Character Building and Its Principles

Allah Almighty granted human beings superiority over the angels on the basis of their intellectual and learning abilities, and the angels practically acknowledged this superiority by prostrating before Adam (عليه السلام). Along with this, by granting humans the natural ability to harness and utilize the universe, Allah distinguished them from other creations and sent them to the earth as a noble and honored creation.

Allah says:

۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا ٧٠

And We bestowed dignity on the children of ’Ādam and provided them with rides on the land and in the sea, and provided them with a variety of good things and made them much superior to many of those whom We have created. (17:70)

According to this noble verse, all of humanity possesses honor and dignity, because this is a form of nobility that is an essential part of being human. Whether a person is righteous or sinful, a believer or a disbeliever, this honor is present equally in all. That is why the Qur’an does not say that honor was granted only to the المؤمنين; rather, it says that honor was granted to the children of Adam. This refers to the greatness and elevation through which humans gain control over the land and the sea of this universe and make use of pure and lawful things.

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From this honor, one can also deduce human responsibility. The greater the superiority a human has over other creations, the greater, logically, are his responsibilities.

The process of learning and understanding moves a person forward. A human being can learn much in this universe, acquire much, and earn much. These earnings of life determine the standard of one’s humanity. Thus, at times he becomes among those who are “radiyah mardiyyah” (well-pleased and pleasing), and at other times, by crossing the limits into animalistic behavior, he becomes “like cattle—rather, even more astray.”

The Qur’an says:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ ٣٨

Everyone will be detained (in the Hell) because of what he did. (74:38)

Thus, it must be acknowledged that the development of a person’s personality is closely linked to their character. It is character that makes a person honorable and beautiful, and it is character that brings disgrace and humiliation.

Some Principles of Character Building

There are certain principles through which the paths to noble character are opened. By shaping one’s personality in light of these principles, a person can move toward excellence.

Faith in Allah, the Exalted

Allah Almighty is the Light of the heavens and the earth.

۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍۢ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌۭ دُرِّىٌّۭ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍۢ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍۢ زَيْتُونَةٍۢ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍۢ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍۢ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌۭ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍۢ ۗ يَهْدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ ٣٥

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is that of a niche, in which there is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass – the glass looks like a brilliant star – it is lit by (the oil of) a blessed tree, the olive, which is neither eastern, nor western. Its oil is about to emit light even though the fire has not touched it – (it is) light upon light. Allah guides to His light whomsoever He wills; Allah describes examples for the people, and Allah knows everything well. (24:35)

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ٢٥٧

Allah is the Protector of those who believe. He brings them out of the depths of darkness into the light. As for those who disbelieve, their friends are the Rebels. They bring them out from the light into the depths of darkness. Those are people of the Fire. There they will remain forever. (2:257)

Therefore, the foremost requirement for building one’s personality is to have firm faith in Allah, the Exalted, and to truly acknowledge His existence with the heart. That is, a person should firmly believe within their heart that this عظیم universe and all that exists within it have a Creator, who has created this universe with a specific order and for defined purposes.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ٥٦

I did not create the Jinns and the human beings except for the purpose that they should worship Me. (51:56)

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ، عَنِ الطُّفَيْلِ بْنِ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا ذَهَبَ ثُلُثَا اللَّيْلِ قَامَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ جَاءَتِ الرَّاجِفَةُ تَتْبَعُهَا الرَّادِفَةُ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيهِ جَاءَ الْمَوْتُ بِمَا فِيهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أُبَىٌّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُكْثِرُ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَيْكَ فَكَمْ أَجْعَلُ لَكَ مِنْ صَلاَتِي فَقَالَ ‏”‏ مَا شِئْتَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ الرُّبُعَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ النِّصْفَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَالثُّلُثَيْنِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنْ زِدْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ أَجْعَلُ لَكَ صَلاَتِي كُلَّهَا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ إِذًا تُكْفَى هَمَّكَ وَيُغْفَرُ لَكَ ذَنْبُكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ‏.‏

At-Tufail bin Ubayy bin Ka’b narrated from his father who said: “When a third of the night had passed, the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) stood and said: ‘O you people! Remember Allah! Remember Allah! The Rajifah is coming, followed by the Radifah, death and what it brings is coming, death and what it brings is coming!'” Ubayy said: “I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Indeed I say very much Salat for you. How much of my Salat should I make for you?’ He said: ‘As you wish.'” [He said: ] “I said: ‘A fourth?’ He said: ‘As you wish. But if you add more it would be better for you.’ I said: ‘Then half?’ He said: ‘As you wish. And if you add more it would be better [for you].'” [He said: ] “I said: ‘Then two-thirds? ‘He said: ‘As you wish, but if you add more it would be better for you.’ I said: ‘Should I make all of my Salat for you?’ He said: ‘Then your problems would be solved and your sins would be forgiven.'” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)

There can be various ways to remember death and the Hereafter, even if it is through visiting graveyards. As it is narrated from Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه) that the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said:

حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ هَانِئٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقِ بْنِ الأَجْدَعِ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ “‏ كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ فَزُورُوا الْقُبُورَ فَإِنَّهَا تُزَهِّدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَتُذَكِّرُ الآخِرَةَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Ibn Mas’ud that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “I used to forbid you to visit the graves, but now visit them, for they will draw your attention away from this world and remind you of the Hereafter.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Concern for the Hereafter

The Noble Qur’an mentions the Day of Judgment in approximately 1,400 places, whereas the verses related to jurisprudence (fiqh) and rulings of human life, according to a well-known opinion, do not exceed seven hundred. One reason for this may be the Arab society of the pre-Islamic era, which did not believe in the Hereafter and considered it impossible. Another reason is that instilling firm belief in the Day of Judgment within الإنسان is not an easy matter. A third point is that the concept of the Hereafter has a very deep impact on the condition and quality of worldly life.

Many of us do not truly believe in the Hereafter as we should. Otherwise, who is there that truly believes in the existence of the Fire of Hell and still persists in sin? Who would feel the heat of Hellfire and still continue falling into it? There can be no reason for this except that a person has not developed firm conviction that one day he will be held accountable before Allah.

The Noble Qur’an has described the Hereafter in various ways: sometimes portraying the scene of accountability, sometimes mentioning the handing over of the record of deeds, sometimes describing rising from the graves, sometimes speaking about whether intercession will be accepted or not, sometimes mentioning the regrets of the people of Hell, and sometimes describing the immense joys of the people of Paradise. All of this is in its place, but what the Qur’an has emphasized most is clarifying the answer to the question of whether the Day of Judgment will truly occur.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبَانَ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ خَرَجَ زَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ مَرْوَانَ بِنِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَقُلْتُ مَا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ إِلاَّ لِشَىْءٍ سَأَلَ عَنْهُ ‏.‏ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ سَأَلَنَا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ سَمِعْنَاهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ مَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَتِ الآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

‘Abdur-Rahman bin Aban bin ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan narrated that his father said: “Zaid bin Thabit departed from Marwan at mid-day. I said: ‘He has not sent him out at this time of the day except for something he asked.’ So I asked him, and he said: ‘He asked me about some things we heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever is focused only on this world, Allah will confound his affairs and make him fear poverty constantly, and he will not get anything of this world except that which has been decreed for him. Whoever is focused on the Hereafter, Allah will settle his affairs for him and make him feel content with his lot, and his provision and worldly gains will undoubtedly come to him.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

A person should live life in such a way that whatever he does in this world today, he will have to stand before Allah tomorrow and give an account for it.

As for the question: what is the connection between belief in the Day of Judgment and character building?

The answer is that within human nature there is a tendency toward rebellion (ṭughyan). As soon as a person feels self-sufficient or at ease, he begins to transgress. When a little wealth comes into his hands, arrogance settles within him. Authority, status, rank, honor, and fame—all these are factors that can lead a person toward the wrong path. In some places, bribery begins; elsewhere, usury spreads; and in other situations, unjust favoritism becomes common—these are all manifestations of rebellion.

This arises because a person forgets that one day these things can be taken away from him, and he also forgets that one day he will be held accountable for all these blessings. Unconsciously, he assumes that these will remain with him forever.

The Qur’an itself provides the remedy for this: it reminds him of the Hereafter. It directs his attention to the fact that there is another world to which he must return. Wherever the Qur’an mentions human rebellion, it immediately follows it with a mention of the Day of Judgment. Allah says:

كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَيَطْغَىٰٓ ٦

In fact, man crosses the limits. (96:6)

أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسْتَغْنَىٰٓ ٧

because he deems himself to be free of need. (96:7)

Then immediately after that, He says:

إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ ٨

Surely to your Lord is the return. (96:8)

That is, those who transgress and rebel should know that one day they will return to their Lord and Creator. If they pay attention to this reality in their lives and keep the Day of Judgment in mind, they would never reach the stage of rebellion. From here, their journey toward success and prosperity begins, and they move along the paths of excellence.

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