Good Conduct

All praise is due to Allah, the Beneficent and the Merciful. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.

 

Dear brothers!

One of the goals of Islam is the establishment and fulfilment of Allah’s rights upon mankind, and the rights of man over his fellow human beings. In the Quran Allah says: “Worship Allâh and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masâkin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allâh does not like such as are proud and boastful” (An-Nisa’: 36).

 

Good conduct is the foundation for the fulfilment of one’s obligations to Allah and to other human beings. Good conduct increases ones rank in the sight of Allah and erases one’s misdeeds. Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, related that she heard the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam saying: “A believer achieves by his good conduct the same reward as a person who fasts much and prays (the voluntary prayer) during the night.” (Abu Dawood).

 

The Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said: “Nothing is heavier on the scale of a believing slave (of Allah) on the Day of Resurrection than good conduct. Indeed Allah dislikes the rude and disrespectful.” (At-Tirmidhi).

 

Good conduct includes all commendable characteristics and all other matters which are good according to Islamic Law and sound reason. Some scholars have stated that: “Good conduct is to spread all that which is good and abstain from all that which is evil.” Good conduct entails that one performs all that which Allah has enjoined and abstains from all that which He has forbidden.

 

Good conduct benefits a believer in this life and the next, and increases his rank before his Lord.

 

Brothers in Islam! Allah enjoins in His Great Book all noble characteristics and forbids all unpleasant ones. The prophetic Sunnah also enjoins good conduct and forbids filthy behaviour.

 

In His Glorious Book, Allah says that which translates as: “…And do not approach immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed …” (Al-An’am: 151). “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good and turn away from the ignorant.” (Al-A’raf: 199). “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.” (Fussilat: 34), and He says that which translates as: “…And lower your wing [i.e., show them kindness] to the believers.” (Al-Hijr: 88).

 

Allah also says which translates as: “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace. And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord, prostrating and standing [in prayer]. And those who say: ‘Our Lord! Avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence. And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate. And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse…” (Al-Furqan: 63-68).

 

From the Sunnah, it is reported that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I am the guarantor of a home in the upper part of Paradise for whomsoever possesses good conduct.” (Abu Dawood).  He sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said: “Shall I not tell you of the person for whom Hell is forbidden? – Hell is forbidden for every person who is tolerant, unpretentious and pleasant.” (At-Tirmidhi).

 

‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Gentleness does not but adorn one’s deeds and when something is devoid of gentleness, it becomes disfigured.” (Muslim). Nawwaas bin Sam‘an, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam about righteousness and sin and he replied: “Righteousness is good conduct and sin is something that is deeply rooted in your heart which you would not like anybody else to know about.”“ (Muslim).

 

Good conduct is a blessing for a person and their community. It is indicative of progress and a high position in the sight of Allah and it causes one to be loved by others.