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Muslim Students
A MUSLIM’S CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOUR
By: Hafiz Usman Munawwar
In this essay I will tell you about a Muslim’s character and behaviour and about the good and humble acts which Muslims perform to help mankind and please Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala). I hope that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) guides us to perform more and more good deeds.
There is a Hadith on good behaviour:
Hadrat Abu Darda (Rady Allahu Anhu), relates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Nothing is heavier in the scales of a believer on the Day of Judgement than his good behaviour. Allah detests a person who is obscene and shameless”. (Tirmidhi)
All the people in this world should follow the character of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) and his Sunnah (tradition). Muslims are very humble and polite. They are sharing, giving and kind. They are also very helpful to others, whether the ones they are helping are Muslims or not. Muslims have very strong Faith in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) and His Rasul (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam). Muslims all around the world pray five times a day.
Muslims are also very kind and forgiving. They help others when needed. They are very kind to their neighbours and they respect their elders. If a Muslim’s neighbour needed help in cleaning the lawn or cutting the grass, he would help his neighbour.
Muslims are forgiving to others as was shown by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam). There was one incident when the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) went to Taif to preach but the people stoned him. Then the angels of the mountain came to the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) and asked him if they should crush the people of Taif with the mountains surrounding the valley. However the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said “no”, and he said that he is Rahmatul-lil-‘Aalameen (a Mercy for all the worlds). He also said maybe those people would one day believe in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) and have a change of heart.
There is a Hadith on mercy and forgiveness:
Hadrat Jarir bin Abdullah (Rady Allahu Anhu), relates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Anyone who has no mercy for others will receive no mercy from Allah”. (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) was very truthful and trustworthy and for that he is called As-Saadiq (The Truthful) and Al-Amin (The Trustworthy). All Muslims should follow the example of the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) and no one should lie to others. If you speak the truth, then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) will be very pleased with you and you will be rewarded for saying the truth. Lying is the way of Shaitaan and we should never follow that way because Shaitaan is our worst enemy.
Muslims from all over the world make a Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah every year. They also fast in the month of Ramadan every day from dawn to dusk and they pray Taraawih Prayers in the month of Ramadan. Muslims also give zakah (poor-due) and sadaqah (charity). Giving charity to the poor and the needy is an act loved by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala). When you give to the poor and the needy, they ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) to send blessings on you and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) blesses you and you also get heavenly rewards for giving sadaqah.
There is a Hadith on sadaqah:
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Rady Allahu Anhu), relates that the Holy Prophet, (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said, “Charity does not decrease wealth, Allah enhances the honour of one who forgives, and one who humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah exalts him in rank”. (Muslim)
Muslims greet by saying As-Salamu Alaikum (peace be upon you). The reply is: wa alaikum us-Salam (and peace be upon you too).
Muslims are supposed to have good manners. Muslims show good manners in several different ways, including; when eating, they eat with the right hand; when talking, they talk in a low and calm voice; when greeting, they greet with respect; when yawning, they cover their mouth; and when sneezing, they also cover their mouth.
There are many Hadith on good manners, two of them are:
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Rady Allahu Anhu), relates that when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) sneezed, he covered his mouth with his hand or a piece of cloth to reduce the sound. (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
Hadrat Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri (Rady Allahu Anhu), relates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) said, “When one of you yawns, he should cover his mouth with his hand, otherwise Satan would enter (into his open mouth).” (Muslim)
All these character traits and behaviour are from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) and we should follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah all the time.
Rabi‘ Awwal 1423, May 2002