Al-Adab al-Mufrad

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "A man who is known for his good character has the same degree as someone who stands at night in prayer."

Abu Hurayra said, "I heard Abu'l-Qasim say, 'The best of you in Islam is the best of you in character when they possess understanding (of the deen)."

Thabit ibn 'Ubayd said, "I have not seen anyone more serious when he sits with the people nor more jovial in his house than Zayd ibn Thabit."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), was asked, 'Which religion does Allah Almighty love the most?' He replied, 'The simple Hanifiyya one.'"

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr said, "There are four qualities such that if you were to be given them, you will not be harmed even if the world were to be taken away from you. They are: good character, restraint in food, truthful speech, and upholding a trust."

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, (ﷺ), said, "Do you know what it is that makes most people enter Hellfire?" "Allah and His Messenger know best," they said. He said, "The two empty ones: the genitals and the mouth. Do you know what it is that makes most people enter Paradise? Taqwa of Allah and good character."

Umm ad-Darda' said, "Abu'd-Darda' stood up in the night to pray. He was weeping and said, 'O Allah! You made my physical form good, so make my character good!' until morning. I said, 'Abu'd-Darda', your only supplication for the entire night was for good character!' He replied, 'Umm ad-Darda', the Muslim perfects his character until good character enters him into Paradise; and taints his character until his bad character enter him into Hellfire. The Muslim is forgiven while he is asleep.' I asked, 'Abu'd-Darda', how can be forgiven while he is asleep?' He said, 'His brother arises in the night, performs the night prayer, and supplicates to Allah Almighty and is answered. He supplicates for his Muslim brother and his supplication is answered.'"

Usama ibn Sharik said, "I was with the Prophet, (ﷺ), when some bedouins came. There were many people on all sides. The people were silent and no one spoke except them. They said, 'Messenger of Allah! We experience difficulty in such-and-such and such-and-such' and it was in things which are not harmful to people. He said, 'Servants of Allah! Allah has removed difficulty except in a case where a man slanders someone unjustly - that is the one who is in difficulty and destroyed.' They said, 'Messenger of Allah, can we make use of medical treatment?' 'Yes, servants of Allah,' he replied, 'you can make use of medical treatment. Allah Almighty did not create an illness but that He made a cure for it - except for one disease.' They asked, 'And what is that, Messenger of Allah?' 'Old age,' he replied. They said, 'Messenger of Allah, what is the best thing that a man can be given?' He replied, 'Good character'."

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), was the most generous of people in giving charity. He was even more generous in Ramadan when Jibril, (ﷺ), used to meet him. Every night of Ramadan, Jibril used to come to him and the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), would read the Qur'an to him. When Jibril came to him, the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), was more generous in giving charity than the blowing wind."

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "Before your time a man was called to account and it was found that the only good thing he had done was that he was easy in his business dealings with people. He used to order his slaves to go easy with people who were in difficulty. Allah Almighty said, 'We are more entitled to do that than he is, so forgive him.'"

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "What is the most frequent reason for someone entering Paradise?" He said, "Taqwa and good character. He was asked, "What is the most frequent reason for people entering the Hellfire?" He replied, "The two empty ones: the mouth and the genitals."

It is reported Nawwas ibn Sam'an asked the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), about righteousness and sin. He said, "Righteousness is good character and sin is what gnaws at your conscience and that which you dislike for other people to become aware of."

Jabir reported: that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "Who is your chief, O Banu Salama?" We replied, "Judd ibn Qays, although we think that he is a miser." He said, "What illness is worse than miserliness? Rather, your chief is 'Amr ibn al-Jamuh." And 'Amr was (serving) upon their idols during Jahilyyah and he used to arrange the marriage banquet of the Messenger of Allah if he married.

Warrad, the scribe of al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, said, "Mu'awiya wrote to al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, saying, 'Write down for me something which you heard the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ).' Al-Mughira wrote to him, ' The Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), used to forbid gossip, wasting money, asking too many questions, refusing to give, disobedience to parents, and burying daughters alive."

Jabir said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), was never asked for anything to which he said, 'No,'"

'Amr ibn al-'As said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), sent for me. He commanded me to put on my clothes and weapons and come to him. I did that and came to him while he was doing wudu'. He looked at me and then lowered his eyes. He then said, ''Amr, I want to put you in charge of an army and Allah will give you booty. I will give you a correct portion of the spoils.' I said, 'I did not become Muslim out of the desire for property. I became Muslim out of the desire for Islam and so that I would be with the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ).' He said, ''Amr! Sound (legitimately acquired) wealth is very excellent for a righteous man!'"

Mihsan al-Ansari reported that the Prophet, (ﷺ), said, "When someone is secure in his property, healthy in his body and has his food for the day, it is as if he owned the entire world."

Mu'adh ibn 'Abdullah ibn Khubayb al-Juhani related from his father that his uncle said that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), came out to them with the traces of ghusl on him. He was cheerful so we thought he had been with his wives. We said, 'Messenger of Allah, we see that you are cheerful.' He said, 'Yes, and praise be to Allah!' Then wealth was mentioned that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, 'There is no harm in wealth for someone who has taqwa, but health for the person who has taqwa is even better than wealth. Cheerfulness is a blessing.'"

An-Nawwas ibn Sam'an al-Ansari reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), about righteousness and sin. He said, "Righteousness is good character and sin is what gnaws at your conscience and that which you dislike for other people to become aware of."

Anas reported that the Prophet, (ﷺ), was the best of people, the most generous of people and most courageous of people. One night the people of Madina were alarmed by a noise and the people went towards its source. The Prophet, (ﷺ), met them, having already reached the source of the noise before them and he was saying, "Do not be alarmed. Do not be alarmed." He was riding a horse belonging to Abu Talha without a saddle and a sword was hung around his neck. He said, "I found it (the horse) like a great river" or it was a great river (meaning its speed).

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "Every act of kindness is sadaqa. Part of kindness is that you offer your brother a cheerful face and you pour some of your bucket into his water vessel."

Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet, (ﷺ), was asked, "Which is the best action?" He replied, "Belief in Allah and jihad in His Way." He was asked, "Which slaves are best?" He replied, "The highest in price and the most precious to their people." He said, "What do you think I should do if I am unable to fight?" He said, "Help someone in trouble or work for someone who does not work." He said, "What do you think that I should do if I am too weak (to act accordingly)?" He said, "Spare people your evil. That is a sadaqa which you bestow on yourself."

Sa'id ibn Abi Burda related from his grandfather that the Prophet, (ﷺ), said, "Every Muslim owes sadaqa." He said, "What do you think he should do if he cannot find anything to give?" He replied, "He should find work and thus benefit himself and be able to give sadaqa." He said, "What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?" He said, "He should help someone with a great need." He said, "What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?" He replied, "He should command the good." He asked, "What do you think he should do if he cannot or does not do that?" He replied, "He should refrain from evil. That is sadaqa for him."

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), used to supplicate, "Oh Allah, I ask You for health, restraint, trustworthiness, good character, and contentment with the decree."

Yazid ibn Yabnus said, "We went to 'A'isha and said, 'Umm al-Mu'minin, what was the character of the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), like?' She replied, 'His character was the Qur'an. Can you recite the sura entitled "The Believers"?' She said, 'Recite: "It is the believers who are successful: those who are humble in their prayer; those who turn away from worthless talk; those who actively pay zakat; those who guard their private parts." (23:1-5)' She said, 'That was the character of the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ).'"