yahya bin Ma'in declared him thiqah (trustworthy). The rest of its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A house in the upper chambers of Paradise, a house on the outskirts of Paradise and a house in the middle of Paradise will be for whoever gives up lying even if it is in jest, and gives up arguing even if he is in the right, and for whoever has good character."
Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains Abd al-Wahid bin Sulaym, whom Ibn Hibban declared thiqah (trustworthy), and a group declared him da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I love beauty, and I also love to be praised. The narrator says: It was as if this man feared for himself (regarding arrogance). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What prevents you from loving to live a praiseworthy life and die a blessed death? I have been sent to complete good character."
Al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar recorded it, except that he narrated these words: "I have been sent with good character."
Its chain contains Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr al-Jud'ani, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent him to a people. He said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give me some counsel." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Spread the greeting of peace (salam), give food generously, and be shy before Allah Almighty the way you are shy before an awe-inspiring man of your family; when you do something bad, then do good, and keep your character good as much as you are able."
Al-Bazzar recorded it. Its chain contains Ibn Lahi'ah, in whom there is some weakness. The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give me counsel." He said: "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him as a partner." He said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give me more." He said: "When you do something bad, then do good." He said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give me more." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Remain upright and keep your character good."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Abdullah bin Salih, who has been declared trustworthy, while a group declared him da'if (weak); it also contains Abu al-Samit Sa'id bin Abi Suwayd, the freed slave of al-Mahri, whom I do not know.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyidah Umm Habibah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "O Messenger of Allah! Sometimes a woman has had two husbands (in this world); then the woman dies and enters Paradise, and both her husbands also enter Paradise. To which of the two will that woman belong, the first husband or the second husband?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That woman will be given the choice, and whichever of them was better in character with her in this world will be her husband in Paradise. O Umm Habibah! Good character has taken away the good of this world and the Hereafter."
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and al-Bazzar recorded it in abridged form. Its chain contains Ubayd bin Ishaq, who is matruk (abandoned). Abu Hatim was satisfied with him, and in terms of his condition he is the worst of all the narrators in the chain. Various routes of this hadith have already passed in the Book of Marriage.

Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "After faith in Allah Almighty, the height of wisdom is showing love to people." The narrator says: With this same chain it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever does not have three things has no connection with me and no connection with Allah Almighty." It was asked: "O Messenger of Allah! What are they?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Forbearance by which he repels the ignorance of the ignorant, good character with which he lives among people, and piety which keeps him back from disobeying Allah Almighty." Al-Tabarani recorded all of these narrations in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat and al-Mu'jam al-Saghir, and its chain contains a group of narrators whom I do not know.

Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man reaches, through forbearance, the rank of one who fasts and stands in voluntary prayer; and a man may be recorded as a tyrant (jabbar) though he owns nothing but his own household."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Abd al-Aziz bin Ubaydullah bin Hamzah, who is extremely da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most excellent of you are those who are best in character, and good character is part of faith."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat, and something similar in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Its chain contains Suwayd bin Abd al-Aziz, who is matruk (abandoned).

From him, this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported: "Those of you who will be nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection are those who are best in character."
Al-Tabarani recorded it within a long hadith, with two chains; the narrators of one of them are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Good character melts away sins just as water melts ice, and bad character spoils deeds just as vinegar spoils honey."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir and al-Mu'jam al-Awsat. Its chain contains Isa bin Maymun al-Madani, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Usamah bin Sharik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: We were sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), as if birds were perched on our heads; none of us was speaking. Meanwhile some people came to him and said: "Who among the servants of Allah is most beloved to Allah Almighty?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one whose character is best."
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "A servant, through his good character, reaches the great ranks and noble stations of the Hereafter, even though he is weak in worship; and through his bad character he may reach the lowest level in Hell."
Al-Tabarani recorded it from his teacher al-Miqdam bin Dawud, who is da'if (weak); Ibn Daqiq al-Id said in al-Imam: He has been declared trustworthy. The rest of its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was in a gathering in which were the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Sayyiduna Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Obscenity and indecent speech have nothing to do with Islam, and the person among people with the best Islam is the one whose character is best."
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and the wording is his. Ahmad and his son also recorded it, with the wording: "The best of people in Islam are those whose character is best."
Abu Ya'la recorded something similar, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man, through his good character, reaches the rank of one who stands in voluntary prayer at night and goes thirsty in the midday heat (that is, one who keeps voluntary fasts)."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains Ufayr bin Ma'dan, who is da'if (weak).

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: "Which of the people is best?" He said: "The one whose character is best."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains narrators who are among the narrators of the (six) books but who have not been declared trustworthy.

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent me to Yemen. I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give me some counsel." He said: "Hold fast to good character, for those among people with the best character are the best in religion."
Al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains Abd al-Ghaffar bin al-Qasim, who was a fabricator of hadith.