As Muslims, we must always possess good character and high manners :bg :bg :bg. In the middle of Paradise, are those who had these features.
Good character includes suppressing one's anger, and being gentle and humble :bt1. Also not to harm others, and to be patient when others harm us :cwt .
The meaning of good character is the inclination of the person towards gentle and praiseworthy acts. This may take place in one's personal actions for Allah subhanahu wa ta^ala, or in actions which involve other people. In the former case, the slave of Allah has an open and welcoming heart for His commandments and prohibitions, and does what He has imposed on him happily and easily, and abstains from the things which He has forbidden him with full contentment, and without the least dissatisfaction. He likes to perform optional good acts, and abstains from many permitted things for the sake of Allah.
This he does with a contented :bh1heart:bh1, and without feeling any resentment or hardship. When he deals with other people, he is tolerant when claiming what is his right, and does not ask for anything which is not; but he discharges all the duties which he has towards others.
When he falls ill or returns from a trip, and no-one visits him, or when he gives a greeting which is not returned, or when he is a guest but is not honoured, or intercedes but is not responded to, or does a good turn for which he is not thanked, or joins a group of people who do not make room for him to sit, or speaks and is not listened to, or asks permission of a friend to enter, and is not granted it, or proposes to a woman, and is not allowed to marry her, or ask for more time to repay a debt, but is not given more time, or asks for it to be reduced, but is not permitted this, and all similar cases, he does not grow angry, or seek to punish people, or feel within himself that he has been snubbed, or ignored.:no2 :no2:no2
Neither does he try to retaliate with the same treatment when able to do so, but instead tells himself that he does not mind any of these things, and responds to each one of them with something which is better, and closer to goodness and piety, and is more praiseworthy and pleasing :lia.
He remembers to carry out his duties to others just as he remembers their duties towards himself, so that when one of his Muslim brothers falls ill he visits him :lvlv1, if he is asked to intercede, he does so, if he is asked for a respite in repaying a debt he agrees, and if someone needs assistance he gives it, and if someone asks for favourable terms in a sale, he consents, all without looking to see how the other person had dealt with him in the past :lo1, and to find out how other people behave. He treats others the way he would like to be treated :apl1.
It is well known that a man of sensible opinion can become even more sensible by keeping the company of intelligent and sensible people, and that a learned or a righteous man can learn even more by sitting with other people orf learning or righteousness; therefore it cannot be denied that a man of beautiful character may acquire an even more beautiful character by being with people whose characters are superior to his own.
:l2m:l2m:l2mMay Allah make us among those who have good characters and high manners. {Ameen}:l2m:l2m:l2m
