This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ﴾
"You became gentle with them only because of Allah's mercy. And if you had been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in affairs. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]."
Reference: (3-Al Imran:159)
This means it is Allah's mercy upon you and your companions. And it is Allah's favor upon you that you have become very gentle towards them, you treat them with great kindness and compassion. And your character with them is very good. Therefore, they gathered around you, love you, and obey your commands.
﴿وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا﴾ That is, if you were ill-tempered ﴿غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ﴾ meaning hard-hearted, ﴿لا نْفَظُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ﴾ they would have dispersed from around you because ill-temper and hardness of heart cause people to become averse and create enmity in their hearts. Thus, the good character of a worldly leader attracts people towards Allah's religion and creates interest in religion among people. Besides, it is praiseworthy among people and deserves special reward with Allah. On the other hand, the bad character of a religious leader causes people to become averse to religion and creates enmity towards religion among people. Along with that, a bad-tempered religious leader deserves blame and special punishment. "
Reference: (Tafsir As-Sa'di, Translator: 440/1)
﴿وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ﴾
"And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend."
Reference: (41-Fussilat:34)
﴿وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا﴾
"And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy."
Reference: (17-Al Isra:53)
This is Allah, the Blessed and Exalted's kindness and grace upon His servants that He has commanded them to have good manners, deeds, and speech, which are the cause of success in this world and the Hereafter. Thus He said: "Say to My servants that they speak what is best." This applies to every speech that is a means of drawing near to Allah, such as reciting the Quran, remembrance of Allah, acquiring knowledge, enjoining good, forbidding evil, and speaking sweetly to people according to their ranks and status. If two good matters are presented and it is not possible to combine or apply both, then the better one should be preferred, and good speech always invites to good character and righteous deeds. Therefore, whoever has control over his tongue, all his affairs are under his control."
Reference: (Tafsir As-Sa'di, Translator: 2/1468)
The Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the possessor of excellent character. Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ﴾
"And indeed, you are of a great moral character."
Reference: (68-Al Qalam:4)
The beauty of the Prophet's character is like a bouquet,
How amazing that its fragrance reaches the garden of paradise.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) to treat people with good manners:
عن أبى ذر قال: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : اتق الله حيثما كنت، وأتبع السيئة الحسنة تمحها، وخالق الناس بخلق حسن
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr Jundub bin Junadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Wherever you are, fear Allah and follow evil with good, for good will erase evil, and treat people with good character."
Reference: Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Chapters of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Chapter: What has been narrated about dealing with people, No: 1987 -
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is "Hasan" (good).عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إن المؤمن ليدرك بحسن خلقه درجة الصائم القائم .
It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: "A believer attains a rank through his good character that a fasting and night-praying person attains."
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Manners, Chapter on Good Character, No: 4798 -
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is authentic.عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إن من أحبكم إلي، وأقربكم مني مجلسا يوم القيامة أحاسنكم أخلاقا، وإن أبغضكم إلى وأبعدكم مني يوم القيامة، الثرثارون، والمتشدقون، والمتفيهقون .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The most beloved of you to me and the closest to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those among you who have the best character. And the most disliked to me and the farthest from me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who are excessive talkers, who open their mouths excessively and are arrogant."
Reference: Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Chapters of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Chapter on High Morals, No: 2018 - Authentic Series, No: 791
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال: سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن أكثر ما يدخل الناس الجنة - قال: تقوى الله وحسن الخلق وسئل عن أكثر ما يدخل الناس النار، فقال: الفم والفرج .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was asked: Which deeds cause most people to enter Paradise? He (peace be upon him) said: "Fear of Allah and good character." And he was asked: Which things cause most people to enter Hell? He said: "The mouth and the private parts."
Reference: Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Chapters of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Chapter on Good Character, No: 2004 -
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as good chain.عن النواس بن سمعان رضى الله عنه قال: سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن البر والإثم فقال: البر حسن الخلق، والإثم: ما حاك فى صدرك، وكرهت أن يطلع عليه الناس .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Nawas bin Sam'an (may Allah be pleased with him) that I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about good and bad deeds, and he replied: "Goodness is good character, and sin is that which troubles your heart and you dislike that people should know about it."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Chapter on Explanation of Righteousness and Sin, No: 2553.
عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما قال: لم يكن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فاحشا ولا متفحشا. قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن من خيركم أحسنكم خلقا .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin As (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was neither harsh nor foul-mouthed, and he used to say: "The best among you is the one with the best character."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Manners, No: 6029 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Virtues, Chapter on Abundance of Modesty, No: 6033.
عن أبى الدرداء رضي الله عنه: أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما شيء أثقل فى ميزان المؤمن يوم القيامة من خلق حسن، وإن الله ليبغض الفاحش البذيء .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, nothing will be heavier in the scale of a believing servant than good character. And indeed, Allah dislikes the foul-mouthed and obscene."
Reference: Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Chapter on Good Character, No: 2002 - Authentic Series, No: 876.
Treating others with good character not only pleases Allah but the Prophet (peace be upon him) also gave glad tidings of Paradise. In reality, this is an expression of Allah's love for His servants because when you treat someone with excellent character, others will also treat you well, which increases mutual love in the home and society and brings peace and ease in life.
