Seerah

The Prophet said: 'He whose ethics are good will be given by God the degree of one who continuously fasts and keeps vigil.' 181 He also said: 'Nothing better than good ethics can be put in the balance scales of a person on the Day of Resurrection.' 182 He said: 'The most beloved of you to me and the one who will sit closest to me on the Day of Resurrection is the best of you in ethics and the most humble of you.' 183

He said: 'Conducts are gifts from Almighty God. If God loves one of his servants He will give to him fine morals and conducts, but if he dislikes one of His servants he will give him foul manners.' 184 Commenting on the outcome of one's conducts and ethics the Prophet declared: 'Adopt fine ethics, for it is inevitable that good morals will end up in Paradise. Avoid bad conducts for it is inevitable that bad ethics will end up in Hellfire.' 185

He said: 'With good ethics and conduct, a person will reach the greatest of degrees and the noblest of stations in the Afterlife even if his worship was somewhat weak.' 186

He then said: 'With foul conduct and behaviour a person will reach the lowest reaches of Hell.' 187 In the now famous and well known speech of Prophet Muhammad that summarises his entire mission and puts it in perspective, he declared: 'Verily, I have been sent to perfect the finest of morals.' 188

Once he was told: 'There is a woman who fasts all day and keeps vigil at night but she is ill mannered and annoys her neighbours.' He said: 'There is nothing good about her, she is destined for Hellfire.' 189

The Prophet said: 'Shall I tell you which of you from amongst you is most like me?' They said: 'Yes, O Apostle of God.' He said: 'The best of you in morals, and the most pliant of you, and the one who honours his relatives the most, and the one who has the strongest love for his brothers in faith, and the one who is most patient in the way of the truth, and he who is most in control of his anger, and is most forgiving, and he who is most just to himself in contentment and in anger.' 190

He said: 'The best of you are those whose morals are best, whose houses receive frequent visitors, who socialise by inviting and accepting invitations [of others], and whose furniture is worn out [by having frequent visitors and guests].' 191

He said: 'If you meet with one another then meet with a greeting of 'peace' and a handshake. And when you disperse then disperse asking for forgiveness [for each other].' 192

He said: ' . . .You will never encompass the people with your wealth so greet them with a good countenance and a good smile.' 193 The Prophet said: 'I urge you to adopt the finest of morals for Almighty God has sent me with them. Amongst the fine morals are that a man forgive those who have wronged him, and give to those that have withheld from him, and maintain ties with those who have cut off from him, and visit those who do not visit him.' 194

He also said: 'Shall I show you the best morals of this world and the next? ... That you maintain bonds with those who cut off from you, and give to those who withhold from you, and forgive those who have wronged you.' 195

He used to encourage: 'Be a good companion to those who accompany you and you will be a [good] Muslim.' 196 He used to stress this matter to his followers in question form: 'Shall I show you the best morals of this world and the next? They eagerly responded, "Yes O Messenger of Allah!" So the Prophet replied: By spreading peace in the world.' 197

Aswad ibn ANram relates: 'I said to the Apostle of God:

'Advise me.' He said: 'Do you own your hand?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Do you own your tongue?' I said: 'Yes.' He said:

'Then do not extend your hand except to do good and do not say with your tongue anything that is not appropriate.' 198

It is related that the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali said: 'A man asked to see the Apostle of God and said to him: 'O Apostle of God, advise me!' He said: 'I advise you to associate no partners with God even if you are cut into pieces and incinerated by fire, and do not dishonour your father and mother, and do not insult the people, and if you meet your Muslim brother then meet him with a nice smile ...' 199

Notes:

181. bihar al-anwar; vol. 68, chap. 92, p.388, 9ad:th 36.

182. ibid. p 374, 9ad:th 2.

183. ibid. p 385, 9ad:th 26.

184. ibid. p 394, 9ad:th 64.

185. majma! al-bay"n of al-?abras:, vol. 10, p.333. Syrian Printing.

186. al-ma9ajjah al-bay+"'; vol.5, p.93.

187. ibid.

188. bihar al-anwar; vol. 16, chap.9, p 210

189. ibid. vol. 68, chap.92, p 394

190. al-k"f:; vol.2, p.240.

191. ibid. p.102.

192. bihar al-anwar; vol.73, chap.100, p.28, 9ad:th 21.

193. al-k"f:; vol.2, p.103, 9ad:th 1.

194. al-am"l: of al-?Ys:; vol.2, p.92.

195. al-k"f:; vol.2, p.107, 9ad:th 2.

196. bihar al-anwar; vol.66, chap.38, p.368, 9ad:th 4.

197. ibid. vol.73, chap.97, p.12. 9ad:th 50.

198. ibid. vol.74, chap.7, p.168, 9ad:th 5.

199. tu9af al-!uqYl; p.13.

Adopted from the book : "The Prophet Muhammad; a Mercy to the World" by : "Ayatullah Muhammad Sadiq al-Shirazi"