وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

And indeed, you are of a great moral character. (al-Qalam: 4)

In this ayah, Allah testifies to the good character of the Prophet ﷺ

He was an embodiment of the Qur’an:

‘Aisha (ra) said, “His character was the Qur’an. Have you not read the Qur’an? The words of ‘Azza wajal? – And indeed you (O Prophet), are of the highest noble character.” [Musnad Ahmad]

The Prophet ﷺ was sent to perfect good character.

إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الْأَخْلَاقِ

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed I have been sent in order to perfect good character.” [Musnad Ahmad]

His character was foretold, a sign of his Prophethood:

“O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news and a protection to the unlettered.” [al-Bukhari]

His wasiyyah:

The Prophet ﷺsaid, “Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow a bad deed with a good deed, it will wipe it out, and behave with people with good conduct.” [Musnad Ahmad]

The testimony of his family

‘Aisha (ra) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never struck a servant of his with his hand, nor did he ever hit a woman. He never hit anything with his hand, except for when he was fighting Jihad in the cause of Allah. And he was never given the option between two things except that the most beloved of the two to him was the easiest of them, as long as it did not involve sin. If it did involve sin, then he stayed farther away from sin than any of the people. He would not avenge himself concerning anything that was done to him, except if the limits of Allah were transgressed. Then, in that case he would avenge for the sake of Allah.” [Muslim]

‘Aisha (ra) said, “He was the best of people in character; he was not one who was obscene nor did he engage himself in the use of obscene language, he did not make noise in the market and he would not repay evil with its like, but he would pardon and overlook.” [Musnad Ahmad]

The testimony of his Companions:

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (ra) said, “Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was not one who was obscene nor did he engage himself in the use of obscene language.” [al-Bukhari]

The testimony of his servants:

Anas (ra) said, “I served the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for ten years, and he never said a word of displeasure to me (Uff), nor did he ever say to me concerning something I had done, ‘Why did you do that.’ And he never said to me concerning something I had not done, ‘Why didn’t you do this.’ He had the best character, and I never touched any silk or anything else that was softer than the palm of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. And I never smelled any musk or perfume that had a better fragrance than the sweat of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” [al-Bukhari]

People were deeply affected by his character:

Mu’awiyah ibn Hakam (ra) said, “May my father and mother be ransomed for him, I have never seen a teacher before him nor after him better in teaching than him.” [Muslim]

Good character isn’t just for the Prophet ﷺ, but also for the believers as well. Having good character is highly emphasized in our deen.

Good Character

It is part of perfecting Iman:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The most complete of believers are those who have the best character.” [Abu Dawud]

It is the beauty of Islam: 

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, the best people in Islam are those with the best character.” [Musnad Ahmad]

It is the best deed:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The son of Adam does not act with anything better than prayer, reconciliation between people, and good character.” [al-Silsilah al-Sahihah]

It is equal in importance to Salah and fasting:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, the believer may reach by his good character the rank of one who regularly fasts and stands for prayer at night.” [Abu Dawud]

It is loved by Allah:

Sahl ibn Sa’d narrated, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Verily, Allah is generous. He loves generosity and exalted character, and He detests pettiness.’” [al-Silsilah al-Sahihah]

The most beloved of people:

Who are the most beloved servants of Allah to Allah? He ﷺ said, “Those with the most excellent character.” [al-Silsilah al-Sahihah]

The closest to the Prophet ﷺ:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, the most beloved and nearest to my gathering on the Day of Resurrection are those of you with the best character.” [al-Tirmidhi]

The best of the Ummah:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best of my nation are those with the most excellent character.” [al-Adab al-Mufrad]

The heaviest in the scale:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The heaviest thing in the scale of the believer on the Day of Judgement is good character.”  [al-Adab al-Mufrad]

The best homes in Jannah

The Prophet ﷺ said, “I guarantee a house in the highest part of Paradise for whoever made his character good.” [Abu Dawud]

Du’a:

اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسَنْتَ خَلْقِي فَأَحْسِنْ خُلُقِي

“O Allah, You have made my creation perfect, so make my moral characteristics also be the best.” [Bulugh al-Maram] 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُبِكَ مِنْ مُنْكَرَاتِ الْأَخْلَاقِ وَالْأَعْمَالِ وَالْأَهْوَاءِ 

“O Allah, Verily I seek refuge in You from bad manners, deeds and desires.” [al-Tirmidhi]

At the beginning of salah: 

Jabir said, “When the Prophet g began prayer he said the takbir, then said, 

إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَعْمَالِ وَأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَقِنِي سَيِّئَ الْأَعْمَالِ وَسَيِّئَ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَقِي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ 

‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims. O Allah, guide me to the best deeds and the best character, for no one guides to the best of them but you. Protect me from evil deeds and evil character, for no one protects from the evil of them but You.’” [al-Nasa’i]