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Islam Basics

Good Character

Islam is not only what a Muslim does and what a Muslim believes. It is also how a Muslim treats people. That is called good character, and in Arabic it is akhlaq.

Brass balance scales on a stone ledge at golden hour, jasmine and a lit lantern on the wall behind them, and a teal-domed masjid among cypress trees beyond
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    Honestysidq · telling the truth

    Honesty means what you say matches what really happened, even when the truth is the harder thing to say. It also means keeping a promise, and giving back what is not yours.

    Long before anyone followed him, the people of Makkah called the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Al-Amin, the trustworthy one. They left their belongings with him for safekeeping, because he had never once lied to them.

    What this looks like

    • Saying what really happened, even when something got broken.
    • Keeping a promise, including the small ones.
    • Handing back what belongs to someone else.
    Read It Wasn’t Me →
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    Kindnessrahmah · mercy and kindness

    Kindness in Islam is wider than being nice to your friends. It reaches people you do not know, people who were not kind to you first, and every animal as well.

    The Prophet ﷺ told his companions to be merciful to everyone on the earth, and he said that Allah shows mercy to those who show mercy to others.

    What this looks like

    • Kind words, and no teasing or name-calling.
    • Making room for the child sitting on their own.
    • Looking after animals, even a thirsty one you will never see again.
    The Thirsty Dog and the Well →Sing Kind Words →
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    Patiencesabr · staying steady

    Sabr means staying steady when something is hard: waiting without complaining, trying again after you get something wrong, and holding your temper when you are angry.

    The Quran says that Allah is with those who are patient. Sabr is not pretending that nothing hurts. It is turning to Allah while it does.

    What this looks like

    • Waiting your turn without whining about it.
    • Going back to something difficult instead of giving up.
    • Keeping your voice calm when you want to shout.
    Yunus and the Whale →Read Sore Loser →
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    Gratitudeshukr · saying thank you

    Shukr is noticing what Allah has given you and saying thank you for it. Muslims say Alhamdulillah, which means all praise belongs to Allah, for food, for health, and for an ordinary good day.

    Thanking people is part of it too. The Prophet ﷺ said that a person who does not thank people has not thanked Allah.

    What this looks like

    • Saying Alhamdulillah after you eat and when you wake up.
    • Saying thank you to the person who helped you.
    • Looking at what you have, not only at what you want next.
    Alhamdulillah for a Sneeze →Say it as dhikr →
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    Goodness to Parentsbirr al-walidayn · goodness to parents

    In the Quran, right after Allah tells us to worship Him alone, He tells us to be good to our parents. Not only to do as they ask, but to speak gently to them and to look after them when they are old.

    The Quran even teaches the words to pray for them: My Lord, have mercy on them, as they raised me when I was small.

    What this looks like

    • Answering kindly the first time you are called.
    • Helping at home before anyone has to ask.
    • Making dua for them, out loud, where they can hear it.
    The dua for my parents →Sing I Love Mama & Baba →
Islam, iman and ihsanGood character is ihsan with people: doing well by them, beautifully.

Stories that show it

It Wasn’t MeSometimes the bravest words are: it was me. Sore LoserLayth flips the board, and learns who the strongest person really is. The Thirsty Dog and the WellA man climbs down a well for an animal nobody else noticed. The Camel Who Came in TearsA tired camel, and a gentle lesson about the animals in our care. The Mother Bird and Her ChicksThe Prophet ﷺ notices a small bird’s sadness, and puts it right. The Boy at the TableThree small manners, taught gently to a hungry child.

Learn it another way

Kind WordsThink before you speak, and build people up. I Love Mama & BabaA song for the two people Allah told us to be good to. If You’re ThankfulGratitude you can clap along to. All The SameDifferent faces, different places, one ummah.
The dua for my parentsLearn the words the Quran gives us to pray for them, in Arabic and in English.

Common questions

What is good character in Islam?
Good character is called akhlaq. It is how a Muslim treats people and animals: with honesty, kindness, patience, gratitude and goodness to parents. It is not an extra on top of the religion. It is part of it.
What does akhlaq mean?
Akhlaq is the Arabic word for character: the habits a person actually lives by. Good akhlaq is doing the right thing so often that it becomes who you are, not something you have to think about.
What did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ say about good character?
He said that the best of people are the ones with the best character, and that he was sent to perfect good character. He also said that nothing is placed on the scales on the Day of Judgement that is heavier than good character.
How do I teach good character to a young child?
Pick one thing at a time and name it when it happens. Say thank you out loud, give the truth back when they tell it, and let them see you do the same. Children copy what the grown-ups around them do long before they can explain why it matters.