GOOD CHARACTER

Good character is an attribute of the Master of the Messengers (SAWS)
and the best of the works of the veracious [Siddīqīn], and is in
reality half of religion. It is from the fruits of the spiritual struggles of

the God-fearing, and the efforts of the worshippers. Base (bad) character is

a lethal poison, a fatal destroyer, and a humiliating debaser—manifest

vileness, and filth that distances one from the sanctuary of the

Lord of the worlds. It makes the one characterized by it of the devils,

and it is the open door to the burning fire of Allāh, that “Leaps up

over the hearts (of men),” (Qur’ān 104:7). Good character, on the

other hand, is the open door to the bounties of the Gardens and

proximity to the Merciful. Base character is a sickness of the heart

and a disease of the lower self. It is a sickness that endangers the

ever-lasting life. Therefore, it is necessary to pay utmost attention

to it, even more than outward sickness.

Character traits are attributes of the self by which it leans to

either beauty or ugliness. Complete outward beauty is not possible

through the beauty of the eyes alone, without the nose, mouth, and

cheeks. Rather, it is necessary that all these be beautiful. Similarly,

inward beauty requires four essential elements. And good character

is completed through an appropriate balance and temperance of

these elements. These elements are: knowledge, anger, passion, and

justice between the other three elements.

-Shaykh Zafar Usmani