Aspects of Good Character (Khutbah)

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Aspects of Good Character (Khutbah)
By: Abu Abdis-Salaam Siddiq Al-Juyaanee (hafidhahullaah)
Transcription: Umm Sufyaan Fatimah













Aspects of Good Character (Khutbah)
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[He begins with the sermon of need]
Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) says what means:
_

=|

_
Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad ) you have a
good example to follow. [Suurah Al-Ahzaab (33):21]
We have to know that this excellent example is not for everyone. This excellent
example is not for all of mankind. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) explains for whom
the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) will be an excellent example, and He explains
those who take the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) as their example and role
model. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) says, that in the Messenger of Allaah, there is an
excellent example.

`
| (for him). For who?

,|

`
|
For him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and
remembers Allaah much. [Suurah Al-Ahzaab (33):21]
(This example) is for the one who is hoping in and looking forward to the meeting
with His Lord (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) on the Day of Judgment. For the one who is
preparing himself for the Last Day. It is for those who remember Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Taaala) much. They are the ones who take the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam)
as their role model and example. So we should know that by imitating him (salallaahu
alayhe wasallam) we will achieve a great success and a great character. Our character
will be rectified by imitating him (salallaahu alayhe wasallam).
Allaahu (Taaala) says:
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,,

-|

And Verily, you (O Muhammad ,= -,- = _=) are on an exalted
(standard of) character. [Suurah Al-Qalam (68):4]
From the many rewards and benefits that we will get from imitating and striving to be
like the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) is that our character will be rectified. We
will be of those who will have good character, by default, because the Prophet
(salallaahu alayhe wasallam) had the most outstanding and excellent character.
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) said, in explaining to us about the importance
of good character:
From Abu Dardaa (radiallaahu anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) said:
| ._= _ .,| .| | .
The heaviest matter in the scales of Yawmil Qiymah is the good character.
1

So we have to strive to have good character O Servants of Allaah! And you should
know that from having good character, first and foremost, is that we have good
character with Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala). And having good character with Allaah
(Subhaanahu wa Taaala) means that we have to establish the Tawheed. It means that we
have to believe in Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) correctly and adorn ourselves with
those commandments that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) had commanded us with. It
means we have to stay far away from those things which Allaah (Subhaanahu wa
Taaala) had prohibited upon us and obey Him (Subhaanahu wa Taaala). This is how
one has good character with Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala).
So with that note, if any individual makes shirk with Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) it
does not matter what they do from characteristics of good they can never be called

1
Saheeh Jami #34 Shaykh Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) declared the hadeeth as Saheeh.
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a person of good character. If a person has bad character with Allaah, then he could
never have good character (in essence). If a person is making shirk with Allaah
(Subhaanahu wa Taaala), be it because he prays to saints, the angels, to the jinns, or
the Prophets and Messengers, or be it because he makes duaa (supplication) to the
likes of these individuals, he can never be an individual who can be called as having
good character.
Any person who is not upon the deen of Al-Islaam can never be called an individual of
good character. This is because they will be of those who will be disbelieving and
making shirk in Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala). So they can never be called individuals
who have good character no matter what they may do from good deeds, bring from
goodness and no matter what they may bring from the likes of that, which people like,
appreciate and respect. They can never be individuals who have good character. For
example, Mother Teresa, who died upon shirk and kufr, can never be categorized as
one who has good character. This is because she had bad character with Allaah
(Subhaanahu wa Taaala)!
Likewise, from good character, one has to have good character with the Prophet
(salallaahu alayhe wasallam). This means that he has to believe correctly in the Prophet
(salallaahu alayhe wasallam) and adorn himself with his Sunnah. It means that he has to
obey the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) and take his statements (salallaahu alayhe
wasallam) over the statements of every other human being. Anyone who is not upon
the Sunnah of Mustafa (salallaahu alayhe wasallam), anyone who commits bidah, and
anyone who contradicts and goes against the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam), can
never be categorized as one who has good character. Even if he acts good to his
neighbor, his brother or to the human beings, animals, and the like. He can never be
categorized as one who has good character. Because how can an individual have good
character when he has bad character with the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam)? So
any mubtadi (innovator) can never be called as one who has good character. Anyone
not upon the Sunnah will never attain good character because they will have bad
character with the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam).
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Shaykh Muhammad bin Uthmaan Al-Anjaree (hafidhahullaah Taaala) has a beautiful
piece on good character that I want to share with you. The Shaykh (hafidhahullaahu
Taaala) says:
Islaam has come to complete and perfect good character. But unfortunately many of
us have yet to acknowledge the behavioral completeness that Allaah has blessed upon
the Muslims. Our deen Al-Islaam points and directs us to that which will rectify our
character; that which if we implement it will give us good character.
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) says, as it comes in a hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah
(radiallaahu anhu):
, .-, ,v ;_- J:-v
Verily, I have only been sent to complete and perfect good character.
2

This is the reason he (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) has been sent. Now as we have
explained, what enters into good character, first and foremost, is having good
character with Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) and with His Messenger (salallaahu alayhe
wasallam).
The Shaykh says: But unfortunately, many of the Muslims have yet to acknowledge
this behavioral completeness that Allaah has blessed upon the Muslims. Due to this, I
wanted to share some of the legislative treasures and topics related to good character.
Jaabir (radiallaahu Taaala anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam)
said:
., - ,,-| _|, ,,| _- .- ;, --,| ., . :-| ,=-| -
,=-,| _|, ,=-,| _- ;, --,|

2
Silsilaatul Ahadeeth As-Saheeha #45 Shaykh Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) declared the hadeeth to be
Saheeh.
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Verily, the ones who are most beloved from amongst you and those who will
be closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those who have the best
character. And from those who will be the most hated and the furthest from me
are those
3

The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) mentioned three characteristics. I want all of
us to look at ourselves and weigh ourselves and think: Are we of those who matched this
description? If this is the case, then we will know what the outcome of that will be: We
will be from the most hated to the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) on the
Day of Judgment. We will be from those who will be the most distant from the
Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) on the Day of Judgment. So if we find in
us these traits, then we have to strive to correct them. We have to strive to get rid of
them. We have to strive to make tawbah to Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala) and then we
have to be of those who will establish that which is correct.
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) says:
.,,| . .==| . ._|
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) describes that the most hated to him on the
Day of Judgment and the furthest from him on the Day of Judgment are those who
talk excessively, the loud mouth and the vulgarly flavored individual. (Likewise) those
who use bad speech, those who use profanity, those who are constantly speaking
about that which contains therein no benefit, and those who are constantly speaking
to people about people in a foul despicable manner. They are the ones who are the
furthest away from the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) and the ones whom the
Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) will hate the most on the Day of Judgment.
Imaam At-Tirmidhee in explaining those from Mutashaddiquun, says: Al-Mutashadiq is
the one who is excessively speaking about people in a filthy manner.

3
Saheeh At-Tirmidhee #2018 Shaykh Al-Albaanee declared the hadeeth to be Saheeh.
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So be warned. Because how many people is it said about them, Oh this one, he has
never anything good to say. How many individuals, is it said about them, Oh this
one, she never has anything good to say. She always has something bad to say or He
always has something bad to say. Be warned. This is a very evil characteristic. If we
want to have good character, then we have to shut ourselves from the likes of these
things; from excessively talking about nothing, from speaking in a filthy, foul manner
and from constantly speaking about people with filthiness and ugliness and the like.
We have to shake ourselves from these characteristics if we want to have good
character.
Also, from those things we must shake from us, is At-Tayeer (condemning and
humiliating). There is a difference between naseeha (advice) and from tayeer
(condemning and humiliating). You will find individuals that will humiliate others and
make it seem like it is from the aspect of giving advice. You will find individuals who
humiliate, seek to condemn others and make it seem like I was just trying to give
good advice. But their intention was not to give good advice. Their intention was to
humiliate others! Their intention was to put down (their fellow believers)! Their
intention was to debase and the like! This is not from Islaam! This is not from good
character, to humiliate individuals, to abase and put them down. This is not from
Islaam even when they do something thats clearly wrong.
So the Shaykh goes on and he says:
At-Tayeer (to condemn and humiliate) people is also something that is dispraised by
the Shareeah. The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) says, in giving us an excellent
example of this, and how we are to be and how we are not to be:
., ._ --v _ ,,
If the servant girl falls into fornication, verify that she had in fact made
zina (fornication).
4


4
Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #6839 on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.
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After it has been verified, that yes, she has indeed fallen into the sin of fornication
what did the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) advise us to do? He says:
=,
Whip her.
5

This is because this is the punishment for fornication. But then the Prophet (salallaahu
alayhe wasallam) says:
=, v
But do not humiliate her.
6

Whip her, yes. But do not humiliate her (in a condemning manner)!! Now it is clear
that she made zina, it has been verified, but with that, the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe
wasallam) said: Give her the prescribed punishment, whip her. But do not humiliate
her. This is because it is not from the way of Al-Islaam to humiliate individuals. It is
not from the way of Al-Islaam to put people down and make them look bad. This is
not from Al-Islaam even when the person is clearly wrong. We stick to that which is
there, and we do not go beyond that.
He said, So whip her because this is what Islaam says is her punishment. But do not
humiliate her. Do not put her down. Just whip her!
What if she does it again? The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) says:
., , ._ =, v =,
And if she falls into fornication again, whip her, but do not humiliate her.
7


5
Ibid
6
Ibid
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This is why you find from the Ulama of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah, the Ulama of Ahl
ul-Hadeeth, from As-Sunniiyuun, As-Salafiyyuun, Al-Athariyyuun, adl (justice). It is not
from the way of the Sunnah, to as they say, Pour salt into the wound or add
insult to injury. So you find that even when they refute the mubtadia (the one who
has clearly fallen into bidah) they would restrict themselves to (solely) refuting their
bidah. Thats it. They refute their bidah. You do not find from them those who refute
the bidah and then say, And by the way, this individual had an argument with his wife
one day and he said this and that. And by the way, this individuals son is like this.
And by the way, this individuals wife is upon that. And by the way, this individuals
mother is upon that. And by the way, this individuals brother is like this and like
that.
Laa (No)! Because this is not relevant! Whatever shortcomings he may have, it is
his personal life. This is not what we are talking about right now. We are talking about
his bidah. So do not mention any personal things he may have in his life. Whatever
shortcomings his family may have, dont mention them because were not talking
about them. Were talking about the bidah that hes calling to; promoting and
encouraging.
So they restrict themselves to the bidah. This is the way of Ahl us-Sunnah. Whereas,
those who do not tread upon the Sunnah, use anything as an excuse and bring up
things that are not relevant: Oh yeah, by the way! His family is like this. His brother is like
this. His mother is like this. This is not from the way of the people of Sunnah. This
is not from the guidance of the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam). We give advice
and we do not humiliate (in a condemning manner). There is a difference, O servants
of Allaah!
The way of the mumin is that he gives advice and hides (the faults of his brother). This
is the way of the mumin. Whereas the way of the criminal, the way of the despicable
one even if he is despicable with a smile, seeming like hes your good advisor, even
if he comes to you in a manner that would seem so gentle, seem so nice, so soft, and
he is acting as if he is so humble, he is so modest then he starts doing the likes of

7
Ibid
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these evil, despicable things he is still a criminal. Arent snakes soft? Dont they
feel good to the touch? But they still kill you. So be warned. Just because an
individual comes in the likes of this manner, does not mean he is not a criminal.
So what are the characteristics now? This is because people are known by their actions
and not by their claims. Fudayl ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah), the great Imaam, says:
| _=, ., -| ,-, c,, -
The believer conceals and advises (his fellow believers), whereas the criminally
wicked exposes and humiliates.
The criminal exposes and does not hide the faults (of his brothers). He does not hide
their faults and he does not hide their sins, rather he exposes them and brings them
out. These are the characteristics of the evil ones.

[Second sermon]
Islaam teaches us not to be nosy. Islaam teaches us not to pry. Islaam teaches to try
not to seek out filthy and ugly details about the shortcomings of others. Islaam
teaches to hide as much as were able to hide about the faults and mistakes of our
brothers even when they become apparent that they made mistakes . There comes
a hadeeth that has been collected in Muslim, which says:
, ,= -,- = _= _,| _|, -_ .- = ,=_ , : =- .,=|
_- -|
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A man came to the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) and said: O Messenger
of Allaah! I did a sin that is punishable by the Shariaah, so establish the legal
punishment upon me.
8

And Anas ibn Maalik (radiallaahu anhu) said:
, :=| ==-
The Salaah came in.
9

This is because the man said this to the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) and the
Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) heard him, but did not answer him. He did not
acknowledge him. He heard what he said, but he did not answer him. And then the
prayer came in.
,= -,- = _= = ,=_ _- _= . :=| _=
So the man prayed with the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam). And when
the prayer was over
10

(This is the manner of) the believer, he wants to get rid of the sin now; he does not
want to meet Allaah with it. After the prayer, the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam)
did not search for the man. He did not say, Where is the one who said what he said.
Bring him here, lets deal with it now. Rather, the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam)
did not respond. He still did not acknowledge it. He did not address it. So the man
himself came and said:
, = ,=_ , : = = _ ,| =- .,=| _,

8
Saheeh Muslim #2764 on the authority of Anas ibn Maalik (radiallaahu anhu)
9
Ibid
10
Ibid
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He said: O Messenger of Allaah! Verily, I have transgressed the bounds and
did something punishable by the Shariaah, so establish the rule that is found
in the Book of Allaah upon me.
, ' -- :=| ==- ' , ,- .
So the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) said: Did you pray the prayers with us?
The man said: Naam (Yes).
You see, the only thing the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) asked this man was:
Did you pray the prayers with us? And the man said: Yes.
c| - = ,
So the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) said: Allaah has forgiven you.
Thats it, its over! Allaah has forgiven you. Now I want you to look at what you dont
see from this narration. A characteristic that we have to shake, is that were nosy. We
pry. We seek after the faults of others. The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) did not
ask the man, What did you do? How did you do it? Who was it done with?
What are the details? He did not ask the man that. The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe
wasallam) did not even ask him what he did! The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam)
didnt turn around and say Where is the man? Let us do it now! No! He let it go.
When the man came to the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) a second time
admitting he did something wrong, again, he (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) did not ask
him: What did you do? How did you do it? Who did you do it with? Give me
the details. How did it go down? How did it happen? What time of day?
What time of night? Did someone see you? What happened? You tell me!
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) did not get into that. He did not pry. He was
not chasing after the peoples faults. He asked a man a very simple question: Did you
pray with us? The man said: Yes. The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) said:
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Verily, Allaah has forgiven you.
Allaah has forgiven you! This is because the good deeds wipe out the bad deeds.
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) was informed by Allaah (Subhaanahu wa
Taaala) that the man was forgiven. He never pried. He never sought after (his
sins). So let us be warned. How many a time you may hear something, an evil that a
brother or a sister has done, and how often and unfortunate is the case that people
start to pry. And they meet that with a million questions, What about this? What
about that? When did this happen? What was the date? What happened here?
And did somebody see it? Etc. No, O Servants of Allaah!
The Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) warns us from the likes of this. He tells that
the one seeking after peoples faults and sins, Allaahu (Taaala) will expose their faults
and their sins. This is the reward. You chase after your brothers dirt and Allaahu
(Taaala) will expose your dirt. You chase after your sisters sins and Allaah
(Subhaanahu wa Taaala) will expose yours. But if you hide your brother and if you hide
your sister, then biidhnillaahi Taaala, Allaahu (Taaala) will hide your sins and He will
screen your sins in this dunyaa and on the Day of Judgment.
This is because the way of the believer is to offer advice. We do not expose others, we
do not condemn. We advise. We hide those faults. And the way of the criminally
wicked, the despicable and evil individual, is that he exposes those things and he seeks
to condemn and belittle (his brother). These are just some of the aspects of good
character that we have to strive to adorn ourselves with. It is incumbent that we strive
and work hard to do this, because there is not a single one from amongst us that has
been born with complete good character.
There are going to be aspects of good character that Allaahu (Taaala) will have given
us and they are going to be other aspects of character that we have to strive and work
for. Make it jihaad (spiritual struggle) within ourselves. Fight against ourselves in order
to establish. So it is important, O Servants of Allaah, that we know what good
character is, so that we may do implement it and know what bad character is so that
we may stay away from it.
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Let us be of those who take the Prophet (salallaahu alayhe wasallam) as their example
and let us be of those who are warned. Let us be of those who know that if we do
anything from the likes of this bad character, then verily we are the only ones who
are going to suffer.