Instructions Regarding Praising People
① Sayyiduna Usama bin Zaid رضي الله عنهما narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
من صنع إليه معروف فقال لفاعله: جزاك الله خيرا؛ فقد أبلغ فى الثناء.
“If a person is shown kindness and he says to the one who did the kindness: جزاك الله خيرا (May Allah reward you better), then he has praised very highly.”
Instructions Regarding Good Character
① Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin Aas رضي الله عنهما narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was neither obscene nor foul-mouthed. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to say:
إن من أخياركم أحسنكم أخلاقا.
“The best among you is the one who has the best character among you.”
② Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
إن المؤمن ليدرك بحسن خلقه درجة الصائم القائم.
“A believer attains the status of a fasting person and one who prays Tahajjud because of his good character.”
③ Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إن من أكمل المؤمنين إيمانا أحسنهم أخلاقا وألطفهم بأهله.
“The faith of a person is most complete when his character is best and he is most kind to his family.”
④ Sayyiduna Abu Darda رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ما من شيء أثقل فى ميزان المؤمن يوم القيامة من خلق حسن، وإن الله يبغض الفاحش البديء.
“On the Day of Resurrection, there will be no deed heavier on the scale of a believer than good character, because Allah does not like the obscene and foul-mouthed person.”
⑤ Sayyiduna Abu Darda رضي الله عنه narrates, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
ما من شيء يوضع فى الميزان أثقل من حسن الخلق، وإن صاحب حسن الخلق ليبلغ به درجة صاحب الصوم والصلاة.
“There will be no deed heavier on the scale than good character. Because the person with good character, due to his good manners, attains the status of a fasting person and one who prays Tahajjud.”
⑥ Sayyiduna Nawas bin Samaan رضي الله عنه narrates, I asked the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم about the definition of good and sin, and he said:
البر حسن الخلق، والإثم ما حاك فى صدرك وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناس.
“Goodness is good character, and sin is that which troubles your heart and you dislike that people find out about it concerning you.”
Forbearance and Dignity
① Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to Ashaj Abdul Qais:
إن فيك خصلتين يحبهما الله: الحلم والأناة.
“There are two qualities in you that Allah loves: forbearance and seriousness.”
The Right of a Muslim over Another Muslim
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
حق المسلم على المسلم خمس: رد السلام، وعيادة المريض، واتباع الجنازة، وإجابة الدعوة، وتشميت العاطس.
“A Muslim has five rights over another Muslim: to respond to the greeting, to visit the sick, to attend the funeral, to accept the invitation, and when someone sneezes and says الحمد لله, to reply by saying يرحمك الله.”
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
حق المسلم على المسلم ست.
“A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim.”
It was asked:
O Messenger of Allah! What are they?
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
إذا لقيته فسلم عليه، وإذا دعاك فأجبه، وإذا استنصحك فانصح له، واذا عطس فحمد الله فشمته، وإذا مرض فعده، وإذا مات فاتبعه
“When you meet him, greet him with Salam; when he invites you, accept the invitation; when he seeks advice (well-wishing) from you, advise him; when he sneezes and says ‘الحمد لله‘, you reply by saying ‘يرحمك الله‘; when he becomes ill, visit him; and when he dies, attend his funeral.”
