Umm ad-Darda' said, "Abu'd-Darda' stood up in the night to pray.
He was weeping and said, 'O Allah! You made my physical form good, so make
my character good!' until morning. I said, 'Abu'd-Darda', your only supplication
for the entire night was for good character!' He replied, 'Umm ad-Darda',
the Muslim perfects his character until good character
enters him into Paradise; and taints his character until
his bad character enter him into Hellfire. The Muslim is forgiven while
he is asleep.' I asked, 'Abu'd-Darda', how can be forgiven while he is
asleep?' He said, 'His brother arises in the night, performs the night
prayer, and supplicates to Allah Almighty and is answered. He
supplicates for his Muslim brother and his supplication is answered.'"
Narrated Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "Do you know what it is that makes most people enter
Hellfire?" "Allah and His Messenger know best," they said. He said, "The
two empty ones:
the genitals and the mouth. Do you know what it is that
makes most people enter Paradise? Taqwa of Allah and good character."
Usama ibn Sharik said, "I was with the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, when some bedouins came. There were many people
on all sides. The people were silent and no one spoke except them. They
said, 'Messenger of Allah! We experience difficulty in such-and-such and
such-and-such' and it was in things which are not harmful to people. He
said, 'Servants of Allah! Allah has removed difficulty except in a case
where a man slanders someone unjustly - that is the one who is in difficulty
and destroyed.' They said, 'Messenger of Allah, can we make use of medical
treatment?' 'Yes, servants of Allah,' he replied, 'you can make use of
medical treatment. Allah Almighty did not create an illness but that He
made a cure for it - except for one disease.' They asked, 'And what
is that, Messenger of Allah?' 'Old age,' he replied. They said, 'Messenger
of Allah, what is the best thing that a man can be given?' He replied, 'Good character'."
Narrated 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr said, "There are four qualities such that if
you were to be given them, you will not be harmed even if the world were
to be taken away from you. They are:
good character, restraint in food,
truthful speech, and upholding a trust."
