الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله تعالى من شرور أنفسنا، وسيئات أعمالنا، من يهد الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

While the religion of Islam can be described with one word, we can spend many talks discussing this one word.  So, I hope that this talk will entice you to commit to study the subject further because your happiness in this life and in the hereafter depends on it.  

Allah described the religion of Islam by one word (قِيَمً۬ا), Allah says in Surat Al-An’am:

قُلۡ إِنَّنِى هَدَٮٰنِى رَبِّىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ دِينً۬ا قِيَمً۬ا مِّلَّةَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ حَنِيفً۬ا‌ۚ (١٦١(

“Say: as for me, my Lord has guided me unto a straight path, (دِينً۬ا قِيَمً۬ا) “morally upright” religion, the way of Abraham, the upright.” (Al-An’am 6:161)

The term (قِيَمً۬ا) has two meanings because it is derived from two roots.  One root refers to standing upright (قائم) and the second root refers to morality (قيم) and also to human value  (قيمة). 

One of the meaning of (دِينً۬ا قِيَمً۬ا) emphasizes that Islam is the religion that provides the necessary guidance to make man an upright person.   

The other meaning of (دِينً۬ا قِيَمً۬ا) emphasizes that Islam is the religion that establishes morality to ensure the value of humans and all Allah’s creations.

A similar single word is (قَيِّمِ) “Qayain” that describes the nature of Islam of being morally upright religion that gives moral values to mankind.  Allah says in Surat Al-Room:

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ ٱلۡقَيِّمِ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِىَ يَوۡمٌ۬ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ  (٤٣)

So set your face to the rightly valuable religion, before the inevitable day comes from Allah.” (Al-Room 30:43)

The foundational moral principal in Islam is Justice and thus Allah repeated the command of justice more than 15 times in the Quran . As example, Allah says in Surat Al-Nisa:  

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِنْ يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَى أَنْ تَعْدِلُوا وَإِنْ تَلْوُوا أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا(سورة النساء (.

“O you who believe, stand firm, all the time for justice bearing true witness for the sake of Allah even if it is against yourselves, or your parents, or your nearest relatives regardless whether one party is rich and the other is poor for Allah can best protect both.

Do not follow your whim (caprice, the lusts of your hearts) such that you swerve or distort testimony or turn away from the truth.  Indeed, Allah is all aware of all that you do.” (Al-Nisa 4:135)

Allah also says in Surat Al-Maeda:  :

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّڪُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْ‌ۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ) المائدة(

“O you who believe stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses for justice, and do not let the hatred of some people induce you to deviate from justice. Be just: that is next to Taqwa (Piety): and Have Taqwa of Allah, for Allah is well-aware of all that you do” (Al- Maeda 5:8)

The most grievous act of injustice man can commit is the one committed against Allah and this is thru shirk.   This was clear to Luqman, the wise, because it was the first advice he gave to his son.  Allah says:

   وَإِذۡ قَالَ لُقۡمَـٰنُ لِٱبۡنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ ۥ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ (١٣)

“Recall, when Luqman said to his son, while he was advising him, “My dear son, do not ascribe partners to Allah. Indeed, ascribing partners to Allah (shirk) is indeed a grave injustice” (Luqman 31:13)

The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized the danger for anyone who commits injustice against another person by saying:

اتق دعوة المظلوم فإنه ليس بينها و بين الله حجاب) أخرجه البخاري عن ابن عباس(

“Be aware of the supplication of the oppressed because their no veil between it and Allah.”

اتقوا دعوة المظلوم وإن كان كافراً [رواه أحمد في مسنده وأبو يعلى في مسنده والضياء عن أنس]

“Be aware of the supplication and the oppressed even if he is disbeliever.”

While justice is the foundation of morality, injustice is the mother of all immoralities. A nation that commits injustice is condemned nation even if claims Islam as its religion.

The importance of moral principle of Justice is clearly understood by Muslim scholars who said:

الدنيا تصلح بالكفر والعدل ولا تصلح بالإيمان والظلم

This world can prosper with disbelieve and justice but it will not be fit with belief and injustice.

Imam ibn Taimiyah (بن تيميه) and other scholars said:

إن الله ينصر الأمة الكافرة العادلة على الأمة المسلمة الظالمة

 Allah grants victory to the non-believing just nation over the unjust Muslim nation.

We, Muslims, have been entrusted with great moral message that delivers mankind form ignorance to enlightenment and from violence to eternal peace. This is not an illusion or fantasy.  Equipped with this message that we have now in our hand, the Prophet (PBUH) was able within 23 years to transform the most backward and morally corrupt tribes of Arabia to be the world leaders in knowledge, morality, spirituality, human brotherhood, freedom and equality.   In addition, within 50 years these tribes were able to spread morality and human equality from China to Spain.

Yes, most Muslims today perform all the rituals, they pray, fast, give charity and go to Hajj but we don’t see transformation of their status.   When you look at many Muslim countries, you will clearly see the disregard for justice, the disappearance of mercy, the lack of integrity, and even the lack of respect for human lives.  Where did we go wrong?

The answer is simple, Muslims have ignored the moral teachings of Islam and thus lost the meaning of proper ethics and upright character that are prerequisites for forming the honorable nation that Allah expects when He said:

 كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ) آل عمران(

“You are the best nation ever raised for mankind” (Al-Imran 3:110)

The Quran has 6348 verses.  Of these verses, there are 4505 verses that address the moral character and ethics from both practical and abstract angles.  So, over 70% of the Quran talks about moral character. 

No wonder that when Allah wanted to praise the Prophet (PBUH), He did not praise him for anything but for His good character.

 وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ”  )القلم(4

And you have a noble and exalted character (68:4)

Because of the emphasis of Islam on ethics and moral character, Ibn Al-Qayam Al-Juwazi (ابن قيم الجوزية) summarized the nature of Islam by saying:  

الدّين كله خُلق ، فمن فاقَك في الخلق ،فاقَك في الدّين.

The religion is all but moral characters, so whoever surpasses you in good character surpasses you in religion.

The Prophet (PBUH) summarized the exclusive purpose of his mission by saying?

“إنّما بُعثت لأُتمم مكارم الأخلاق”

“I haven’t been sent except to perfect the moral ethics.”

The mission of the Prophet (PBUH) was not to merely correct the bad manners but to go far beyond that, it was to perfect the good manners.  So, if you are impressed by a character of any person, you as Muslim should strive to achieve even better character than the best character of others. Find the most honorable person, the most generous, the most kind, the most patient, the most merciful, the most honest and strive to be better than him if you want to be called Muslim. 

Frankly, you can attend all the Islamic lectures and all the books in that exist but they will be only be serving as mere entertainment unless they motivate you to seek to be the best moral person in the eye of everyone.

Many Muslims claim to love the Prophet (PBUH), but if a person really loves the Prophet (PBUH) he should always strive to demonstrate the best character. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

(إن من أحبِّكم وأقربكم منّي مجلساً يوم القيامة: أحاسنكم أخلاقاً). ] الترمذي عن جابر[

“The most beloved to me and the nearest to me in the day of Judgment is the best of character”. 

When there is lack of moral and ethical behaviors in a society, destructive forces manifest themselves.  This occurs when Tarbiyah (تربية) (moral teachings) is not key part of formal and informal education.  Educators say: the first thing in reforming a society is Tarbiyah (moral teaching) and the last thing in the reform is also Tarbiyah (mora teaching). 

While Islamic education teaches about Islam, Tarbiyah teaches about Muslim’s character.  While the Tarbiyah is done by the family, the school and the society, the goal is for the person to reach the state of Tazkiyah (تزكية) which is the purification of the self.  The Tazkiya (تزكية) (purification of the self) is a continuous improvement process that instill in the person the passion for justice, mercy, truthfulness, generosity, kindness, etc.

Note that both terms Tarbiyah (تربية) and Tazkiyah (تزكية) refers to increase in the person positive attributes and the advancement of his high moral standard.

The root of the term Tarbiyah (تربية) is “raba” (ربى) that means to grow and increase such as in:

وَمِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦۤ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ خَـٰشِعَةً۬ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡہَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ‌ۚ (٣٩)

And among His signs is that you see the land inactive; then, once We send down water thereto, it stirs and grows. (Fussulat 41:39)

وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن رِّبً۬ا لِّيَرۡبُوَاْ فِىٓ أَمۡوَٲلِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَلَا يَرۡبُواْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ (٣٩)

“Whatever Riba (increased amount) you give, so that it may increase in the wealth of the people, it does not increase with Allah. (Al-Room 30:39)

The root of the term Tazkiyah (تزكية) is “Zaka” (زكى ) that means to purify, increase, and grow such as in:

وَمَآ ءَاتَيۡتُم مِّن زَكَوٰةٍ۬ تُرِيدُونَ وَجۡهَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُضۡعِفُونَ (٣٩)

“And whatever Zakah you give, seeking Allah’s pleasure with it, it is such people who multiply (their wealth in real terms.)” (Al-Room 30:39)

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى

“Success is surely achieved by the one who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his Lord, and offers Prayers.” [Al-Aala 87:14-15]

The Quran makes it very clear that true success and prosperity in this life and in the hereafter is reserved for those who seek to achieve Tazkiyah (تزكية) thru the purification and nurturing their morals and character, Allah says in Surat Ash-shams:

وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا

“By the Soul, and the order He gave to it; and then inspired it to know its wickedness and its righteousness; successful indeed is the one who purifies himself. [ash-Shams 91:7-9]

Allah also emphasizes that those who achieve the state of Tazkiyah (purification) will be guaranteed their place in Heaven, as He said in Surat Taha:

وَمَنْ يَأْتِهِ مُؤْمِنًا قَدْ عَمِلَ الصَّالِحَاتِ فَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الدَّرَجَاتُ الْعُلَا جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ مَنْ تَزَكَّى

“Whoever comes to Allah as believer, having done righteous deeds, for them are the highest ranks; gardens beneath which rivers flow, they will dwell therein for eternity: such is the reward of the one who purified himself”. [Taha 20:75-76]

This integration of moral education which is Tarbiyah and the Tazkiyah which is the purification of the individual soul was the approach that the Prophet (PBUH) implemented with his companions.  The Prophet (PBUH) was the first teacher for this Ummah and Allah described his approach in several Surats with respect to the importance of Tazkiyah.  As example, Allah says in Surat Al-Imran:  

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمْ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ (164) .آل عمران.

Allah has indeed conferred a great favor on the Believers when He sent for them a Messenger from among themselves to recite from them His Signs, purify them, and teach them the book (Quran) and Wisdom, while before that, they had been in manifest error. (Al-Imran 3:164) 

So, the purification (Tazkiyah) comes ahead of teaching the Quran because knowledge without pure heart and purified soul does not lead to moral character and wisdom but rather leads to mischief, chaos, injustice, betrayal and aggression. 

Therefore, religious education without first reshaping the person’s character and purifying his soul will never lead to anything of value; it can actually lead to immoral individual who manipulates the teaching of Islam for selfish and corrupt motives. 

In fact, we are seeing this effect manifested in front of us in many Muslim countries by the “so called” scholars who manipulate the religion text to rationalize injustice, justify immoralities, and defend the killing of the innocent.

The only solution for these ethical and moral problems is to go back to the Prophet’s approach of education and this approach is understood and followed by early Muslims.

The Prophet (PBUH) invested a lot of effort on the Tarbiyah and Tazkiyah of his companions.  As a result of his effort, the Prophet (PBUH) did not only leave a great message, the message of Islam, but he also left a great generation who carried the message and spread it all over the land and were instrumental in moved humanity from darkness to light. It is the quality of the people nurtured by the Prophet (PBUH) that constituted the secret behind the miracle of Islam.

When a person becomes a Muslim, the Prophet (PBUH) would commit to teach him Islamic character and then teaches him the Quran; and he (PBUH) would ask the companions to do the same as he said to them when Omaier ibn Wahb ( عمير بن وهب) became a Muslim:  (فقِّهوا أخاكم في دينه، وأقرِئوه القرآن) “Teach your brother the morals of his religion and then make him read the Quran)

Early generations of Muslims clearly understood the importance of character development to the success of the society.  Ibn Al- Mubarak (ابن المبارك) said:

تعلمنا الأدب ثلاثين عاماً، وتعلمنا العلم عشرين

We learnt the moral characters in 30 years and learnt the knowledge (the Quran) in 20 years. 

Imam Ibn Al-Hassan (ابن الحسن) said:

نحن إلى كثير من الأدب أحوج منا إلى كثير من حديث

“We are in more need for moral character than for many of the hadeath.

Imam Hassam Al-Basri (الحسن البصريّ) said:   

والله، ما تدبّرَه من حفِظ حروفَه وأضاع حدودَه حتى إنّ أحدَهم ليقول: قرأتُ القرآنَ كلَّه ولم يُرَ للقرآنِ عليه في خُلُقٍ ولا عمَل

“By Allah, He has not learnt the Quran who memorized its words and wasted its principles to the point that you hear one of them say: I have read the whole Quran but you do not see any effect of the Quran on his manners or his deeds.”

The Prophet (PBUH) teaches us that without good character, there is no paradise for a Muslim even if he performs the prayers and fasts.   The Prophet (PBUH) said:

وعن أنس عن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: إن العبد ليبلغ بحسن خلقه عظيم درجات الآخرة وشرف المنازل وإنه لضعيف العبادة، وإنه ليبلغ بسوء خلقه أسفل جهنم وهو عابد. رواه الضياء المقدسي في الأحاديث المختارة، وقال: إسناده حسن.

“The servant of Allah reaches with his good manners the highest levels in the hereafter and secures the most honorable ranks even if he is weak in the rituals and he reaches the lowest level in Hell by his bad manners even if he is worshipper”. (At-Tabarani)

The Prophet (PBUH) also said:

حديث عائشة قالت: سمعت رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يقول: “إن المؤمن ليدرك بحسن خلقه درجة الصائم القائم”. رواه أبو داود، وأحمد.

The believer reaches with his good manner the same level of the person who spends all night in prayers and all day in fasting.” (Abu Dawoud and Ahmad)

All the teachings of the Quran will remain ink on paper unless they turn into life thru a human being who translates the principles and meanings of the teachings thru his behavior, actions and feelings.   This is the legacy of the Prophet (PBUH) who transformed Allah’s revelations to a living human being, who walks, talks, eats, and sleeps guided by the morals of Allah’s book.

This is exactly what Sayedya Aysha meant when she was asked about the character of the Prophet (PBUH).  It is reported in Muslim that Sad ibn Hesham (سعد بن هشام) said to Sayeda Aysha (عائشة رضي الله) :

سعد بن هشام بن عامر حين قدم المدينة ، وأتى عائشة رضي الله عنها يسألها عن بعض المسائل ، فقال :

فَقُلتُ : يَا أُمَّ المُؤمِنِينَ ! أَنبئِينِي عَن خُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ ؟

قَالَت : أَلَستَ تَقرَأُ القُرآنَ ؟

قُلتُ : بَلَى .

قَالَت : فَإِنَّ خُلُقَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ القُرآنَ .

قَالَ : فَهَمَمْتُ أَن أَقُومَ وَلَا أَسأَلَ أَحَدًا عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ …الخ ) رواه مسلم (746)

“O’ mother of the believers inform me about the character of the Prophet (PBUH)

She said:  Don’t you read the Quran

He said: I read it.

She said: The Character of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) was the Quran.

Sad said;  I decided that this is sufficient that I don’t need to ask anyone else until I die. 

The Mother of the great scholar Sofian Al-Thouri ( سفيان الثوريّ) who knows the role of Tarbiyah and Tazkiyah used to tell him:

يا بنيّ، خذ هذه عشرة دراهم، وتعلّم عشرةَ أحاديث، فإذا وجدتها تُغيِّر في جلستِك ومِشيتك وكلامك مع الناس فأقبِل عليه، وأنا أعينُك بمِغزلي هذا، وإلاّ فاتركه، فإني أخشَى أن يكونَ وبالاً عليك يومَ القيامة”.

“O’ my dear son, take these 10 dinars and learn ten hadeaths and only if I find them change the way you sit and walk and the way you speak to people; come back to me and I’ll give you more because my biggest fear is that your knowledge be a curse on you on the Day of Judgment”.  

This wise woman knew that there is no value of religious knowledge without transformation of person’s character as reflected by the person’ moral and honorable behavior.

If the only difference between a Muslim and non-Muslim is the performance of the rituals, we will never be successful.  All the rituals in Islam are not intended as aims for themselves, they are intended to serve as means for purifying and perfecting the Muslim’s character. Good character is the soul of the rituals and therefore, bad character invalidates all acts of worship.

Prayers have a very important purpose in developing the noble character and perfecting the manners of a Muslim as Allah says:

وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ

“Establish Prayers: for Prayer restrains from shameful and evil deeds” (Al-Ankabout 29:45)

The goal of the daily prayers is to develop a Muslim who always abstains from all forms of evil and obscenity whether in words or deeds.   In the hadeath Qoodsi, Allah says:

عن ابن عباس قال : قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – : ” قال الله – تبارك وتعالى – : إنما أتقبل الصلاة ممن تواضع بها لعظمتي ولم يستطل على خلقي ولم يبت مصرا على معصيتي، وقطع نهاره في ذكري، ورحم المسكين وابن السبيل والأرملة ورحم المصاب، ]رواه البزار ووثقه أحمد[

“I only accept that prayers from the one who is humble in face of My majesty, who is not arrogant over My creations, who does not insist on My disobedience, who spends the day in My remembrance, who is merciful toward the poor, the stranger, the widow and the sick”.

Similar to prayers, Zakat is intended to purify and sanctify us and thus instill the character of kindness and sympathy, as Allah said:

خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا

“Take from them a charity to purify and sanctify them with it.” (Al-Tauba 9:103) 

Regarding fasting, Allah states that its goal is to increase our righteousness, out Taqwa:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمْ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who were before you, in order that you may achieve taqwa (righteousness)” (Al-Baqara 2:183) 

Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه

‘If one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of his food and drink.’  (Al-Bukhari)

The Hajj is also intended to serve as a journey to help us perfect of character and test our excellent manners, as Allah said:

الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَنْ فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ

“For Hajj, the months are well-known. If anyone undertakes that duty, let there be no obscenity, no wickedness, nor disputes during the Hajj” (AL-Hajj 2:197)

I’ll finish with this hadeath, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أنا زعيم ببيت في ربض الجنة لمن ترك المراء وإن كان محقا، وببيت في وسط الجنة لمن ترك الكذب وإن كان مازحا، وببيت في أعلى الجنة لمن حسن خلقه.

“I guarantee a palace in the outskirts of Paradise for the one who gives up disputing while he is right, and a palace in the middle of paradise for the one who abandons lies even when he is joking, and a palace in the highest place in paradise for the one who has good character. ” [ At-Tirmidhi]

I really hope that this talk will be a catalyst to study the subject further to know all the elements of the good character and strive to go beyond them and have the best character.  This is what Islam is all about. 

Dua