عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسولُ الله صَلّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّم: « مَنْ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَمْسَ خِصَالٍ فَيَعْمَلُ بِهِنَّ أَوْ يُعَلِّمُهُنَّ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ بِهِنَّ؟» قَالَ: قُلْتُ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَعَدَّهُنَّ فِيهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ: « اتَّقِ المَحَارِمَ تَكُنْ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ، وَارْضَ بِمَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لَكَ تَكُنْ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ، وَأَحْسِنْ إِلَى جَارِكَ تَكُنْ مُؤْمِنًا، وَأَحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ تَكُنْ مُسْلِمًا، وَلَا تُكْثِرِ الضَّحِكَ فَإِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الضَّحِكِ تُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ» رواه ابن ماجه والترمذي وأحمد والبيهقي .ـ
Narrated Abu Hurairah -may God be pleased with him- said: “Prophet Muhammad -prayer and peace be upon him- once said: ‘Who of my nation would take up five characteristics, so he would act upon them or teach them someone who would act upon them?’ I replied: ‘I, O Messenger of God.’ He took with my hand and counted them over it and said:
- ‘Be wary of sins, you would be the best worshipper among people.
- Be satisfied with what God allotted you, you would be the richest of people.
- Treat your neighbor kindly, you would be a believing faithful (Mu’min).
- Like for people whatever you like for yourself, you would be a true Muslim.
- And do not laugh excessively, for excess laughter mortifies the heart.’ ” Related by Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and Al-Beihaqi.
You can indeed become the best of mankind by adopting these five characteristics. They do not require much effort or much worship, they are only five characteristics to consider. If you you act upon them, you would become the best person person on earth! Better than the man who worships all night, better than the person who gives millions in charity, and better than any person. For that just do these five characteristics:
1) Be wary of sins: Avoid all forbidden things, and do all obligatory things(fara’id).
Avoid everything that is forbidden or prohibited by God. Avoid forbidden or haram things in your tongue (lying, backbiting, slander, etc.), in your eyes (watching bad things, looking at private things, peeking, spying, etc.), in your nose (smell), in your mouth (unlawful food or drink, like pork, alcohol, drugs, etc.), in your ears (listening to backbiting, eavesdropping, music, etc.), in your hands (hitting and harming others, stealing, killing, etc.) and feet (walking to evil and evil places), and in your private parts (unlawful relations, affairs, touching, adultery, etc.). And if you happen to do a sin then immediately make repent to God and ask for forgiveness. If you do that you will be the best of mankind.
2) Be satisfied with what Allah allotted you: Learn to be content (qana’ah).
It is said that the richest person is not the one with most money, rather the richest person is the one who is most content. If the servant is happy with what God has written and given him, then he would lead a happy life. But if he always complains ‘I don’t have enough money, I don’t have a bigger house, I don’t have this or that’, then he or she would always be sad. So the Muslim must learn to be content and thank God for what He granted him. He should not complain to others but pray God if he wants more. If you do that you will be the best of mankind Insha’Allah.
3) Treat your neighbor kindly: Be nice to your neighbors.
Be a friendly and good person to all your neighbors, as well as your friends, even people you don’t know. ’Meet your neighbors and friends with a pleasant face and a beautiful smile. It is related that many people became Muslim at first when they saw the high morality and akhlaq of the Muslims. And Prophet Muhammad urged us to be kind to people and say good.
عن عدي بن حاتم رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: « اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ» . متفق عليه
Narrated Idey Ibn Hatim -may God be pleased with him- that the Prophet -prayer and peace be upon him- said: “Guard yourself against Hell-Fire even with one half of a date (given in charity). And if you cannot afford even that, then by saying a good pleasant word.” Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
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Also remember, when you are merciful to others, God will be merciful to you. When you are generous to others, God will be generous to you. When you are kind to the poor, God will be kind to you. So learn good akhlaq or morals and avoid fighting and bad akhlaq. If you do that you will be the best of mankind Insha’Allah.
4) Like for people whatever you like for yourself.
Avoid harming others and eetha’. Avoid being unjust to others. If someone was unjust to you or harmed you, you feel pain and anger. Other people do feel the same when you treat them in a bad way. Learn to respect and fulfill other people’s rights and obligations. Be just with everybody, and treat people like you like them to treat you. Islam teaches us to prefer others over ourselves, to be generous and not miserly, to be kind and not rough, and to be good and not evil. If you do that you will be the best of mankind.
5) Avoid excessive laughter.
Avoid wasting time and much playing. Remember that you are going to die one day. So be prepared for that. It is related that a scholar (‘alim) passed by a young man who was laughing much. He stopped and said to him: O son, have you found out whether you are going to Hell or Paradise (after death). The young man replied no. So he said to him: ‘Then do not laugh much until you find out.’
Sure, laughing a little is acceptable, but laughing frequently and loudly is not. Our Prophet -peace and blessings be upon him- used only to smile, only few times did he even laugh a little. So remember Allah all the time, remember that there is hisaab or accounting for deeds after death, where you will be asked about everything you did, including laughter. So don’t indulge in the world and forget the Hereafter. Remember Allah in your heart and with your tongue all the time. If you do that you will be the best of mankind.
Then, You can indeed become the best of mankind by adopting these five characteristics. They are:
- 1. Be wary of sins, you would be the best worshipper among people.
- 2. Be satisfied with what God allotted you, you would be the richest of people.
- 3. Treat your neighbor kindly, you would be a believing faithful.
- 4. Like for others what you like for yourself, and you will be a true Muslim.
- 5. And do not laugh excessively, for excess laughter mortifies the heart.
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