Exclusive excerpt from the translator’s introduction to “Upright Moral Character” by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn:
In the Name of Allāh, the All-Compassionate, the Ever-Merciful
All praise is due to Allāh, the Lord of all that exists, and may He raise the rank of His last Prophet and Messenger, Muḥammad ibn ‘ʿAbdillāh, and that of his family and Companions, and may He grant them all peace.
Upright moral character is an integral part of the correct implementation of the Religion of Islām. In fact, it is so essential and important that the Messenger of Allāh (may Allāh raise his rank and grant him peac…
And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein [by Our Knowledge]. [Remember!] that the two receivers [recording angels] receive [each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty], one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he [or she] utter, but there is a watcher by him ready [to record it]
50:16-18
In Defence of the Salafī Callers against Evil Suspicions
The Messenger (ﷺ) said: “A man might utter a word without thinking about its implications, but b…
Imām Mālik elucidated this principle in his famous dictum: Anyone who introduces an innovation into Islām, and believes that it is good, has claimed that Muḥammad betrayed the Message. For Allāh says, ‘This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and chosen for you Islām as your religion’ [Sūrah al-Māʾidah, 5:3]. So whatever was not from the religion on that day can never be from the religion today. Anyone, therefore, who attempts to introduce foreign ideas or practices into the religion – under the guise of “progressiveness,” “American Islām,” or otherwise…
Thus, it is mandatory to expose falsehood and defend the daʿwah whilst you are busy propagating the call –and all praise belongs to Allāh. However, we do not want ourselves to become preoccupied with refuting this person and that person as this is what they desire for us to do. We occupy ourselves with calling to Allāh and in the course of the sermons (khuṭab) or talks we refute those who are intent on hindering people from good.
Allāh the Exalted said,
“Say O Muḥammad: “This is my way; I invite unto Allāh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allāh – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoev…
On the authority of Abū Muʿādh ibn Jabal (raḍī Allāhu ʿanhu) who said:
I said: O Messenger of Allāh, tell me an act which will take me into Paradise and will keep me away from the Hell-fire.
He said: You have asked me about a major matter, yet it is easy for him for whom Allāh, the Exalted, makes it easy. You should worship Allāh, associating nothing with Him; you should perform the prayers; you should pay the zakat, you should make the pilgrimage to the House. Then he said: Shall I not show you the gates of goodness? Fasting [which] is a shield; charity extinguishes sin as water extinguish…
Imam Aḥmad, Musnad (1/391), and others reported upon the authority of Ibn Masʿūd that the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: “No slave is afflicted with anxiety and grief, and then says:
‘O Allāh, I am Your slave, son of Your male slave, son of Your female slave. My forehead is in Your hand. Your judgment upon me is assured and whatever you have decreed for me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught one of Your creation or which You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You that You…
The following ḥadīth are selected from Bulūgh al-Maram’s Bulūgh al-Maram (Attainment of the Objective according to Evidence of the Ordinances) [Page 480+ eng. trans.], and touch on the importance of good Islamic character:
1314. Narrated by Ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه) Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Adhere [you people] to truthfulness. Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise, and if a man continues to speak the truth and makes truth his object, he will be recorded as truthful before Allāh. Avoid [you people] falsehood, indeed falsehood leads…
