Character in everyday relationships
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Truthfulness, restraint, forgiveness, privacy, and reconciliation give religious commitment an everyday form. The entries below collect both the principles Muhammad ﷺ taught and the practical situations in which he taught them.
Teaching through moral reflection
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When a young man openly asked permission to commit adultery, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ called him close and asked whether he would accept the same act involving his own mother, daughter, sister, or aunt. The young man answered no each time, after which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed for him.
The young man was asked whether he would accept the act for his own female relatives, and each time answered that he would not. — Musnad Ahmad 22211, graded sound by Shuayb al-Arnaut10
Self-control, forgiveness, and gentleness
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The Qur’an describes Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as possessing great moral character.
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Sūrat al-Qalam 68:4), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ٤﴾ سُورَةُ القَلَمِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defined real strength as controlling oneself when angry rather than overpowering other people physically.
“The strong person is not the one who overcomes people in wrestling. The strong person is the one who controls himself when angry.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 611421343
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The Qur’an praises people who control their anger and pardon others.
“˹They are˺ those who donate in prosperity and adversity, control their anger, and pardon others. And Allah loves the good-doers.” (Sūrat Āli ʿImrān 3:134), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ١٣٤﴾ سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that forgiving another person can increase one’s honor rather than diminish it.
“No one forgives another except that God increases him in honor, and no one humbles himself for God except that God raises him.” — Sahih Muslim 258831443
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The Qur’an permits proportionate redress for a wrong but presents pardon and reconciliation as better.
“And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.” (Sūrat al-Shūrā 42:40), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَجَزَٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٤٠﴾ سُورَةُ الشُّورَىٰ -
The Qur’an tells believers to respond to evil with what is better where possible, with reconciliation as the hoped-for result.
“Good and evil cannot be equal. Respond ˹to evil˺ with what is best, then the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend.” (Sūrat Fuṣṣilat 41:34), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ ٣٤﴾ سُورَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that gentleness beautifies what it enters and that harshness disfigures what it enters.
“Gentleness is not present in anything except that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it disfigures it.” — Sahih Muslim 2594a31443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told teachers and leaders to make things easy, give people good news, and avoid driving them away.
“Make things easy; do not make them hard. Give good news; do not drive people away.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 6921343
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After Mistah helped spread the slander against Aisha, Abu Bakr swore to stop supporting him financially. The Qur’an called Abu Bakr back to forgiveness, and he resumed helping him.
“And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Sūrat al-Nūr 24:22), Saheeh International1111236; the occasion is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 475021343
﴿وَلَا يَأْتَلِ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَٱلسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ٢٢﴾ سُورَةُ النُّورِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that part of being a good Muslim is making other people safe from harm caused by one’s tongue and hand.
“A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 1021343
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When a man repeatedly asked Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for advice, he kept giving the same instruction: do not give yourself over to anger.
“Do not become angry.” He repeated it several times: “Do not become angry.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 611621343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defined backbiting as saying something true about a person behind his back that he would dislike; if the statement is false, it becomes slander as well.
“Mentioning about your brother what he dislikes.” They asked, “What if it is true?” He replied, “If true, you backbit him; if false, you slandered him.” — Sahih Muslim 258931443
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The Qur’an tells believers to repair broken relationships rather than be content with the mere absence of open fighting.
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” (Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt 49:10), Saheeh International1111236
﴿إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ١٠﴾ سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that maintaining family ties means continuing the relationship even when relatives cut it off.
“The one who truly maintains kinship is the one who, when his relatives cut him off, maintains relations with them.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 599121343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that helping an oppressor means stopping that person from committing oppression.
“Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed.” … “You help the oppressor by preventing him from oppression.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 244421343
Speech, dignity, and teaching without humiliation
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a believer should speak what is good or remain silent.
“Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 601821343
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The Qur’an forbids mocking people, insulting them, and using degrading nicknames.
“O believers! Do not let some ˹men˺ ridicule others, they may be better than them, nor let ˹some˺ women ridicule other women, they may be better than them. Do not defame one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. How evil it is to act rebelliously after having faith! And whoever does not repent, it is they who are the ˹true˺ wrongdoers.” (Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt 49:11), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَـٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ١١﴾ سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ -
The Qur’an forbids corrosive suspicion, spying, and backbiting, comparing backbiting to eating the flesh of one’s dead sibling.
“O believers! Avoid many suspicions, ˹for˺ indeed, some suspicions are sinful. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother? You would despise that! And fear Allah. Surely Allah is ˹the˺ Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.” (Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt 49:12), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ ١٢﴾ سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ -
The Qur’an tells believers to choose the best way of speaking, not merely words that are technically permissible.
“And tell My servants to say that which is best. Indeed, Satan induces [dissension] among them. Indeed Satan is ever, to mankind, a clear enemy.” (Sūrat al-Isrāʾ 17:53), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا ٥٣﴾ سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ -
The Qur’an teaches humility in how a person treats others, walks, and speaks.
“And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.” (Sūrat Luqmān 31:18-19), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ ١٨ وَٱقْصِدْ فِى مَشْيِكَ وَٱغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ ٱلْأَصْوَٰتِ لَصَوْتُ ٱلْحَمِيرِ ١٩﴾ سُورَةُ لُقۡمَانَ -
The Qur’an describes mature servants of God as responding calmly when ignorant people address them harshly.
“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.” (Sūrat al-Furqān 25:63), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ ٱلْجَـٰهِلُونَ قَالُوا۟ سَلَـٰمًا ٦٣﴾ سُورَةُ الفُرۡقَانِ -
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that habitual truthfulness leads toward righteousness and Paradise, while habitual lying leads toward wickedness and punishment.
“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise… Lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 609421343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught believers to want good for others as sincerely as they want it for themselves.
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 1321343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that simply despising another Muslim is itself a serious moral wrong.
“It is enough evil for a person to despise his Muslim brother.” — Sahih Muslim 2564a31443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defined arrogance as rejecting truth and looking down on other people, not as wearing good clothes.
“Arrogance is rejecting the truth and looking down on people.” — Sahih Muslim 91a31443
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A man who accidentally spoke during prayer said Prophet Muhammad ﷺ neither struck, scolded, nor insulted him afterward, but simply explained the rule; he remembered him as the best teacher he had known.
“I never saw a teacher before or after him better in teaching than he was.” — Sahih Muslim 537a31443
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When a man confessed to breaking the Ramadan fast through sexual intercourse and then explained that he could not afford the prescribed expiation, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ eventually told him to use the charitable food that arrived to feed his own poor family.
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When a Bedouin promised to fulfill the obligatory prayers, fasting, and charity without adding voluntary practices, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said he would succeed if he was truthful.
“He will succeed if he is truthful.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 4621343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said he would have required tooth-cleaning before every prayer if doing so would not have imposed hardship on his community.
“Were it not that I would cause hardship for my community, I would have ordered them to use the tooth-stick with every prayer.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 88721343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stopped leading optional Ramadan night prayers in congregation because he feared they might become obligatory and burden people.
“Nothing prevented me from coming out to you except that I feared it might be made obligatory upon you.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 112921343
Everyday goodness, privacy, and responsible information
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that even small acts—a good word, half a date, a smile, useful guidance, or helping someone with poor sight—can carry moral value.
“Protect yourself from the Fire even with half a date; if you cannot find that, then with a good word.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 141721343
“Your smile in your brother’s face is charity… and guiding a person with poor sight is charity for you.” — Jami at-Tirmidhi 195651643
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ counted reconciling people, helping someone with a mount, speaking a good word, walking to prayer, and removing harm from a road as forms of charity.
“Every good word is charity… and removing something harmful from the road is charity.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 298921343
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The Qur’an forbids entering another person’s home without first seeking permission and greeting its occupants.
“O believers! Do not enter any house other than your own until you have asked for permission and greeted its occupants. This is best for you, so perhaps you will be mindful.” (Sūrat al-Nūr 24:27), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ بُيُوتِكُمْ حَتَّىٰ تَسْتَأْنِسُوا۟ وَتُسَلِّمُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ ٢٧﴾ سُورَةُ النُّورِ -
The Qur’an requires consequential information to be verified before acting on or spreading it, so that people are not harmed on the basis of unreliable reports.
“O believers, if an evildoer brings you any news, verify ˹it˺ so you do not harm people unknowingly, becoming regretful for what you have done.” (Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt 49:6), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ ٦﴾ سُورَةُ الحُجُرَاتِ -
The Qur’an forbids confidently pursuing or asserting what a person does not actually know.
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.” (Sūrat al-Isrāʾ 17:36), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا ٣٦﴾ سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Trust, social peace, and protection from harm
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ identified lying, breaking promises, and betraying trusts as signs of hypocrisy.
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks it, and when entrusted he betrays.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 3321343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told believers not to hate, abandon, despise, or oppress one another.
“Do not hate one another or turn away from one another… A Muslim does not oppress, abandon, or despise his brother.” — Sahih Muslim 2564a31443
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that a person’s life, property, and honor are inviolable and may not be attacked casually.
“All of a Muslim is inviolable to another Muslim: his blood, his wealth, and his honor.” — Sahih Muslim 2564a31443
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The Qur’an requires sexual modesty from men as well as women, first telling believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity before addressing women.
“˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments except to their husbands, their fathers, their fathers-in-law, their sons, their stepsons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, their fellow women, those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, male attendants with no desire, or children who are still unaware of women’s nakedness. Let them not stomp their feet, drawing attention to their hidden adornments. Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful.” (Sūrat al-Nūr 24:30-31), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ٣٠ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ٣١﴾ سُورَةُ النُّورِ -
The Qur’an requires evidence for serious sexual accusations and protects people from having their reputations destroyed by unsupported charges.
“And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient.” (Sūrat al-Nūr 24:4), Saheeh International1111236
﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ ٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَٱجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَـٰنِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلَا تَقْبَلُوا۟ لَهُمْ شَهَـٰدَةً أَبَدًا ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ٤﴾ سُورَةُ النُّورِ -
The Qur’an describes intoxicants and gambling as sources of hostility that also distract people from remembrance of God and prayer.
“O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful. Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from remembering Allah and praying. Will you not then abstain?” (Sūrat al-Māʾidah 5:90-91), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ٩٠ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ ٩١﴾ سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ -
The Qur’an warns against excess, and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also condemned wasting wealth.
“God dislikes for you gossip, needless questioning, and wasting wealth.” — Sahih Muslim 1715a31443
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When Muadh led such a long communal prayer that a working man left, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took the complaint seriously and rebuked him for making worship unnecessarily difficult.
“Are you putting people to trial, Muadh?” — Sahih al-Bukhari 70521343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told of a person whom God forgave for removing something harmful from a public road.
“A man saw a thorny branch in the road and removed it, so God appreciated his act and forgave him.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 65221343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ linked salvation to self-control in both speech and sexual conduct.
“Whoever guarantees for me what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I guarantee Paradise for him.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 647421343
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When a dispute at Quba turned violent, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went personally to help reconcile the people involved.
“Let us go and make peace between them.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 269321343
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that when two people are estranged, the better one is the person who first reopens the relationship with a greeting.
“The better of the two is the one who begins with peace.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 6077; Sahih Muslim 256023131443
Character as the measure of religious life
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Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that the people nearest to him in the next life would be those with the best character, not those with the greatest wealth or status.
“Nothing is heavier on the believer’s scale on the Day of Resurrection than good character.” — Jami at-Tirmidhi 200251643
“The most beloved of you to me and nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection are those best in character.” — Jami at-Tirmidhi 201851643
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An early report summarizes Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ mission as including the refinement of good character, a theme reflected in the many concrete moral teachings collected in this library.
“I was sent to complete good character.” — Al-Adab al-Mufrad 27371843
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The Qur’an describes other people’s hardship as weighing heavily on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and portrays him as deeply concerned for them.
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (Sūrat al-Tawbah 9:128), Saheeh International1111236
﴿لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ١٢٨﴾ سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ -
The Qur’an repeatedly restrains Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ grief over people who reject the message, while also making clear that he cannot force belief into another person’s heart.
“Now, perhaps you ˹O Prophet˺ will grieve yourself to death over their denial, if they ˹continue to˺ disbelieve in this message.” (Sūrat al-Kahf 18:6), Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran1111236
﴿فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ٦﴾ سُورَةُ الكَهۡفِ
Sources for this page
The numbered citations identify the works in the complete bibliography. Verse and report numbers appear with the evidence; the source guide explains the distinctions between scripture, hadith, and early biography.
References used: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 36, 43.