GOOD CHARACTER

A person, who has Deen, must also have good character as good character is nothing else other than Deen. It is a part of Deen. Therefore, to claim that so and so person is in Deen but does not have good character, is a false pretension. There are two possibilities: either his judgment is not good or the person does not have Deen in him. Or there may be a third possibility. He may have an erroneous and distorted conception of Deen and good character.

What is good character?

Good character does not mean to be joyful with everyone. Good character does not mean to become a "yes man" and to accept everything that is said to one like a puppet. Laughing where displeasure should be expressed is not good character. It is a lack of self-esteem that makes a person continue to remain insensitive where he had to show disapproval. Similarly, being angry uselessly indicates an imbalance in the person. A person, who lacks self-esteem or balance in him, cannot be a person who has good character. Therefore, he is not a person in Deen.

Good character is a moral balance that makes a person act according to the circumstances in the appropriate way. Its speed is set according to the route that it is taking. He does not pass first gear on the landing and fourth on the ascent. He does not show his displeasure where he was supposed to be happy. Nor does he express his satisfaction where he was supposed to be upset.

People who have good character

A person, who has good character, is always humble. He is neither proud nor boastful. He accepts his mistakes when he is at fault.  He is not a person who persists in his error when he knows that he is in error. A person who has good character will rebel, will be distressed and will be angry when he sees a person taking the honour and dignity of his close ones. If, in such instances, the person remains insensitive with folded-arms and is smiling, anyone will say that he is a person who does not have self-esteem and modesty.

If a police commissioner cannot tolerate someone smoking marijuana and injecting drugs in his arm in front of him, how can a good Muslim, who must naturally have good character, allow himself to sit at a table where alcohol is being served? How can he remain quiet without feeling a pinch of bitterness and disgust in the heart and on the face when he sees his wife, daughter and sister walking on the street with their bodies uncovered to more than 50%?

Therefore, good character does not merely mean to be joyful while speaking and not to say anything. Good character does not mean tolerance. Good character means to be angry when anger should be expressed, to express appreciation for appreciable things, and to tolerate that which is tolerable. However, having tolerance for something which is intolerable is not a laudable tolerance. It is cowardice and a lack of self-esteem that is reprehensible. A person who has good character is a person who uses his faculties properly. Using them properly means to use them according to the context in the appropriate way.

How to develop good character?

A person cannot learn how to swim merely by reading books haphazardly. Similarly, a person cannot learn good character merely by reading and learning from books. He must learn good character by staying for a considerable amount of time in the company of someone who has good character and follows his instructions. Without it, it is practically impossible.

"The most perfect Muslim is the one who has the best character..." (Tirmizi)

"There is nothing that will weigh more heavily on the scale than good character." (Tirmizi)

"A person has the character of his intimate friend. So, each one of you must see well who he is befriending." (Tirmizi)

[English version of "Bon maniere" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.8]