14. Excellence in Character

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ‏:‏ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ‏:‏ سَمِعْتُ عَمْرَو بْنَ الْعَاصِ قَالَ‏:‏ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ آخُذَ عَلَيَّ ثِيَابِي وَسِلاَحِي، ثُمَّ آتِيهِ، فَفَعَلْتُ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَهُوَ يَتَوَضَّأُ، فَصَعَّدَ إِلَيَّ الْبَصَرَ ثُمَّ طَأْطَأَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ‏:‏ يَا عَمْرُو، إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَبْعَثَكَ عَلَى جَيْشٍ فَيُغْنِمُكَ اللَّهُ، وَأَرْغَبُ لَكَ رَغْبَةً مِنَ الْمَالِ صَالِحَةً، قُلْتُ‏:‏ إِنِّي لَمْ أُسْلِمْ رَغْبَةً فِي الْمَالِ، إِنَّمَا أَسْلَمْتُ رَغْبَةً فِي الإِسْلاَمِ فَأَكُونُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَقَالَ‏:‏ يَا عَمْرُو، نِعْمَ الْمَالُ الصَّالِحِ لِلْمَرْءِ الصَّالِحِ‏.‏

'Amr ibn al-'As said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' He said, ''Amr! Sound (legitimately acquired) wealth is very excellent for a righteous man!'"

حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ مَرْحُومٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي شُمَيْلَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ الْقُبَائِيِّ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ‏:‏ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ، مُعَافًى فِي جَسَدِهِ، عِنْدَهُ طَعَامُ يَوْمِهِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا‏.‏

Mihsan al-Ansari reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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."

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ مُعَاذَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ خُبَيْبٍ الْجُهَنِيَّ يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَعَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ غُسْلٍ، وَهُوَ طَيِّبُ النَّفْسِ، فَظَنَنَّا أَنَّهُ أَلَمَّ بِأَهْلِهِ، فَقُلْنَا‏:‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، نَرَاكَ طَيِّبَ النَّفْسِ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ أَجَلْ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، ثُمَّ ذُكِرَ الْغِنَى، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ إِنَّهُ لاَ بَأْسَ بِالْغِنَى لِمَنِ اتَّقَى، وَالصِّحَّةُ لِمَنِ اتَّقَى خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْغِنَى، وَطِيبُ النَّفْسِ مِنَ النِّعَمِ‏.‏

Mu'adh ibn 'Abdullah ibn Khubayb al-Juhani related from his father that his uncle said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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.'"

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّوَّاسِ بْنِ سَمْعَانَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْبِرِّ وَالإِثْمِ‏؟‏ فَقَالَ‏:‏ الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ، وَالإِثْمُ مَا حَكَّ فِي نَفْسِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ‏.‏

An-Nawwas ibn Sam'an al-Ansari reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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."

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْنٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ‏:‏ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ، وَأَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ، وَأَشْجَعَ النَّاسِ، وَلَقَدْ فَزِعَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ، فَانْطَلَقَ النَّاسُ قِبَلَ الصَّوْتِ، فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ سَبَقَ النَّاسَ إِلَى الصَّوْتِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ‏:‏ لَنْ تُرَاعُوا، لَنْ تُرَاعُوا، وَهُوَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لأَبِي طَلْحَةَ عُرْيٍ، مَا عَلَيْهِ سَرْجٌ، وَفِي عُنُقِهِ السَّيْفُ، فَقَالَ‏:‏ لَقَدْ وَجَدْتُهُ بَحْرًا، أَوْ إِنَّهُ لَبَحْرٌ‏.‏

Anas reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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).

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ‏:‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ كُلُّ مَعْرُوفٍ صَدَقَةٌ، إِنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ، وَأَنْ تُفْرِغَ مِنْ دَلْوِكَ فِي إِنَاءِ أَخِيكَ‏.‏

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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."

حَدَّثَنَا الأُوَيْسِيُّ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُرَاوِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ‏:‏ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ أَيُّ الأَعْمَالِ خَيْرٌ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ، وَجِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِهِ، قَالَ‏:‏ فَأَيُّ الرِّقَابِ أَفْضَلُ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ أَغْلاَهَا ثَمَنًا، وَأَنْفَسُهَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِهَا، قَالَ‏:‏ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ بَعْضَ الْعَمَلِ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ تُعِينُ ضَائِعًا، أَوْ تَصْنَعُ لأَخْرَقَ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتُ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ تَدَعُ النَّاسَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ، فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقَهَا عَلَى نَفْسِكَ‏.‏

Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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."

حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ جَدِّي، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ‏:‏ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ صَدَقَةٌ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ فَلْيَعْمَلْ، فَلْيَنْفَعْ نَفْسَهُ، وَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ، أَوْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ لِيُعِنْ ذَا الْحَاجَةِ الْمَلْهُوفَ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ، أَوْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ فَلْيَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ، أَوْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ يُمْسِكْ عَنِ الشَّرِّ، فَإِنَّهَا لَهُ صَدَقَةٌ‏.‏

Sa'id ibn Abi Burda related from his grandfather that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 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."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلامٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْفَزَارِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ زِيَادِ بْنِ أَنْعُمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ التَّنُوخِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُكْثِرُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ‏:‏ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الصِّحَّةَ، وَالْعِفَّةَ، وَالأَمَانَةَ، وَحُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ، وَالرِّضَا بِالْقَدَرِ‏.‏

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to supplicate, "Oh Allah, I ask You for health, restraint, trustworthiness, good character, and contentment with the decree."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلامِ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ بَابَنُوسَ قَالَ‏:‏ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْنَا‏:‏ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مَا كَانَ خُلُقُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏؟‏ قَالَتْ‏:‏ كَانَ خُلُقُهُ الْقُرْآنَ، تَقْرَؤُونَ سُورَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏؟‏ قَالَتِ‏:‏ اقْرَأْ‏:‏ ‏{‏قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ‏}‏، قَالَ يَزِيدُ‏:‏ فَقَرَأْتُ‏:‏ ‏{‏قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ‏}‏ إِلَى ‏{‏لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ‏}‏، قَالَتْ‏:‏ هَكَذَا كَانَ خُلُقُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

"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, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'"