Care in Building Characteristics of the Believers

Islamweb) By: Shaykh Ahmed Fareed




From the morals and manners of the Salaf (ancestors) was that they would constantly search their souls to breed in them the characteristics of the believers, and to discard the characteristics of the hypocrites.

One is the opposite of the other. A summary of the believers characteristics is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, "…those who turn (to Allah) in repentance, who worship Him, who praise Him, who fast (or go out in Allah's Cause), who bow down, who prostrate themselves (in prayer), who enjoin good and forbid evil, and who observe the limits set by Allah. And give glad tidings to the believers." [9:112]

"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who humble themselves in their prayers, and those who avoid vain talk, and those who pay the Zakat (alms tax), and those who guard their chastity except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess - for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat ( all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts) and to their covenants; and those who (strictly) guard their prayers. These are indeed the inheritors, who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever." [Holy Qur'an, 23:1-11]

The Prophet (SAWS) said, "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." [Bukhari]

The Prophet (SAWS) also said, "By Allah! He does not believe. By Allah! He does not believe. By Allah! He does not believe." He was asked, "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He (SAWS) said: "Whoever does not safeguard his neighbour from his harms." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Yahya ibn Muadh gathered the characteristics of the believers in one of his essays as follows, "It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too. To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt. For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good action. To have little slip-ups and not to be excessive. To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them. To be dignified and grateful.

To be full of contentment if Allah restricted some provision. To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers. To be compassionate and chaste. Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip. Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant nor vain. Not to lean towards worldliness, nor to extend long hopes and wishes. Neither to sleep too much nor to be absent-minded, nor to show-off nor to be hypocritical.

Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful, not servile. Loving for the sake of Allah, being pleased for His sake and being angry only for His sake. His provision is taqwa (reverential fear of Allah). His worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife. His friends remind him. His beloved is His Protector and Master. His struggle is for the Afterlife."

Fudayl ibn 'Iyad said, "A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow!"