Recognition of Sin and Virtue

Written by: Sheikh Abdul Salam bin Muhammad (may Allah protect him)

Narrated by Nawas bin Sam’an (may Allah be pleased with him): I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about righteousness and sin, and he replied:

"Righteousness is good character, and sin is what causes unease in your heart and you dislike that people should come to know of it."

[Muslim, Bulugh al-Maram: 1238]

Explanation and Benefits:​

  1. Definition of Good Character (Husn al-Khuluq):
    Good character is generally understood as treating people with kindness, meeting them with a smile, and avoiding harshness. However, this is a limited understanding. In reality, good character encompasses adopting all of Allah’s commands to such an extent that they become as natural as one’s inherent habits, performed without difficulty.

    The evidence for this is the verse where Allah says about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

    "And indeed, you are of a great moral character."
    [Surah Al-Qalam: 4]

    When Sa’d bin Hisham asked Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the character of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), she replied:

    "His character was the Qur’an."
    [Muslim]

    This means the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had adopted the teachings of the Qur’an so completely that following its commands and avoiding its prohibitions had become his natural disposition.

    In this understanding of good character, the following aspects are included: the pillars of Islam, rights of Allah, rights of people, patience, gratitude, fulfilling promises, truthfulness, trustworthiness, justice, charity, jihad, excellence in worship, and much more. The comprehensive nature of good character can be found in various verses, such as:

    "Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west..."
    [Surah Al-Baqarah: 177]

    And:

    "And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth humbly..."
    [Surah Al-Furqan: 63]

    And:

    "Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise [Allah]..."
    [Surah At-Tawbah: 112]

    And:

    "Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly submissive; and they who turn away from ill speech; and they who are observant of zakah..."
    [Surah Al-Mu’minun: 1-11]

    For a detailed explanation, refer to the Qur’an along with its tafsir.


  2. Two Signs of Sin:
    • Inner Discomfort: The first sign of sin is that it causes discomfort and restlessness in the heart. A person is unsure whether to engage in it or not, fearing Allah’s displeasure and potential disgrace among people. This unease itself is a sign that the action may be sinful. Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he memorized this from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

      "Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt, for truth brings tranquility and falsehood brings doubt."
      [Tirmidhi, Nasa’i]
    • Fear of Exposure: The second sign is a dislike of others finding out about the action. This desire to conceal one's deeds from others, particularly sinful deeds, indicates the act is not righteous. A person is generally pleased when others know of their good deeds, but wants to hide their bad ones, which leads to the problem of riya (showing off).
  3. Doubtful Matters Are Also Sins: Actions that cause doubt, where one is uncertain whether they are allowed or prohibited, fall under the category of sin. So, if even doubtful actions are considered sins, there is no question about the clarity of actions explicitly prohibited in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
  4. Obey Allah and His Messenger Despite People’s Dislike: If an action is commanded by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and people dislike it due to ignorance, the opinion of people holds no value. A Muslim’s responsibility is to obey Allah without fearing the blame of critics. Allah says:

    "They do not fear the blame of any critic."
    [Surah Al-Ma’idah: 54]
  5. Inherent Human Recognition of Good and Evil: Allah has placed within human nature the ability to recognize right and wrong. This is why virtue (ma’ruf) in Arabic is referred to as something universally recognized as good, while evil (munkar) is something inherently rejected by human nature.
In conclusion, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has provided a clear framework for identifying righteousness and sin, making it easier for a believer to distinguish between actions that bring them closer to Allah and those that lead them astray.
 
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