Taqwa and Upright Character

Taqwa and Upright Character

Khutbah by Shaykh AbdulBary Yahya

Introduction: The Keys to Paradise

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, "What interests people in Jannah the most?" And he said: "(تَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَحُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ - Taqwa Allahi wa husnul khuluq)" (Tirmidhi hadith 2004). Having piety and righteousness, having Taqwa, being conscious of Allah at all times. And good character.

Then he was asked, "What interests people the hellfire the most?" The Prophet ﷺ mentioned two things - he pointed to the tongue and the private part. Those are the two things that interest people the hellfire the most. That's why if you are able to take care of your tongue and take care of your private part, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said if you can take care of these two things, I will guarantee you Jannah.

The Comprehensive Advice of the Prophet

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned another beautiful hadith. The Prophet ﷺ was given the miracle of jawami al-kalim - being able to have very precise and eloquent speech. The most precise and eloquent speech is that which is short and to the point.

(Tirmidhi hadith 1987)

"Have Taqwa wherever you may be"

There are some people who, when they are in an area where people recognize them, are very careful not to do things or be in the wrong place because they're afraid of being seen by people. But when they are away on vacation to Las Vegas or another city where nobody knows them, they act as if they're a different person.

The Prophet ﷺ gave this advice: "Have Taqwa wherever you are. Not only in front of other people, but whether we're by ourselves or in the open.

Accountability in This Life and the Hereafter

We're always concerned about privacy nowadays with cameras everywhere. In the UK, an average person is on camera 2,000 times a day. Sometimes when we know there's a camera at an intersection, we don't take chances with yellow lights because we know we'll be accountable. But what we don't realize is that every word and every action is recorded.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "A person will stand in front of Allah on the Day of Judgment and will not move from that location until asked about four things"

(Tirmidhi hadith 2417):

1. (عَنْ عُمُرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ - About his life and how he spent it)
2. (وَعَنْ شَبَابِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلَاهُ - About his youth and how he spent it)
3. (وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَ أَنْفَقَهُ - About his wealth, how he acquired it and how he spent it)
4. (وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ مَاذَا عَمِلَ بِهِ - About his knowledge and what he did with it)

As Allah says: "Not a single utterance comes from your mouth except that there is a scribe, an angel, that writes every single thing down."

The Importance of Halal Sustenance

You will be asked about every penny you spent, where you got it from, and how you spent it. Part of Taqwa of Allah is ensuring that the wealth coming in is halal and that you spend it in ways pleasing to Allah - whether benefiting your family or spending fee sabeelillah in charity.

Knowledge is also accountability. There are those who are ignorant and don't know, and those who know. Among those who know, some apply their knowledge while others have their knowledge used against them. Those who have knowledge but go astray are like the Jews who had knowledge but strayed because they did not implement what they learned.

Following Bad Deeds with Good Deeds

(Tirmidhi hadith 1987)

The Prophet ﷺ continued: "And follow a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out"

This is profound advice. If you want to abandon bad habits and leave sins, you must replace that sin with something good. You cannot just leave a vacuum - if you do, the bad habit will return.

(Tirmidhi hadith 2499)

Everyone commits sins. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Every son of Adam commits sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent".

Repentance has conditions. (اِسْتِغْفَار - istighfar) is what you say with your mouth. (تَوْبَة - tawba) is returning to Allah, putting it into action. When you've committed a sin, show sincerity in your repentance by following it up with a good deed.

Dealing with People with Good Character

(Tirmidhi hadith 1987)

The hadith concludes: "And deal with people with the best of character"

Notice He said "people" - which means we must be upright in character with family members, communities, between Muslims and non-Muslims, between humans and even animals.

(Bukhari hadith 6203)

The Prophet ﷺ was the best in character. As Anas radiallahu anhu said: "The Prophet ﷺ was the best among people in character"

(Tirmidhi hadith 2016)

Safiyyah bint Huyayy radiallahu anha said: "I have never seen anyone better in character than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ"

The Character of the Prophet

When Aisha radiallahu anha was asked to describe the character of the Prophet ﷺ, she said: "(كَانَ خُلُقُهُ الْقُرْآن - His character was the Quran)" (Muslim hadith 746).

This means:

• He followed the injunctions of the Quran quickly without delay
• He embodied the characteristics that the Quran praises
• He distanced himself from what the Quran despises

As Allah says about him: "Indeed, surely, you are on an exalted standard of character."

The Purpose of Worship: Building Taqwa

Why do we pray five times a day? What is the purpose of fasting, zakat, and hajj? All these acts have one purpose: to build Taqwa of Allah.

Prayer is to increase our Taqwa - when we hear "Allahu Akbar," we leave what we're doing and go to the masjid because we're reminded of Allah.

For fasting, Allah says: "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you just as it was prescribed on those before you, so that you may have Taqwa."

For Hajj : "And take provisions, and the best provision you can take with you is Taqwa."

Life as a Journey with Fuel Stops

We are on a journey with the same destination. We need a map (the Quran) and fuel (Taqwa). Some cars are gas guzzlers, some are more efficient, but all need refueling.

We have pit stops in our journey:

• Daily stops: The five daily prayers
• Weekly stop: Jumu'ah (Friday prayer)
• Yearly stop: The month of Ramadan
• Lifetime stop: Hajj

All these refuel us with Taqwa of Allah to reach our destination.

The Meaning of Good Character

(Muslim hadith 2553)

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Al-birr (piety and righteousness) is good character"

Taqwa is your relationship with Allah. Husnul khuluq is your relationship with Allah's creation. But Taqwa also means being pleased with what Allah has decreed - both what you have and don't have.

Complete Submission to Allah's Commands

Allah swears by Himself: "But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in all disputes among themselves, then find no resistance in themselves whatsoever, and surrender to it with the fullest conviction."

When Allah tells you to do something, accept that this is what's best for you. If you have problems, the haram will never be the solution - it will only cause more problems. The solution is always Taqwa of Allah.

The Promise for Those with Taqwa

Allah says: "Whosoever has Taqwa, Allah will always find a way for him and provide for him from where he did not perceive."

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud radiallahu anhu said there is not a single verse in the Quran that makes him happier than this verse because it is the answer to all problems without exception.

Maintaining Connection with Allah

Part of Taqwa is maintaining your connection with Allah. If you stop paying your phone bill, they shut down your service. Similarly, if you resort to haram in your sustenance, your connection with Allah will be cut.

The Prophet ﷺ described a traveler raising his hands to the heavens, saying "Ya Rabb, Ya Rabb," but his food is haram, his clothing is haram, and he's nourished from haram - so how can his dua be accepted? (Muslim hadith 1015)

"Allah is pure and He doesn't accept anything except that which is pure" (Muslim hadith 1015).

Practical Applications of Good Character

If you find it hard to be nice to family members or certain people, remember: if I'm nice to them and have good character toward them, and Allah gives me Jannah, isn't it worth it?

(Muslim hadith 2626)

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Never belittle a good deed, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face"

The companions described that every time the Prophet ﷺ looked at them, he would smile sincerely. This made Amr ibn al-Aas feel so special that he asked the Prophet ﷺ whether he or Abu Bakr was better, then whether he or Umar was better. Only then did he realize the Prophet ﷺ was like this with everyone.

The Character of the Prophet in Detail

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was kind to all. Anas ibn Malik radiallahu anhu served the Prophet ﷺ for ten years and said: "(وَاللَّهِ مَا قَالَ لِي أُفٍّ قَطُّ وَلَا قَالَ لِي لِشَيْءٍ لِمَ فَعَلْتَ كَذَا وَهَلَّا فَعَلْتَ كَذَا - By Allah, he never said 'uff' to me, and never said to me about something 'why did you do this' and 'why didn't you do that')" (Bukhari hadith 6038).

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ never hit anyone except in battle. He was always concerned about your well-being and was sincere in that concern. Part of good character is being concerned about the well-being of people around you.

Making Dhikr with Focus

Taqwa requires continually being conscious of Allah, which includes making dhikr. For those who don't know Arabic, when you say SubhanAllah or Alhamdulillah, try to reflect on the meaning and say it in your own language as well so it won't just be empty words.

When making dhikr, try to be focused. In prayer, get ready beforehand. One way to have khushu in prayer is to think about your problems before prayer, then supplicate to Allah about them during prayer.

When you pray correctly, it gives you Taqwa: "Indeed, prayer forbids immorality and wrongdoing."

Money and Happiness

Money can buy happiness, but only when you spend it on others. Even billionaires discover this - at the end of their lives, they start giving to others because that's what really makes you happy.

Studies show that people who spend money on others are happier at the end of the day than those who spend it on themselves. If you're feeling down or depressed, go out and help others. The worst thing you can do when stressed or sad is to do nothing.

Conclusion

First and foremost, stand up and pray. Pour all your concerns out to Allah. After you finish, go out and do good.

Taqwa of Allah and husnul khuluq - Taqwa of Allah and good character - are your keys to Jannah.

Jazakumullahu khayran. Wa sallallahu ala nabiyyina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam.